Match Forecast: OL Reign Set for Last Cascadia Rivalry Match of the Season

OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC are set to meet for the final time this regular season. The rivalry match at Lumen Field is set to be an exciting one, as OL Reign are still undefeated at home and are unbeaten against the Thorns in seven consecutive regular season meetings.

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 10 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington    

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on Twitch. Tickets for the match are available here.

2022 REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 4-2-4 (16 points, 5th place), Portland Thorns FC: 4-1-5 (17 points, 3rd place)

Key Points Ahead of the Match:

1. LAST MEETING – OL Reign and the Portland Thorns last met in May this year down at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, during one of the team’s busiest stretches of the season. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but OL Reign put in a solid shift. From front to back, the full team put in work, defensively and offensively. Defenders Sam Hiatt and Alana Cook both had a standout game, as well as midfielder Quinn.

The Reign really started to knock on the door as they entered the final half hour of the game and it looked like they may find a game winner. They took eight shots before the end of the match but couldn’t find the back of the net.

2. SCOUTING PORTLAND – Currently, the Thorns are in 3rd place in the NWSL standings, with one more point than OL Reign. They most recently played Angel City FC and drew 1-1. The game took a turn in the first minute, when Portland defender Kelli Hubly committed a foul in the box. Angel City was awarded a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan initially saved the shot from Savannah McCaskill, but McCaskill followed it up with a shot that found the back of the net. Angel City held on to the 1-0 lead until stoppage time. In the dying minute of the match, Portland’s Madison Pogarch played a deep cross from the left that found the head of Yazmeen Ryan, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

3. KEYS TO THE MATCH – Every rivalry match between the Reign and Thorns is guaranteed to be an intense battle, but OL Reign has few keys to the match in order to find success today.

"I think we always have the same sort of mentality going into every game is, execute the gameplan we have, be really difficult to break down defensively and show our quality going forward. As bland as that may sound, that's sort of how it always looks. Is it a bit more spicy that it's Portland? Yeah, but I think, ultimately, those are the real key things that we want to be good at every single week because we believe those things will really help us, no matter who we play. So, yeah, I would say those are the biggest keys to the game," said OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey.

4. RIVALRY – There’s nothing quite like a match between the Reign and Thorns for fans, players and coaches alike.

"I think the rivalry for us, for the last 10 years, has been always the most exciting games. We've played Portland a lot this year as well, that's been a little bit different, but they're championship games for us when we go out there and play these teams,” said OL Reign defender Lu Barnes. “So, there's nothing better than that, I don't think. We're going to be at home and we're in Lumen now, which has been incredible and we're going to have a huge turnout from what we've heard, so I'm really excited to see the fans come out and support us,” Barnes added.

"We have such a fun team and so much depth in so many different areas as well, that you go out and you don't even know you're missing people sometimes, and I think that's what wins championships. It's hard to tell those players now, that don't understand that yet, but how important they are to our success, it's incredible. So, I'm really excited and I'm really proud of them for stepping up and playing so well. They get to finally be in a big game against Portland. It's going to be really fun to see them show up and show out. Like you said, it sometimes doesn't even come down to tactics anymore against these big games with Portland, but who has the most heart and I know for a fact that it's going to be our group," added Barnes.

MultiCare Availability Report:

OUT

Tziarra King (health and safety protocols)

Nikki Stanton (health and safety protocols)

QUESTIONABLE

Jodi Ulkekul (health and safety protocols)

Claudia Dickey (health and safety protocols)

INTERNATIONAL

Angelina (BRA)

Alana Cook (USA)

Sofia Huerta (USA)

Jordyn Huitema (CAN)

Rose Lavelle (USA)

Jimena Lopez (MEX)

Quinn (CAN)

Megan Rapinoe (USA)