Match Forecast: OL Reign Set for Battle Against KC in NWSL Semifinal

OL Reign and the Kansas City Current are set to meet today at 4:30 p.m. at Lumen Field in Seattle, in an NWSL semifinal match. With OL Reign expecting a record-breaking crowd, this high stakes match up is a must win in order to move into the NWSL final in Washington, D.C.

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, October 23 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on CBS Sprots Network

Key Points Ahead of the Match:

1. LAST MEETING – OL Reign and the Kansas City Current met twice during the regular season, each winning 1-0 at home. On the road in Kansas City in July, OL Reign lost 1-0. The lone goal of the match was scored from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. When the teams met in Seattle in May, OL Reign won 1-0. Defender Sofia Huerta and forward Bethany Balcer combined to score the game winner, just ten minutes before the end of the game.

2. SCOUTING KC – Kansas City most recently played in an NWSL quarterfinal match against the Houston Dash. This was the team’s first ever playoff appearance and they came away with a 2-1 victory. The match was back and forth, with each team dominating at different times. KC midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta got on the scoresheet first, after converting an early penalty kick. Houston tied it up in the 21st minute, with a strike from midfielder Sophie Schmidt. Deep into second half stoppage time, KC found the game winner, scored by defender Kate Del Fava.

3. FOCUSED ON US – Week after week, OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey and the team have shared that they are less focused on what the opponent is doing as they prepare for the match and are fully focused on what the Reign can do to prepare for the match.

“We've kind of been saying it all week, it's about us and what we do,” said OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer. “It's not necessarily about what they do and there's this focus that has turned towards the product we know we can put out on the field and obviously playing at home, I think, amplifies that. So yeah, I think it's kind of all on us and if we do the things that we're supposed to do, the game is going to go in our favor. I think that's kind of been our focus on this week. It's been a lot about us and how to expose them as opposed to maybe what they're doing."

4. LOCKED IN – Since OL Reign played in The Women’s Cup in Louisville, every single match has felt like a must-win match, which has helped OL Reign’s mentality going into this massive game.

“We've known for, I don't know, two months, maybe, that every game we played mattered and every game we were going into was a real indicator of where our season may end up and that mentality honestly is why we can act normal, probably, I think. So yeah, I think that might be the special sauce this time,” said Harvey.

“I think we're all really excited and there's obviously a lot more weight on this game, but I don't think it necessarily changes the way that we prepare. I mean, we've obviously faced this team twice in the season, so it's kind of like you prepare the exact same way, just knowing that it holds more weight. I think the excitement and the hype around the game just kind of gives it this extra element that you've got to work around,” added Balcer.

MultiCare Availability Report:

OUT

Angelina (SEI - right knee) 

Tobin Heath (SEI - left knee)

Sinclaire Miramontez (SEI - right foot)

Jodi Ulkekul (SEI - right knee)

QUESTIONABLE

None