Match Recap: Reign FC Falls 3-1 in North Carolina
On a sweltering Saturday in Cary, North Carolina, Sally Menti struck first but the Reign ultimately fell 3-1 to the Courage.
From the first kick, Seattle displayed a sense of calmness, moving the ball across the backline patiently, waiting for the right moment to strike. The second minute of the match brought the Reign’s first real chance of the match, beginning with Sam Meza’s quick pass to Menti in the middle of the pitch. Menti found the run of Maddie Dahlien out wide and the speedy forward cut inside to fire off a shot to the back post, but it went wide.
The early attempt showed a sign of what was to come, as the Reign attempted four more shots before finding the first goal of the evening. In the 19th minute, Mia Fishel spun her defender and found the underlapping run of Sofia Huerta in the middle of the field. Seattle’s captain calmly slotted the ball to Menti, who was waiting near the top of the box to collect the pass and strike a clean shot into the back of the net.
The Reign’s lead was short-lived however, as the hosts answered back just three minutes later. After Seattle gave up possession in their own defensive third, Evelyn Ijeh played a short pass to the feet of Ashley Sanchez at the top of the 18-yard box and she unleashed a shot toward goal, which picked up a deflection before landing in the back of the net.
The Reign maintained the majority of possession through the opening half, earning back-to-back chances in the 43rd and 44th minutes. Fishel nearly got in the scoring action as she tried to take advantage of a chaotic moment in the box, pulling the ball back before sending it toward Kailen Sheridan, forcing the Canadian international to make a save.
After halftime, the Reign once again tested the Courage early. Huerta served up to a free kick in the 47th minute, perfectly placing it in the middle of the box, but Sheridan once again saved the ensuing shot.
In the 60th minute, a tackle in Reign FC’s box went to review and the Courage were awarded a penalty kick. Riley Jackson dispatched the ball to lower right side of the goal to give North Carolina the lead. 11 minutes later, the hosts struck again, this time from the run of play. Shinomi Koyama threaded a pass through the Reign’s backline to the run of Sanchez, who doubled her tally with a far post shot.
Though the Reign attempted to pull level before the final whistle, the team could not find the two goals needed to steal a point on the road.
UP NEXT: Next Sunday, July 12, Reign FC returns to Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington to take on their biggest rivals, Portland Thorns FC. Check out all of the ways to attend the match in person below:
Single Match Tickets | Kids 12 & Under Free | BOGO Offer | Mini Tote Offer
KEY TAKEAWAYS
MENTI MAGIC: Reign FC midfielder Sally Menti scored her first goal of the season in the 19th minute of the match. The goal marks the second of her career.
HUERTA ASSIST: Captain Sofia Huerta earned her third assist of the season on Menti’s goal in the first half of the match.
SOLID AS EVER: Midfielder Sam Meza attempted (6) and won (4) the most tackles of any player on the pitch during her 90 minute shift.