Match Recap: OL Reign Clinches Challenge Cup Semifinal Spot with Win Over San Diego
OL Reign (4-0-1, 13 points, 1st place) clinched a spot in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup semifinals with their 1-0 win over San Diego Wave FC (1-0-4, 4th place). In front of a home crowd of 7,513 fans, forward Bethany Balcer’s second half penalty kick made the difference for OL Reign.
OL Reign started the match strong, both offensively and defensively. The team earned the first shot in the ninth minute of the match, while also shutting the Wave down. Claudia Dickey immediately showed her strength in the net, stopping Makenzy Doniak’s shot on target in the ninth minute of the match.
The Reign continued to put on strong performance, with the backline – Veronica Latsko, Sam Hiatt, Phoebe McClernon and Shae Holmes – as well as Dickey, stopping San Diego’s attacks. OL Reign managed six shots and one on target in the first half, but the teams went into the locker room scoreless at the half.
After halftime, OL Reign made no chances and started strong, with a shot from forward Elyse Bennett hitting the crossbar, followed by the Reign immediately winning a free kick just a few yards outside of the box, but couldn’t quite find the back of the net.
In the 69th minute, substitute Ryanne Brown drew a penalty kick for the Reign, as she was fouled just inside the 18-yard box. Captain of the match, Balcer stepped up to take the kick and confidently converted to the upper right of the goal, giving Yanez no chance to save it.
Now up a goal, the Reign continued to push on nearly finding another, but forward Elyse Bennett was flagged offside. The referee added a minimum of six minutes of stoppage time as the clock ran out and the Reign coolly saw the game through, taking all three points from the match, as well as clinching the top spot in the West division of the Challenge Cup and earning a spot in the Challenge Cup semifinal.
Key Facts:
KEEPERS KEEP OUT: OL Reign earned its sixth consecutive clean sheet in Challenge Cup play, dating back to the semifinals of the 2022 tournament. OL Reign has two goalkeepers in this year’s tournament with multiple clean sheets (Claudia Dickey – 3, Laurel Ivory – 2) and is the only team to not concede a goal in 2023. Additionally, OL Reign extended its league record for shutouts in Challenge Cup play to 12.
NO CHALLENGES HERE: OL Reign extended its unbeaten streak in the Challenge Cup to 14 games, a streak that dates to April 21, 2021.
WE OWN THE WEST: With today’s win, OL Reign clinched the West division in the Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year, guaranteeing the team a spot in the semifinals.
BETHANY BALCER: Forward Bethany Balcer scored the game-winning goal of the match off a penalty kick in the 71st minute to help the Reign secure the win. Balcer finished the match as the team leader in total shots (4).
CLAUDIA DICKEY: Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made her third NWSL start (across all competitions), earning her third consecutive clean sheet. Dickey is now tied for the most shutouts in the 2023 Challenge Cup and is tied for second in the league in saves (12).
SERIES: The win brings the all-time series to 6-0-2 between the Reign and San Diego Wave FC and extends the club’s all-time unbeaten streak against San Diego to eight games.
UP NEXT: OL Reign plays another 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match at Lumen Field, this time against the Portland Thorns. Get your tickets for the Cascadia rivalry match, which is also OL Reign’s annual Kids Day match!
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup
OL Reign 1 – 0 San Diego Wave FC
Date/Time: Friday, July 28, 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington
Weather: 79, Sunny
Scoring Summary
RGN: Bethany Balcer – 71’
SD: None
Discipline
RGN: None
SD: Hill (Caution – 56’), Pogarch (Caution – 90+5’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Dickey, D Latsko (Canales 90+5’), D Hiatt, D McClernon, D Holmes, M Van der Jagt, M Stanton, F Balcer ©, F Athens (Brown 65’), F Bennett (Viggiano 90+5’), F King (Malonson 89’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, M Fitzgerald, D Livingstone, F Weinert, F Edwards
Total Shots: 10 (Bennett – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Bennett – 2)
Fouls: 16 (Bennett – 4)
Offsides: 7
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 3 (Dickey – 3)
SD: GK Yanez, D Pogarch, D Riehl ©, D Westphal, D Shorts, M Hill (Connors 88’), M Enge, M Kornieck (Turnbow 46’), M Colaprico (Dougherty-Howard 46’), F Doniak (Barcenas 79’), F Shaw
Unused substitutes: GK Brzykcy, M Briede, D Dahlkemper, D Cortez, F Ali
Total Shots: 5 (Bright – 6)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Bright – 4)
Fouls: 16 (Cluff – 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 2 (Yanez – 2)
Player of the Match: Bethany Balcer
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Schwartz
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Beck
4th Official: Jacyln Metz
VAR: Robi Hullner
AVAR: Benjamin Wooten