Match Recap: OL Reign Earns Comeback Win in North Carolina

OL Reign (8-4-7, 31 points, 5th place) showed tremendous character on the road, beating the North Carolina Courage (7-8-4, 25 points, 8th place) 2-1 on the road after initially going down 1-0. With this win, OL Reign picked up a crucial three points and earned their first ever win in Cary, North Carolina.

In the first half, OL Reign went down early, conceding a goal in the sixth minute of the match. North Carolina forward Kerolin slotted a ball to Ryan Williams out wide. Williams played a cross into the box, which took a deflection along the way and found its way into the back of the net for the opening goal of the match.

However, the Courage did not hold onto the lead long, as OL Reign found an equalizer in the 11th minute. Defender Sofia Huerta played a ball to the far side of the 18-yard box, where forward Megan Rapinoe took a shot from her wide position but was denied by Casey Murphy in goal. Midfielder Rose Lavelle was waiting for the rebound and make no mistakes as she struck the ball into the back of the net to tie the match.

Never content with a draw, OL Reign fought on, taking the lead in the match in the 26th minute. Wearing the captain’s armband, Rapinoe stepped up to take a freekick from distance. Displaying her incredible precision, she opted for a shot, bypassing North Carolina’s wall and sneaking the ball to the near post to give OL Reign the comeback lead on the road.

Through the rest of the first half, OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made several saves to keep the Reign ahead. Defensively, the entire team worked hard, stopping each chance North Carolina’s dangerous frontline led.

In the second half, OL Reign continued to put in the defensive work, doing well to prevent North Carolina from scoring. In the 81st minute, chaos erupted in OL Reign’s 18-yard box as the team struggled to get the ball clear from danger. The Courage had two back-to-back shots denied before the Reign cleared the danger.

 As the game was coming to an end, OL Reign’s grit was on full display, as the team worked to control the ball, keep possession and see the win through to the final whistle, picking up an important three points as their push to clinch a playoff spot continues.

Key Facts:

·       Midfielder Rose Lavelle scored the game-tying goal in the 11th minute, bringing the score 1-1. Lavelle is tied for first on the team in total goals this season with five goals and has 10 goals all-time in the regular season

·       Forward Megan Rapinoe scored the game-winning goal in the 26th minute, putting the Reign ahead, 2-1. Rapinoe finished the game tied with the most shots (three) on the team. Rapinoe has five goals and four assists in her last six games played, tallying at least one goal or assist in each game. Rapinoe has tallied 45 goals and 21 assists all-time in the regular season.

·       In the Reign’s last four NWSL road games, they have produced three comeback wins.

·       For the fourth consecutive game, OL Reign has scored at least two goals, which is the longest active streak in the NWSL.

UP NEXT: OL Reign will travel to New Jersey to take on NJ/NY Gotham FC on Wednesday, September 21 at 4:00 p.m. PT in their second of three consecutive road games.

MATCH SUMMARY

2022 NWSL Regular Season

OL Reign 2-1 North Carolina Courage

Date/Time: Saturday, September 17, 2022, 4:30 p.m. PT

Location: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina

Weather: 66, Clear

Scoring Summary

RGN: Lavelle – 11’, Rapinoe – 26’

NCC: Own goal – 6’  

Discipline

RGN: Latsko (Caution – 83’), McClernon (Caution – 90+1’)

NCC: O’Sullivan (Caution – 45+2’)

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Hiatt, D López (McClernon 72’), M Stanton (Quinn 71’), M Van der Jagt, M Lavelle, F Balcer (Latsko 72’), F Huitema, F Rapinoe (King 90+4’)

Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, GK Ivory, M Fishlock, M Canales, M Athens

Total Shots: 12 (Balcer, Rapinoe – 3)

Shots on Goal: 6 (Lavelle, Rapinoe – 2)

Fouls: 9 (Huitema – 4)

Offsides: 1

Corner Kicks: 4

Saves: 5 (Tullis-Joyce – 5)

NCC: GK Murphy, D Pickett, D Erceg, D Kurtz, D Williams, M Pinto (Speck 82’), M O'Sullivan, M Fuka Nagano (Madsen 72’), M Debinha (Daniels 64’), F Kerolin, F Ordóñez (Mathias 82’),

Unused substitutes: GK Rowland, D Bowen, D Pickett, M Boade, F Baisden

Total Shots: 16 (Pickett – 5)

Shots on Goal: 5 (Pickett – 3)

Fouls: 6 (O’Sullivan – 3)

Offsides: 1

Corner Kicks: 10

Saves: 4 (Murphy – 4)

Budweiser Player of the Match: Phallon Tullis-Joyce

Referee: Ricardo Fierro

Assistant Referee 1: Tiffini Turpin

Assistant Referee 2: Justin Howard

4th Official: William Steffen