Forward Maddie Dahlien Scores First Professional Goal Against Portland

It’s been a dream start to the 2025 campaign for forward Maddie Dahlien.

In her first season as a professional, Dahlien has been one of just five Reign players to start every match. With each minute played, her confidence continues to grow – and she’s just getting started.

Reaching the next major milestone in her professional career, Dahlien netted her first-ever professional goal in Friday night’s match, securing three points for the Reign against their biggest rival, Portland Thorns FC.

The match marked Dahlien’s first Cascadia Rivalry match and she showed up in a big way. Through the first four matches of the season, the forward led the team in shots (9) and shots on goal (6) but had yet to find the back of the net. That changed just four minutes into Friday night’s match at Lumen Field.

Dahlien received a pass from veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo and displayed poise beyond her years as she shifted the ball to her right foot and smacked a shot to the far post to win the match.

This is just the beginning for the young forward, who continues to make progress each week. Her teammates, including Biyendolo, don’t see her stopping anytime soon.

“She's a very speedy forward. I think backlines should be very threatened from her, but she's also crafty. She sees the game really well, and she's young. I just think that her ceiling is so high, and I feel very lucky to be able to play with her and get to see her grow. I think that even from preseason to now, her game has grown exponentially, and I can't wait to see the player she is at the end of the season, but also in 10 years from now,” said Biyendolo.

For the NWSL-newcomer, recording her first goal is a weight off her shoulders.

“Yeah, it definitely feels good. I’ve been taking a lot of reps and to see if one finally hit the back of the net was just kind of a monkey off my shoulder. Lynn is so fun to play with, and I know I'm always ready when she's on the ball and I think it just was really exciting and overall a really good team win.”

She continued, "I think the main word that would describe it is just surreal. I mean, I've idolized Lynn, Jess [Fishlock], a lot of these players on this team, and especially from a player like Lynn, like, it's just amazing to soak in all of the information that she has because I can learn the most from her. I'm in awe of her every day and I think it's just a blessing to be on the field with her.

Dahlien said, “It's only our first really real game together, but I think it's just kind of a starting off point and the things she said about me were obviously amazing and I have all the most respect for her, but just I don't really have the words to describe it honestly.”

As Dahlien navigates the rigors of professional soccer, she has the benefit of learning alongside one of the most prolific attacking players in Biyendolo.

“I think that Maddie's ceiling is so high. I have said this in multiple meetings or media things and I don't know if I've actually said it to [her], but [she] reminds me of a younger me. And I am hopeful that I can help in any way to teach [her] things that I learned later in my career, so [she] can surpass me,” shared Biyendolo.