Match Recap: Seattle Reign FC Loses 1-0 in San Diego

In the team's second consecutive match on the road, Reign FC fell to San Diego Wave by a score of 1-0.

The Reign kicked off the match in a new formation for the 2024 season, shifting in the midfield as Olivia Athens and Olivia Van der Jagt slotted into the starting lineup. From the first whistle, it was clear the match was going to be a back-and-forth battle, requiring both teams to be sharp on the ball in the attack and on defense.

Just four minutes into the match, Seattle strung together a series of passes that ended with a cross to the back post, where forward Bethany Balcer was freeing herself of San Diego’s defense to get on the ball. Though her ensuing header did not find the back of the net, the Reign sent a clear warning sign to the Wave early in the match.

The game continued to build and Seattle was asked to defend as San Diego began to thread the ball into the offensive third of the field. In the 8th minute, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made a diving save to keep forward Alex Morgan’s shot out of the goal and play continued on. Dickey was asked to perform once again, this time in the 27th minute, as she stopped a close range shot from Jaedyn Shaw in the 27th minute and another shot on target from Sofia Jakobsson in the 28th minute.

Two minutes later, defender Lily Woodham and Balcer connected in the 30th minute, ending with a shot on target from Balcer, but it went straight into the hands of Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Before the half was over, veteran defender and captain for the Reign, Lauren Barnes, barely deflected a shot headed toward goal, pushing it to hit the post and clear from danger. After an intense battle, the teams went into the locker room deadlocked.

Early in the second half, defender Alana Cook subbed onto the pitch for the Reign, making her return from injury and reaching her milestone 5,000th minute played. In the 63rd minute, Seattle had a great attacking opportunity, starting with forward Jordyn Huitema picking up possession from San Diego in their own half of the field. She began a very patient string of passes from the Reign, drawing San Diego all over the half, but the clean play ultimately did not result in a real threat from the Reign.

As both teams began to make more substitutions, the game began to intensify. In the 78th minute, the Reign showed its defensive strength as San Diego fired off multiple close-range shots back-to-back. Through all of the shots, the Reign remained strong and kept the Wave off the score board.

In one of the Reign’s final offensive opportunities of the match, Ji danced past the Wave’s defensive to get a shot off, but her shot was blocked. Balcer was nearby to follow up, but her shot went off target.

As the match entered 11 minutes of stoppage time, it looked like San Diego had found a game winner, but the goal was reviewed and called back. Play went on as the teams were tied 0-0 and the Reign were asked to defend an onslaught of offensive play from San Diego.

The game was decided in the 8th minute of stoppage time, when the ball was bouncing from player to player in the Reign’s 18-yard box. Morgan cut the ball back to Wave substitute Emily van Egmond, who put her shot to the lower right corner to take the lead for San Diego.

UP NEXT: After an international window, Seattle Reign FC returns to play with another match on road on Sunday, April 14 at 5:00 p.m. PT vs. Bay FC. Fans can tune in on NWSL+.

MATCH SUMMARY 

2024 NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC 0 – 1 San Diego Wave FC

Date/Time: Friday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. PT 

Location: Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California

Weather: 59, sunny

Scoring Summary 

SEA: None

SD: Van Egmond – 90+8’

Discipline  

SEA: Barnes (Caution – 33’), Harvey (Caution – 90+10’)

SD: None

Lineups 

SEA: GK Dickey, D Huerta, D Barnes (c), D McClernon (Cook 57’), D Woodham (Brown 76’), M Van der Jagt, M Ji, M Athens (King 76’), M James-Turner (Stanton 89’), F Balcer (Adames 89’), F Huitema

Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lester, D Holmes, F Weinert

Total Shots: 9 (Balcer – 3) 

Shots on Goal: 2 (Balcer, James-Turner – 1) 

Fouls: 8 (Barnes, Van der Jagt – 2) 

Offsides: 3

Corner Kicks: 0

Saves: 4 (Dickey – 4) 

SD: GK Sheridan, D Lundkvist, D Girma, D Dahlkemper (c), D McNabb (Torpey 58’), M Colaprico, M McCaskill, M Doniak (Carusa 66’), M Shaw (Van Egmond 58’), F Morgan, F Jakobsson (Barcenas 89’)

Unused substitutes: GK Beall, M Enge, F Bennett, D Westphal, M Ascanio

Total Shots: 16 (Morgan – 5) 

Shots on Goal: 5 (Morgan – 2)

Fouls: 9 (Three tied with – 2) 

Offsides: 2

Corner Kicks: 7

Saves: 2 (Sheridan – 2)  

Player of the Match: Claudia Dickey

Referee: Alex Billeter

Assistant Referee 1: Salma Perez

Assistant Referee 2: Jennifer Garner

4th Official: Servando Berna

VAR: Samantha Martinez

AVAR: Ekaterina Koroleva