Match Recap: OL Reign Falls 1-0 on the Road
OL Reign (0-1-0, 0 points, 11th place) fell 1-0 in their season opener at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. against the Washington Spirit (1-0-0, 3 points, 4th place). On a sunny day in D.C., the Reign maintained a firm hold of possession in the match but couldn’t quite put the ball in the back of the net.
OL Reign started the match on the front foot, using their energized high press to create the first real offensive threat of the match. Forward Bethany Balcer led the charge, registering the first shot of the match in the fifth minute. Forward Jordyn Huitema quickly followed suit, firing off a shot of her own just three minutes later.
The game quickly became heated as both teams battled for the opening goal and the physicality of the match ramped up. OL Reign maintained the vast majority of possession, while putting pressure on the Spirit’s backline.
As the half was coming to a close, the game remained deadlocked and the at the halftime whistle, they went to the locker room even at zero goals apiece.
The second half started with a 54th minute goal from Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. With the ball at her feet, Rodman arrived at the top of the box before shooting the ball low with pace to the bottom corner of the goal to give Washington the lead.
After going down a goal, the Reign searched for an equalizer but struggled to assert dominance in the match. The team came close to finding an equalizer a couple of times, with chances for midfielder Rose Lavelle, newly acquired forward Elyse Bennett and Huitema.
Despite the team’s efforts, the match ended 1-0 in favor of the Spirit. OL Reign is set to stay on the east coast to prepare for their match against NJ/NY Gotham FC next Saturday.
Key Facts:
· OL Reign captain and defender Lu Barnes made her 190th NWSL regular season appearance, setting a new league record.
· Elyse Bennett and Emily Sonnet both made their first appearance for OL Reign
UP NEXT: OL Reign continues their road trip on the east coast to take on NJ/NY Gotham FC next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT.
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 NWSL Regular Season
Washington Spirit 1-0 OL Reign
Date/Time: Sunday, March 26, 2023, 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Weather: 67, Sunny
Scoring Summary
RGN: None
WAS: Rodman – 54’
Discipline
RGN: Sonnett (Caution – 42’)
WAS: Hatch (Caution – 20’), Sullivan (Caution – 49’), Sheva (Caution – 88’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes, D Hiatt, D Cook, D Huerta, M Fishlock, M Sonnett, M Lavelle, F King (Bennett 63’), F Balcer (Van der Jagt 63’), F Huitema
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, M Stanton, M Athens, M Canales, D Brown, F Latsko, D Holmes
Total Shots: 16 (Balcer – 5)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Balcer – 2)
Fouls: 9 (Cook, Sonnett – 2)
Offsides: 4
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)
WAS: GK Kingsbury, D Carle (Elwell 85’), D Staab, D Bailey, M Feist (Sheva 85’), M Sullivan, M Metayer, D McKeown (Brooks 61’), F Sanchez, F Rodman (Silano 85’), F Hatch (Kuhlmann 76’)
Unused substitutes: GK Barnhart, M Jaurena, M Baggett, M Douglas,
Total Shots: 12
Shots on Goal: 4
Fouls: 15
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 0
Saves: 4
Player of the Match: Jess Fishlock
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Assistant Referee 1: Jessica Carnevale
Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Smith
4th Official: Gary Gutierrez
Var: Jorge Gonzalez
Avar: Benjamin Wooten