Match Recap: OL Reign Clinches Playoff Spot with 3-0 Win over Chicago
OL Reign (9-8-5, 32 points, 4th place) defeated the Chicago Red Stars (7-12-3, 24 points, 12th place) in a decisive 3-0 match on the road. The victory, which featured a Megan Rapinoe brace and Jess Fishlock goal, means that OL Reign will host a home playoff game for the third consecutive season.
The Reign saw the majority of the offensive action in the first half of the match, registering seven shots compared to the zero shots of the home side. Midfielder and Reign original Jess Fishlock had a close call in the 12th minute of the match, hitting the woodwork instead of the back of the net.
OL Reign continued to control the match, with forwards Megan Rapinoe, Jordyn Huitema and Veronica Latsko finding shots toward goal, along with midfielder Quinn. However, none of the shots were quite enough to bypass Alyssa Naeher in goal for the Red Stars. The first half ended in a scoreless draw, but OL Reign was hungry for a goal.
As the second half began, it was clear that the Reign were not content with a draw in the match. Rapinoe finally began the scoring in the 47th minute of the match, with the help of Quinn. The Canadian midfielder found Rapinoe near the top of the 18-yard box. Rapinoe cut inside before finding the far post to give OL Reign the lead.
Rapinoe wasn’t done after one, though. She found the back of the net once again just three minutes later. Her 50th minute goal was assisted by Fishlock who fed Rapinoe the ball near the top of the box once again, setting her up for a far post repeat.
Before the match was over, OL Reign did it again, bringing the score to 3-0. After going to video review, it was determined that Fishlock was onside for the through ball from defender Alana Cook. Fishlock made no mistakes as she took the ball to goal herself and solidified the Reign’s victory in the 59th minute.
At the final whistle, the Reign defeated the Red Stars 3-0 and will host an NWSL quarterfinal match at Lumen Field on Friday, October 20. Tickets for the match are available NOW.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
ALL THE ASSISTS: OL Reign finished the match with an assist on all three goals from defender Alana Cook, midfielder Jess Fishlock and midfielder Quinn. The last time the Reign had three different players record an assist in the same game was earlier this season on April 22, which was also against the Chicago Red Stars.
BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS: With tonight’s result, OL Reign clinched a spot in the NWSL playoffs, marking the club’s fifth consecutive appearance in the NWSL playoffs and seventh all-time. The current streak of five consecutive playoff appearances is the second-longest active streak in the NWSL.
SHUTOUT NO. SEVEN: OL Reign finished the 2023 regular season with seven clean sheets, tied for the fourth most in the league.
THE OGs: OL Reign originals Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe each scored in tonight’s win. The last time Fishlock and Rapinoe both scored in the same game was April 22, 2017, against the Houston Dash.
ALANA COOK: Defender Alana Cook connected with midfielder Jess Fishlock in the 59th minute to get the assist on the team’s third goal of the night, which is her second assist of the season.
CLAUDIA DICKEY: In just her first six regular season starts for OL Reign, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned her second consecutive clean sheet and third this season.
JESS FISHLOCK: Midfielder Jess Fishlock scored the third goal of the match to give the Reign a 3-0 lead in the 59th minute, marking her fourth goal of the season, which is tied for third on the team. Fishlock also earned an assist on the second goal, her first of the season and 25th all-time.
Fishlock has 42 goals and 25 assists all-time, all with OL Reign. Fishlock is now tied with Lynn Williams for the third-most career goals for a single club in league history and is one of two players, joining forward Megan Rapinoe, to record 25+ assists with one club.
MEGAN RAPINOE: Forward Megan Rapinoe recorded the first two goals of the match, which occurred within three minutes of each other, marking her first brace of the season and fourth goal this year. The last time Rapinoe recorded a brace was on August 14, 2022, against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Rapinoe has 51 goals all-time, which is the most in club history and sixth in NWSL history. The 11-year veteran is one of two players in league history to record 50+ goals with one club.
QUINN: Midfielder Quinn earned the assist on the opening goal when they connected with forward Megan Rapinoe in the 47th minute, marking their second of the season and third all-time.
UP NEXT: OL Reign will host Angel City FC in an NWSL quarterfinal match up at Lumen Field on Friday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available HERE.
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 3 – 0 Chicago Red Stars
Date/Time: Sunday, October 15, 2:00 p.m. PT
Location: Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois
Weather: 54, cloudy
Scoring Summary
RGN: Rapinoe – 47', 50’, Fishlock – 59'
CHI: None
Discipline
RGN: Latsko (Caution – 23’), Cook (Caution – 89'), Balcer (90+3’)
CHI: Wright (Caution – 90+4')
Lineups
RGN: GK Dickey, D Brown (Huerta 70’), D Cook, D Barnes (c), D McClernon, M Sonnett, M Quinn (Stanton 88’), M Fishlock (Van der Jagt 70’), F Latsko, F Huietma (Bennett 88’), F Rapinoe (Balcer 76’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, M Angelina, M Lavelle, D Hiatt
Total Shots: 14 (Rapinoe – 4)
Shots on Goal: 7 (Fishlock, Rapinoe – 2)
Fouls: 11 (Balcer – 3)
Offsides: 5
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 1 (Dickey – 1)
CHI: GK Naeher, D Milazzo, D Sharples, D Wright, M Krueger, M Roccaro, M Bianchi (Stevens 60’), M Nagasato, F Cook (Schlegel 70’), F St. Georges (Bike 86’), F Matthews (Hocking 60’)
Unused substitutes: GK Boyd, M Aguilera, M Fisher, D Kowalski, M Malham
Total Shots: 7 (Seven tied with 1)
Shots on Goal: 1 (St. Georges – 1)
Fouls: 11 (Krueger – 3)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 3 (Naeher – 3)
Player of the Match: Megan Rapinoe
Referee: Anya Voigt
Assistant Referee 1: Ethan Buege
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Seem
4th Official: Esad Omanovic
VAR: Shawn Tehini
AVAR: Tom Supple