Match Recap: OL Reign Earns Three Points Against Orlando Pride
OL Reign (8-3-7, 27 points, 4th place) picked up a crucial three points in their 1-0 win over the Orlando Pride (7-10-1, 9th place) at Lumen Field. In the team’s annual Fan Appreciation Match, presented by BECU, Jordyn Huitema’s second half goal made all the difference in front of the 10,106-fan crowd.
The match got off to a dramatic start as Orlando’s goalkeeper, Anna Moorhouse, was issued a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity in the third minute with her challenge on Bethany Balcer, who was blazing forward on a through ball played by defender Phoebe McClernon.
With Orlando down to 10 players, the Reign took their opportunity to get into the attack, registering four shots before the 10th minute of the match. At the ten-minute mark, OL Reign was forced to make a sub as Balcer went down with an injury.
OL Reign was controlling the match all over the field, earning a total of 13 shots in the first half. Midfielder Rose Lavelle was a top creator for the Reign, controlling the midfield and moving the ball around the field. The Reign also held on to over 55% of possession but were lacking a final touch to get the ball into the back of the net. At the halftime whistle, the teams were deadlocked at 0-0 but the Reign were knocking.
Coming back from halftime, it was the home-side to finally find the opening goal of the evening when Lavelle took a shot toward goal, but it was saved by Carly Nelson, who subbed into goal in the third minute of the match. However, Huitema was waiting near the penalty spot for the rebound and coolly shot it low and hard into the back of the net in the 49th minute.
As the game progressed, both teams made a couple of subs and the tempo slowed, but the Reign were still solid, both finding chances of their own and shutting the Pride down. At the final whistle, OL Reign earned three points in front of a home crowd and held Orlando to their lowest total shots in a single match this season.
Key facts:
FINISHING STRONG: Since the 2015 season, OL Reign is unbeaten in 25 of 30 regular season games played during the months of September and October, holding a record of 18-5-7 for a total of 61 points, averaging a league-best 2.03 points/game.
HOME SWEET HOME: After not playing a regular season game at home since July 1, OL Reign made their return and with today’s win, the Reign have totaled a league-best 41 points at home since naming Lumen Field home at the start of the 2022 season.
STARTING UP THE OGs: Today’s match marks the 68th time all three OGs – captain/defender Lauren Barnes, midfielder Jess Fishlock and forward Megan Rapinoe – have started together in a regular season game since the 2013 season.
JESS FISHLOCK: Making her first start since July 7, midfielder Jess Fishlock recorded a season high in shots (5), tied for first on the team. Fishlock added two chances created, two duels won and one clearance.
JORDYN HUITEMA: Forward Jordyn Huitema scored the opening goal in the 49th minute to give OL Reign a 1-0 lead. After entering the match as a substitute in the 10th minute, Huitema finished the match with five shots and five duels won.
Huitema joins forward Bethany Balcer for most goals on the team through Week 18, with five.
MEGAN RAPINOE: Forward Megan Rapinoe returned to the starting XI today for the first time since June 10, when the club hosted Kansas City.
Rapinoe has 49 regular season goals in her career, which ranks sixth in NWSL history.
SERIES: The win brings the all-time series to 7-2-7 between the Reign and Orlando Pride, extending OL Reign’s all-time home unbeaten record against Orlando to 5-0-3.
UP NEXT: OL Reign is back at Lumen Field on Wednesday, September 6 to take on Racing Louisville FC in the 2023 UKG NWSL Semifinal. Tickets are available HERE.
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 1 – 0 Orlando Pride
Date/Time: Sunday, September 3, 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Weather: 68, showers
Scoring Summary
RGN: Huitema – 49'
ORL: None
Discipline
RGN: None
ORL: Moorehouse (Red Card – 3’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Dickey, D Huerta, D Cook, D McClernon, D Barnes ©, M Fishlock (Latsko 66’), M Quinn (Van der Jagt 66’), M Sonnett, M Lavelle (Angelina 85’), F Balcer (Huitema 10’), F Rapinoe (Bennett 85’)
Unused substitutes: GK Tullis-Joyce, M Stanton, F King, D Hiatt
Total Shots: 18 (Fishlock, Huitema – 5)
Shots on Goal: 7 (Three tied with – 2)
Fouls: 16 (Three tied with – 2)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 1 (Dickey– 1)
ORL: GK Moorhouse, D McCutcheon (Villacorta 71’), D Souza, D Madril, D Strom, M Listro (Nelson 5’), M Cluff, M Marta ©, F Abello (Martinez 64’), F Doyle (Watt 64’), F Bright (Larroquette 71’)
Unused substitutes: M Tymrak, D Celia, D Montefusco, F Yates
Total Shots: 4 (Marta – 2)
Shots on Goal: 1 (Marta – 1)
Fouls: 13 (four tied with– 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 6 (Nelson – 6)
Player of the Match: Jordyn Huitema
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Assistant Referee 1: Noah Kenyawani
Assistant Referee 2: Baboucarr Jallow
4th Official: Christopher Calderon
VAR: Shawn Tehini
AVAR: Benjamin Wooten