Match Recap: OL Reign Break San Diego Wave with a Swell of Goals

OL Reign (3-0-1) extended its unbeaten streak in the NWSL Challenge Cup in its first ever match against the San Diego Wave at Lumen Field. With this 3-1 win, OL Reign has extended its first-place lead in the West Division. The team has now beaten every other team in the West Division of the NWSL Challenge Cup.

OL Reign started the match on fire, scoring the opening goal just two minutes into the match. Taking advantage of a messy 18-yard box, OL Reign fought as a team to ensure the ball made it into the back of the net. On the end of the ball was OL Reign midfielder Nikki Stanton. The hometown player directed the ball on target to put the Reign up early to score her first goal for the team.

The Reign didn’t stop there, finding a second goal less than 10 minutes later. This time, it was Bethany Balcer, OL Reign’s 2021 leading goal scorer. Balcer took the space she was given, displaying individual skill with her touch as she ended the play with a great shot past the San Diego goalkeeper, doubling OL Reign’s lead.

The momentum was all in favor of the Reign. The team continued to push on, scoring a third goal in the 11th minute of the match. This goal was scored by OL Reign defender Sam Hiatt. Hiatt was in the box following up after a corner kick and hit a beautiful ball, perfectly dropped into the back of the net. After scoring three goals in 11 minutes, OL Reign is the fastest any team has scored three goals from kickoff in a match in NWSL history.

The visitors got a goal back about halfway through the first half, in the 24th minute. Alex Morgan got on the end of a ball controlling it before taking a shot into the back of the net.

In the 27th minute, OL Reign was forced to use a substitution, as forward Tziarra King went down with an injury and Sofia Huerta came on in her place. Through the rest of the first half, both teams had chances on goal, but neither was able to convert.

After the half, San Diego came out a bit stronger. As the half went on, OL Reign regained control of the match, really hitting their stride around the 70th minute. OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce put in another stellar performance to hold San Diego to one goal. Despite this, the goal scoring was contained to the first 25 minutes of the match and the game ended 3-1 in favor of OL Reign.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

·       With this win, OL Reign are in first in the West Division of the 2022 Challenge Cup, not tied with any other team

·       The Reign are still unbeaten at Lumen Field, after playing one game at the stadium in 2021 and two games in 2022

·       Nikki Stanton and Sam Hiatt both scored their first goals for the team in this match

·       Olivia Van der Jagt earned her first NWSL start and earned her first assist

·       OL Reign’s three goals in the first 11 minutes is the fastest any teams has scored three goals in a match from kickoff across all competitions in NWSL history

UP NEXT: OL Reign will take on Angel City FC on Sunday, April 17 at 3:00 p.m. PT at Lumen Field as they look to continue their unbeaten run in the 2022 Challenge Cup. Tickets are available now.

MATCH SUMMARY

2022 NWSL Challenge Cup

OL Reign (3-0-1, 10 points) 3-1 San Diego Wave FC (1-2-1, 4 points)

Date/Time: Thursday, April 14, 2022, 7:00 p.m. PT

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington 

Weather: 40, mostly cloudy

Scoring Summary

OL Reign 3 - San Diego Wave FC 1

RGN: Stanton – 2, Balcer – 8, Hiatt – 11

SD: Morgan – 24

Discipline

RGN: None

SD: None

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Miramontez (Cook 84’), D McClernon, D Hiatt, D Barnes, M Van der Jagt, M Stanton, M Balcer (Fishlock 84’), F Latsko (Lopez 83’), F Watt(Quinn 62’), F King (Huerta 27’)

Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, M Athens, F Kajan, M Canales

Total Shots: 10 (Balcer, Latsko – 2)

Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)

Fouls: 12 (Stanton – 4)

Offsides: 3

Corner Kicks: 3

Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)

SD: GK Telford, D Hansen (Girma 65’), D Westphal, D Dahlkemper (Briede 46’), D Riehl, M McNabb, M Kornieck, M Turnbow (Schimmer 74’), M Johnson (Ali 55’), F Morgan, F Taylor (Jakobsson 65’)

Unused substitutes: GK Lowder, M Pulver, M Van Egmond, F Sodoma

Total Shots: 11 (Morgan – 4)

Shots on Goal: 4 (Morgan – 4)

Fouls: 10 (McNabb – 3)

Offsides: 1

Corner Kicks: 2

Saves: 1 (Telford – 3)

Budweiser Player of the Match: Nikki Stanton

Referee: Adorae Monroy

Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Beck

Assistant Referee 2: Kali Smith

4th Official: Jaclyn Metz