Match Recap: Late Goal from Jess Fishlock Leads Reign FC to Victory Over Bay FC
Under the Saturday night sun at PayPal Park, Reign FC defeated Bay FC 3-2 in a back-and-forth battle. Mia Fishel added her first run of play goal, while Maddie Dahlien notched her second goal of the season and Jess Fishlock scored a heroic game-winner in the dying minutes of the match.
From the first whistle, it only took the Reign five minutes to find the back of the net, as they fought to win every ball in the midfield. Dahlien made easy work of receiving a pass out to the left side of the field and flamed toward the endline, cutting a cross into the middle of the box. Fishel had her skill on full display as she tapped the ball around her defender and the goalkeeper to give Reign FC the early lead.
Three minutes later, the Reign fired off back-to-back shots but Jordan Silkowitz was able to save each one, however Dahlien doubled the Reign’s lead in the 10th minute of the match. After a ball switched through the heart of Bay FC’s midfield, Dahlien picked up possession and dribbled into the box, ending the attack with a clinical finish to the right post.
The Reign enjoyed a two-goal lead for just three minutes before Bay FC struck back. With the ball at her feet, Hannah Bebar drove forward and opted to the take a shot herself from outside the 18-yard box, finding the top right corner of the goal.
It looked as though Bay had leveled the score later in the first half, but the goal was called back as Dorian Bailey was ruled offside after a lengthy video review.
Not content with a one-goal lead, the Reign continued to press forward. In the 34th minute Maddie Mercado nearly found a third for the Reign as she used a combination of speed and footwork to bypass her defender into the 18-yard box and direct a shot on target, but Silkowitz dove to push the ball over the bar and keep the score 2-1.
To close out the half Dahlien had another quick break but was dragged down just outside the 18-yard box, though the Reign were unable to capitalize on the free kick and headed into halftime up 2-1 on the road.
The home side started the second half with more energy than the first, looking to level the game, but Seattle held them off until the 75th minute. Bay FC drew a foul in the Reign’s defensive half of the field and opted to take the set piece short to Bebar, who quickly threaded the needle to find Keira Barry in the box. Barry found the right side of the goal past Claudia Dickey to level the score.
As the game was winding down, both teams began to bring substitutes onto the pitch to fight for three points. Reign FC veteran Jess Fishlock subbed onto the field in the 84th minute and less than a minute later, found the game winning goal. Emeri Adames, another late sub for the Reign, played a ball over the top of Bay FC’s defense, and Fishlock knew exactly where to be. She got on the end of the ball and made no mistake as the shot the ball low and hard past Silkowitz to secure the win for Reign FC.
UP NEXT: Reign FC returns home to Lumen Field on Sunday, August 9 for Reign FC’s annual RISE Together Match against Angel City FC. Secure your tickets before it’s too late!
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
FISHEL STRIKES AGAIN: Mia Fishel scored her second goal for Reign FC in the fifth minute of the match – and her first run-of-play goal.
DOUBLE DAHLIEN: Maddie Dahlien had two goal contibutions in the match, first earning the assist on Fishel’s goal before scoring her own. This marks her second assist and goal of the season. This is the second time Dahlien has recorded multiple goal contributions in her career. She previously recorded a goal and assist on June 21, 2025 against Utah.
FISHLOCK FINISH: Reing OG Jess Fishlock subbed onto the field in the 84th minute before scoring the game-winning goal in the 85th minute of the match. The goal marked the 50th of her career, making her the 10th player to reach that milestone. It was her 15th game-winning goal and 80th regular season goal contribution.