Match Forecast: OL Reign Ready for Crucial Match Against Gotham FC

OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC are set to meet this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. PT for the second time this season. After a comeback win on the road against North Carolina, OL Reign is looking to pick up another crucial three points as playoffs approach.

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, September 21 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on FOX13+ in the Seattle-area, Paramount+ and Twitch internationally.

2022 REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 8-4-7 (31 points, 5th place), NJ/NY Gotham FC: 4-15-0 (12 points, 12th place)

Key Points Ahead of the Match:

1. LAST MEETING – OL Reign and Gotham FC last met at Lumen Field on August 14. OL Reign dominated the game, picking up a 4-1 win. OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe had a standout game, as she was directly involved in all four goals. She scored two goals and assisted one, while also forcing a Gotham own goal. The Reign’s other goal was scored by midfielder Rose Lavelle. Gotham pulled one goal back in the 72nd minute, from the foot of forward Taylor Smith, but OL Reign firmly held their lead on the match to earn three points.

2. SCOUTING GOTHAM – Currently, NJ/NY Gotham FC are in 12th place in the NWSL standings, with 12 points. The team most recently took on the Washington Spirit in Washington, D.C. and lost 2-0, picking up their tenth consecutive loss. Both goals were conceded by Gotham in the second half.

3. PLAYOFF PUSH – As the end of the season approaches, the playoff race continues to get tighter. OL Reign is looking to pick up three points against Gotham today to move up to 34 points on the season. In these crucial moments, every game is a challenge.

“I think, it’s a tough game, honestly. Yesterday, when we spoke about this, I think we've had this experience - not many people on our team have had this experience, but some of us have had this experience of not getting the results that you want and people can think that that's going to be a really easy thing to go in and play against and I truly believe that it's possibly the hardest when you're coming up against a team who's in a difficult place, so I think we're prepared for a really tough game,” said OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey.

“I think we know that Saturday's game and result was huge, but we have to go and take care of business tomorrow to really see the real impact of what Saturday was,” said Harvey.

4. ROSTER DEPTH– OL Reign has a busy schedule to end the season. The team played in North Carolina on Saturday and plays in New Jersey tonight, before heading to Houston to play on Saturday. Because of this schedule, OL Reign will rely on the depth of their roster, which is no problem at all for the team.

“I've said this all year that I think we have a deep roster and I think we're showing that. I think this is another opportunity to show that. I think, not only are we playing three games in a week, we're playing three games and traveling between all three. I think you have to take that into account. It doesn't mean that we're taking any game any differently. It doesn't mean we're looking at each game as a chance to put someone in or rest someone. It's not about that. It's about putting the team on the field that we believe can go and win that game and that's what we're going to have to do,” said Harvey.

“We have to have a mindset of take every game as it comes because we can't look past this next one to plan for the next one because we're not in a position to do that. If we want to go and achieve what we want, we have to go and compete in every game that we play in. So, I think we have to take that mindset into this game and then whatever happens, we take that mindset into going into Saturday. So, I think that's sort of how we look at it. It's not about squad rotation, really, to be honest. It's more about what we feel we need in this specific game to win this specific game.”

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

INTERNATIONAL

None