Match Recap: OL Reign Serves Portland First Home Loss of 2023
OL Reign (3-0-1, 10 points, 1st place) took down Cascadia rivals Portland Thorns FC (1-2-0, 3 points, 3rd place) 1-0 in their midweek UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match. With this win, the Reign extended its unbeaten streak in the Challenge Cup to 13 games, dating back to April 21, 2021. The 13-game undefeated streak ties the Challenge Cup, alongside the North Carolina Courage.
The first half of the rivalry match was largely spent in the middle of the field as both teams searched one another for a weakness. In the fifth minute of the match, OL Reign sent a warning sign to the Thorns as they mounted a counterattack and earned a corner kick, but ultimately could not find the back of the net.
The depth of OL Reign’s roster really showed as every player hustled around the field, challenging Portland on both sides of the ball. In the 41st minute, defender Ryanne Brown’s tenacity was on full display as she used her speed and skill to lead an attack and earn another corner for the Reign.
Just two minutes later, it looked like OL Reign had taken the lead when Brown and forward Veronica Latsko combined down the right side of the field past Portland’s defense. Latsko crossed a ball into the box, where forward Elyse Bennett got in front of the defense and put the ball into the back of net. However, the goal was called back as Bennett was flagged offside and play continued.
Before the half was over, the Reign were knocking at the door again. Forward McKenzie Weinert had the last change of the half as the ball popped out to her in Portland’s 18-yard box, but her shot was saved by Shelby Hogan in goal for Portland. The teams went into the locker room scoreless at halftime.
In the second half, it took OL Reign just over 10 minutes to find the back of the net. After Bennett’s first time finding the back of the net was called back, she was hungry to do it again. The Reign earned a free kick, which defender Shae Holmes took quickly, passing the ball short to defender Alyssa Malonson. Malonson served a ball into the box and Bennett made no mistakes as she got her head on the end of it to send it into the back of the net.
Through the rest of the match, the Reign pushed on, fueled by several subs entering the match. Forward Jadyn Edwards came onto the field and immediately had an impact, getting a chance near goal with one of her first touches. The entire team came together to see the game through to the end.
Asked to do a lot of defending in the final minutes of the match, the Reign squad was up to the challenge. Goalkeeper Laurel Ivory made two big saves in stoppage time to deny the Thorns from getting on the board. Finally, the final whistle sounded, and the Reign were victorious, serving Portland their first home loss of 2023.
Key Facts:
· KEEP OUT: OL Reign earned its fourth consecutive shutout in the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup and eighth in 2023 across all competitions. The Reign are the only team to not allow a goal during this year’s Challenge Cup and are the only team to have three goalkeepers with a clean sheet in 2023.
· Additionally, OL Reign holds the record for total clean sheets in Challenge Cup play (11).
· This also marks the first time Portland was held scoreless at home across all competitions since August 27, 2022, a streak of 11 games.
· NO CHALLENGES HERE: OL Reign extended its unbeaten streak in the Challenge Cup to 13 games, a streak that dates to April 21, 2021. The 13-game undefeated streak ties the Challenge Cup record with the North Carolina Courage.
· USE YOUR HEAD: OL Reign has eight headed goals in 2023 across all competitions. With forward Elyse Bennett’s headed goal against Portland, she became the fourth player on the team this year with a headed goal.
· WASHINGTON REPRESENT: Tonight’s starting XI featured three players who played at University of Washington: defender Shae Holmes, midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt and forward McKenzie Weinert.
· ELYSE BENNETT: Forward Elyse Bennett scored a headed goal to open up the scoring in the 56th minute. The goal marks Bennett’s first in the 2023 Challenge Cup.
· Bennett is one of two players on OL Reign with a goal in the Challenge Cup and in the regular season in 2023, joining forward Jordyn Huitema.
· ALYSSA MALONSON: Defender Alyssa Malonson made her first professional start for OL Reign and assisted the game-winning goal in the 56th minute.
· Malonson is one of five defenders on the Reign to record an assist in 2023 across all competitions.
· MCKENZIE WEINERT: Forward McKenzie Weinert made her OL Reign debut tonight, just two days after signing with the club. Weinert grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon, approximately 20 minutes from Providence Park.
· Weinert finished the match leading the team in shots (2) and duels won (11).
· SERIES: The win brings the all-time series to 15-13-8 between the Reign and Portland Thorns FC.
· OL Reign (7-4-2) will play their next match on Saturday, July 1, at Lumen Field against Racing Louisville FC (3-4-6).
UP NEXT: OL Reign are back home at Lumen Field in Seattle on Saturday, July 1 for a regular season match against Racing Louisville FC at 12:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for the match are available HERE.
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup
OL Reign 2 – 1 Portland Thorns FC
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 28, 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Providence Park in Portland, Oregon
Weather: 79, sunny
Scoring Summary
RGN: Bennett – 56’
POR: None
Discipline
RGN: None
POR: Nally (Caution – 54’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Ivory, D Brown (Balcer 75’), D Holmes, D Hiatt © (Barnes 75’), D Malonson, M Canales, M Van der Jagt (McClernon 70’), M Athens (Edwards 75’), F Latsko, F Bennett, F Weinert (Viggiano 83’)
Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, M Fishlock, M Luany, F King
Total Shots: 7 (Weinert – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 6 (Latsko – 3)
Offsides: 4
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 4 (Ivory – 4)
POR: GK Hogan, D Klingenberg (McGrady 77’), D Nally, D Hubly, D Reyes, M Porter (Provenzano 77’), M Coffey ©, M Moultrie, F Vasconcelos (Beckman 63’), F D’Aquila, F Betfort (Kuikka 63’)
Unused substitutes: GK Bixby, D Menges, F Weaver, GK Kozal
Total Shots: 9 (Moultrie – 4)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Moutlrie – 3)
Fouls: 6 (Moultrie, Reyes – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 2 (Hogan – 2)
Player of the Match: Elyse Bennett
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referee 1: Tiffini Turpin
Assistant Referee 2: Sharon Gingrich
4th Official: Corbyn May
VAR: Kevin Broadley
AVAR: Christopher Spivey