Match Recap: OL Reign Beat Courage on Pride Night

OL Reign (4-2-4, 16 points) earned their fourth win of the season tonight in their annual Pride Match against the North Carolina Courage (2-5-1, 7 points). The 2-0 win had the second highest attendance in club history with 7,519 fans in attendance, only behind the doubleheader against Portland in August 2021. The team is still unbeaten at Lumen Field in all competitions.

OL Reign got off to a slow start in the match but grew into the game as time went on. The starting lineup featured heavy rotation as the team has eight players out on international duty, but the team worked as a unit to defend against North Carolina.

Toward the end of the first half, the Reign got into the offensive third of the field, finding four shots in the last ten minutes of the half. Forward Tziarra King and midfielder Jess Fishlock both found shots on target, but it wasn’t quite enough to beat Katelyn Rowland in goal for the Courage.

At the start of the second, the Reign came out reenergized and immediately began to dominate the Courage. King and forward Bethany Balcer both had shots on target before Fishlock scored the opening goal of the match in the 52nd minute. Balcer perfectly placed a ball into the box to find a running Fishlock, who took a touch around Rowland and coolly hit the ball into the back of the net.

Momentum in their favor, the Reign pushed on, hungry for another goal. In the 74th minute, the hard work from the Reign paid off, as Balcer doubled the score. Forward Ally Watt, who entered the match as a sub, found Fishlock in the middle of the field. Fishlock found Balcer in the middle of the box. Balcer got on the end of the ball, and one touched it into the back of the net.

The team finished the game strong with two more chances before the end of the match. In stoppage time, it looked like Watt may find a third, but the shot was blocked moments before the final whistle was blown and the Reign earned all three points at home.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

·       With this win, OL Reign remains undefeated at Lumen Field

·       With her goal in the 52nd minute of the match, Fishlock now has two goals this season. Fishlock has 36 goals all-time in 153 regular season games played in her career with the Reign.

·       Forward Bethany Balcer scored in the 74th minute, doubling OL Reign’s lead, which was assisted by midfielder Jess Fishlock. Balcer leads the Reign in goals this season with three and has 18 goals all-time in 57 regular season games played in her career.

·       OL Reign remain undefeated at home through six matches played, outscoring their opponents 7-2. Only three teams remain undefeated at home this season (Chicago Red Stars, San Diego Wave FC).

·       OL Reign earned their sixth clean sheet of the season. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce earned her sixth clean sheet of the regular season, which ranks first in the league. Tullis-Joyce finished the day with three saves, extending her season total to 38 saves, which is also ranked first in the league.

UP NEXT: OL Reign play Portland Thorns FC at Lumen Field on Sunday, July 10 at 3:00 p.m. PT. Get your tickets here.

MATCH SUMMARY

2022 NWSL Regular Season

OL Reign 2-0 North Carolina Courage

Date/Time: Friday, July 1, 2022, 7:00 p.m. PT

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Weather: 69, Sunny

Scoring Summary

TEAM

1H

2H

FT

OL Reign

0

2

2

North Carolina Courage

0

0

0

RGN: Fishlock – 52’, Balcer – 74’

NCC: None

Discipline

RGN: None

NCC: Speck (Caution 55’), Kerolin (Caution – 85’)

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes, D Hiatt, D McClernon, D Miramontez, M Van der Jagt, M Little (Stanton 46’), M Fishlock, F King (61’ Watt), F Latsko (84’ Athens), F Balcer (Canales 90+3’)

Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, GK Dickey, D Malonson, D Brown, D Burris

Total Shots: 14 (Balcer– 5)

Shots on Goal: 7 (King – 3)

Fouls: 4 (Four tied with – 1)

Offsides: 3

Corner Kicks: 5

Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)

NCC: GK Rowland, D Daniels, D Pickett, D Kurtz, D Mathias, M Berkely, M O'Sullivan (Gray 46’), M Speck (Ratcliffe 87’), M Pinto (Williams 80’), F Kerolin, F Tagliaferri (Baisden 65’)

Unused substitutes: D Bowen, M Stackpole, M Boade, F Baucom, GK Bova

Total Shots: 10 (Kerolin – 4)

Shots on Goal: 3 (Kerolin – 2)

Fouls: 9 (Kerolin, Pinto – 2)

Offsides: 2

Corner Kicks: 6

Saves: 5 (Rowland – 5)

Budweiser Player of the Match: Jess Fishlock

Referee: Brad Jensen

Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Gonzalez

Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Davis

4th Official: Corbyn May