Get Your Head in the Game: A Lookback at OL Reign’s League Leading 11 Headed Goals
During the 2023 season, OL Reign notched 11 headed goals – the most of any team in the league. With the next best team only recording seven headed goals, the Reign’s dominance in the air was a key feature that allowed the team to succeed in the attack this season. In total, the team recorded a header goal against seven of the eleven other teams in the league during the 2023 season.
More impressive yet, the Reign had four total players score a header goal in the regular season and three players record three or more goals with their head. Forward Bethany Balcer led the league in headed goals with four, followed by forward Jordyn Huitema and Veronica Latsko, who were tied for second in the league with three. Forward Elyse Bennett also added to the Reign's aerial success with one headed goal.
Take a look back at each headed goal the Reign scored during the 2023 season:
April 22, 2023 vs. Chicago Red Stars – Bethany Balcer
Bethany Balcer, renowned for scoring goals with her head, opened OL Reign’s header goal onslaught on April 22 in the Reign’s dominate 5-2 win over the Red Stars. The header goal was her second of the match, securing a brace just 20 minutes in. OL Reign captain and defender Lu Barnes looped a cross into the box and Balcer’s placement was perfect, as she beat the Chicago defense to head the ball into the back of the net.
April 29, 2023 vs. Racing Louisville FC – Jordyn Huitema
Jordyn Huitema scored her first headed goal of the season against Racing Louisville FC on April 29. The goal was dramatic, tying the match in stoppage time, ultimately earning the Reign a point on the road. Defender Alana Cook lofted a ball into the box, setting Huitema up to direct it into the back of the net to tie up the match and squash Louisville's chances of earning three points.
May 6, 2023 vs. Houston Dash – Veronica Latsko
Forward Veronica Latsko joined OL Reign’s rank of headed goal scorers against her former team, the Houston Dash, on May 6. After a scoreless first half, Latsko made no mistakes as she headed a cross from forward Megan Rapinoe into the back of the net to take the lead for OL Reign in the 53rd minute of the match. The eventual game winner earned three points for the Reign and boosted the team to the top of the NWSL standings.
May 6, 2023 vs. Houston Dash – Jordyn Huitema
Huitema kept the header goals coming, scoring her second of the season the week after her first. This goal began with a cheeky play from Rapinoe and Balcer, before the ball was flicked behind to Latsko. The forward, who had already scored a goal in the match, served the ball to the back post, leaving Huitema to confidently head the ball past Houston’s goalkeeper and double OL Reign’s lead.
June 11, 2023 vs. Kansas City Current – Jordyn Huitema
Unrelenting, Huitema added her third header goal of the season in the Reigns’ 2-1 win over Kansas City at Lumen Field. Defender Sofia Huerta played one of her picture-perfect crosses into the box for Huitema to get on the end of. The reliable forward once again capitalized on the opportunity, leaving the goalkeeper no chance to save the ball.
June 24, 2023 vs. San Diego Wave FC – Bethany Balcer
In a standout match, Balcer notched not one, but two headed goals to push OL Reign past the Wave in 2-1 win on the road. Just eight minutes into the match, midfielder Quinn received the ball in the middle of the field and lofted a stellar ball to the top of the six-yard box for Balcer to get on the end of. Balcer, clearly adept with her head in front of goal, directed the ball into the back of the net after one bounce.
June 24, 2023 vs. San Diego Wave FC – Bethany Balcer
No, that’s not a typo – Balcer added another headed goal in the same match, which wound up being the game winner. After San Diego leveled the score two minutes into the second half, Huerta and Balcer connected in the 77th minute to secure three points for the Reign. Huerta’s looped cross found Balcer, who lost her defenders, to earn her header brace.
July 1, 2023 vs. Racing Louisville FC – Veronica Latsko
Latsko came up big for the Reign, beginning the team’s comeback against Louisville as she scored this 82nd minute header goal. Forward Elyse Bennett offered a cross into the box, where Latsko flicked the ball into the back of the net, halving the Reign’s deficit.
July 1, 2023 vs. Racing Louisville FC – Elyse Bennett
Forward Elyse Bennett joined Balcer, Huitema and Latsko on July 1 when she scored her lone header goal of the season to tie the match 2-2. This game-tying goal salvaged a point for the Reign in front of a home crowd. The equalizer came in the final minutes of the match, starting from a corner kick. As the ball from Barnes soared into the box, midfielder Nikki Stanton connected, directing it toward the goal. Bennett was waiting near the front post to give the ball the final push it needed to find the back of the net.
October 1, 2023 vs. North Carolina Courage – Bethany Balcer
Balcer’s final headed goal of the season came in OL Reign’s 1-1 draw against the Courage. The Reign opened the scoring in front of over 10,000 fans at Lumen Field, with their very first shot of the match. Rapinoe served a corner kick to the back post, where Balcer once again broke free of her defender, leaving nothing to chance as she found the back of the net with her powerful header. This goal marked her 13th all-time headed goal since entering the league in 2019.
October 20, 2023 vs. Angel City FC – Veronica Latsko
Latsko closed out OL Reign’s header goal count for the season with her iconic game winner against Angel City FC in the NWSL Quarterfinal at Lumen Field. In the 87th minute of the do or die match, defender Phoebe McClernon received the ball in a wide position before crossing it into the middle of the box. Latsko’s run into the box was timed to perfection, allowing her to head the ball into the back of the net, secure the win for the Reign and punch their ticket to the NWSL Semifinal.