Match Recap: Reign FC Falls 2-1 to Washington
Under the Friday night lights in Seattle, the Reign fell 2-1 to the Washington Spirit. After initially going down a goal, defender Shae Holmes pulled the Reign level with her first professional goal, but the Reign conceded once more before the end of the first half, which ultimately determined the result of the match.
The visitors started the match on the front foot, aggressively pressuring the Reign. Within the opening few minutes of the match, Washington generated two attacking opportunities, culminating with a corner kick. The corner kick posed no real threat to the Reign, who turned the play around and mounted a counterattack. Forward Maddie Dahlien surged forward and played a cross into the center of the box, looking to connect with fellow forward Jordyn Huitema, but narrowly missed.
On the other side of the field, the Spirit found the back of the net in the sixth minute of the match, forward Gift Monday getting the final touch on the ball, but the ref went to the monitor to review the play and she was ruled offside and the match remained tied.
The Reign continued to defend, eventually giving up the opening goal of the match just five minutes later. Defender Casey Krueger received the ball at her feet after making a wide run and looped it into the box, where midfielder Croix Bethune barely got a touch on it to direct it into the back of the net to take the lead.
The Spirit did not hold onto the lead for long, as defender Shae Holmes leveled the score for the Reign. Defender Jordyn Bugg started the play by whipping a pass out wide to defender Madison Curry. Curry centered the ball, sending it all the way through the box. Washington’s defense got a touch to the ball, but it fell to the feet of Holmes, who took a touch to settle the ball and shift it across her body before unleashing a powerful shot into the back of the net.
Before halftime, the Spirit retook the lead on a goal from forward Ashley Hatch. Monday sent a low cross in front of the goal and Hatch got her foot on it to tap it home.
In stoppage time, the Reign front line pressed the Spirit heavily, looking for an equalizer before halftime, but to no avail.
Returning after the halftime break, Seattle was lively, applying consistent pressure to the Spirit. Momentum continued to build, energy palpable at Lumen Field. Head Coach Laura Harvey brought in reinforcements in the form of midfielder Jess Fishlock and Lynn Biyendolo in the 61st minute. The two veterans brought an immediate boost of energy as the Reign continued to fight back against the Spirit. Knocking at the door, the team earned five shots and entered the final third of the field 39 times.
The 89th minute brought the debut of Reign FC midfielder Sally Menti as she subbed onto the field for Dahlien, adding to the Reign’s push for a goal at the end of the match. Despite the team's best efforts, the Reign were unable to find a second goal and fell 2-1 to the Spirit.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
HOLMES: Defender Shae Holmes scored Reign FC's lone goal of the match, marking her first professional goal.
MENTI: Midfielder Sally Menti made her Reign FC debut when she entered the match as a substitute in the 89th minute.
UP NEXT: The Reign begin a three-match road stretch, first taking on San Diego Wave FC on Friday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tune in on Prime Video!