Match Recap: OL Reign Earn Third Draw of the Season
OL Reign (0-1-3, 3 points) picked up their third draw of the regular season tonight against the Washington Spirit (1-1-2, 5 points) after playing to a score of 0-0. In the sunny match at Lumen Field, two OL Reign players hit big milestones – forward Veronica Latsko made her 50th NWSL regular season appearance and defender Lu Barnes became the first ever NWSL player to hit 15,000 minutes played.
OL Reign started the match excelling offensively, firing off seven shots through the first half. The team did well to patiently work the ball around the field and were just missing the final touch to put the ball in the back of the net. Chances came from Lavelle, Balcer, Fishlock and Latsko. The Reign’s back line did well to fend Washington off, holding the team to just two shots and only one on target in the first half.
Defenders Alana Cook and Sam Hiatt led OL Reign’s defensive efforts, effectively limiting the number of offensive chances that Washington’s dangerous front line could create. OL Reign had a great chance in the 41st minute when Veronica Latsko hit a powerful shot into the crossbar. The game was deadlocked at 0-0 heading into halftime.
After halftime, the Reign brought on forward Megan Rapinoe in an attempt to switch things up offensively and capitalize on the opportunities the team was creating. The Reign opened the half with five shots in the first ten minutes, but nothing found its way past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
Forward Ally Watt used her speed against Washington, getting on the end of through balls several times and taking on the Spirit defense and goalkeeper. Kingsbury narrowly kept the ball out of the net each time as the game was coming to a close, the Reign pushed on and continued to create chances.
Their last chance of the game for OL Reign came in stoppage time, when defender Sofia Huerta forced Kingsbury to make a save. Despite dictating the tempo of the game, OL Reign split the points with Washington to earn their third draw of the regular season.
The congested schedule for the Reign continues, as they play at Lumen Field again on Wednesday against the Kansas City Current.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
· This is OL Reign’s third draw of the regular season. The team is now 0-1-3 (3 points)
· With her start, forward Veronica Latsko made her 50th NWSL regular season appearance
· Lu Barnes hit her 15,000th regular season minute played after the 46th minute of the match
· OL Reign remains undefeated at Lumen Field
UP NEXT: OL Reign play the Kansas City Current at Lumen Field in Seattle on Wednesday, May 25. Get tickets here.
MATCH SUMMARY
2022 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 0-0 Washington Spirit
Date/Time: Sunday, May 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington
Weather: 65, Sunny
Scoring Summary
RGN: None
WAS: None
Discipline
RGN: Van der Jagt (Caution – 74’)
WAS: Rodman (Caution – 71’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes ©, D Hiatt, D Cook, D Huerta, M Quinn (Miramontez 87’), M Fishlock, M Lavelle (Van der Jagt 71’), F Latsko (Watt 61’), F Angelina (Rapinoe 46’ (King 87’)), F Balcer (Stanton 90+7’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lopez, D McClernon
Total Shots: 20 (Latsko – 5)
Shots on Goal: 8 (Watt – 3)
Fouls: 8 (Fishlock, Balcer – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 2 (Tullis-Joyce – 2)
WAS: GK Kingsbury, D Biegalski, D Staab, D Sonnett, D Heilferty (Sullivan 62’), M Roddar (Brooks 77’), M Aylmer (O’Hara 62’), M Feist (Alexander 70’), F Hatch (Elwell 69’), F Rodman (Harding 77’), F Sanchez
Unused substitutes: D Rodriguez, D Goff, GK Kerr
Total Shots: 7 (Sanchez – 2)
Shots on Goal: 2 (Sanchez – 1)
Fouls: 10 (Roddar, Hatch – 2)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 8 (Kingbury – 8)
Budweiser Player of the Match: Veronica Latsko
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Beck
Assistant Referee 2: Bennett Savage
4th Official: Christopher Calderon