Playoff Forecast: Reign FC Face North Carolina in NWSL Semifinal
Reign FC (10-6-8, 38 points) will travel to face NWSL Shield winners North Carolina Courage 15-5-4, 49 points) in the NWSL semifinal match on Sunday, October 20 at 10:30 a.m. PT. Reign FC was 1-2-0 against North Carolina during the regular season, notching their first win against the Courage at Cheney Stadium on May 27.
“Anybody that has been around this league, even a little bit, knows what North Carolina is capable of and how good they are,” Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “We’re underdogs. We know that they’re ahead of us. We also know that if we play our best game, we have a chance. All our focus is now on preparing to play our best game.”
Join Reign FC Official Watch Parties in Seattle and Tacoma
Fans can join Reign FC’s official watch parties presented by Budweiser in Seattle and Tacoma for Sunday’s match. Fans can head to the Atlantic Crossing in Seattle (6508 Roosevelt Way NE) and Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma (208 St. Helens Avenue). Both venues are open to patrons 21 and over.
Viewing parties will also include prize giveaways, along with food and drink specials.
Four Nominated for End of Season Awards
Three Reign FC players and head coach Vlatko Andonovski have been nominated for the NWSL’s end of season awards, the league announced Thursday.
Forward Bethany Balcer has been nominated for the Rookie of the Year award following her six-goal, two-assist campaign for the club.
Casey Murphy has been nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, after keeping six clean sheets and posting a 1.11 goals-against average after joining the club in May.
Lauren Barnes has been nominated for the Defender of the Year award. Barnes played the full 90 minutes in all 23 of her starts, conceding only eight fouls across the season.
Lastly, Vlatko Andonovski has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award. Andonovski helped guide a club through injuries and World Cup absences to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Fans can cast their votes on the NWSL website. Winners will be revealed in the days leading up to the NWSL Championship game on Sunday, October 27.
Last Match: 2-2 D at Orlando Pride
Reign FC stumbled in the final minutes of their regular season finale, settling for a 2-2 draw against the Orlando Pride after Marta scored a goal in the 86th minute.
After conceding the opening goal to Rachel Hill in the 24th minute, Reign FC pulled level when Darian Jenkins headed in a cross from Steph Catley in the 34th. Jodie Taylor added her fifth goal of the season seven minutes later to give the club the lead.
Orlando put Reign FC under pressure in the second half en route to outshooting the club 22-10. Reign FC keeper Casey Murphy made nine saves in the draw, including a fingertip save against a potential Marta game-winner late in second half stoppage time.
Scouting North Carolina
The Courage’s attack boasts three of the top 10 goal-scorers in the league. Lynn Williams (12 goals), Kristen Hamilton (9 goals) and Debinha (8 goals) have had stellar campaigns for North Carolina, while the club broke the league record for goals in a single season, scoring 54 across 24 regular-season contests.
North Carolina has won the last three NWSL Shields and appeared in the last two NWSL Championship matches, winning in 2018.
“North Carolina is a team with a proven track record of success,” Andonovski said. “We have to go in, be tough, stick to our principles and above all believe in ourselves. If we can use the same drive and the same resolve that we used to overcome the obstacles we faced during the regular season, then I think we have a good chance.”
Injury Report
Seven players are unavailable for selection in Sunday’s contest:
Michelle Betos (SEI – R achilles)
Jess Fishlock (SEI – L knee)
Taylor Smith (SEI – R knee)
Jasmyne Spencer (SEI – L knee)
Scout Watson (SEI – concussion)
Jaycie Johnson (SEI – R knee)
Rumi Utsugi (back)
Furthermore, two players are listed as questionable:
Megan Oyster (L knee)
Rebecca Quinn (R hamstring)
How to Watch
Fans inside the U.S. can watch the match live on ESPN2, while fans outside of the U.S. can watch the match live on their local ESPN channel or stream.