April 17, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release
SEATTLE, WA – OL Reign (4-0-1) pulled past Angel City FC (0-4-1) with a late game winner to extend its unbeaten streak in the NWSL Challenge Cup and at Lumen Field. With this 2-1 win, OL Reign remain in first place in the West Division of the NWSL Challenge Cup and have secured a spot in the Challenge Cup semifinals.
The match got off to a slow start compared to the record-breaking three goals in eleven minutes the Reign scored on Thursday, but it was clear that both teams were hungry for a win. The game was going back and forth with intense pressure on both ends of the field, but through the first half hour of the match, neither team broke the deadlock.
OL Reign scored the opening goal of the match in the 34th minute of the game. It was a beautiful sequence starting with OL Reign midfielder Quinn. They played an amazing ball out wide, and Ally Watt got on the end of it. She settled the ball and found Bethany Balcer, who made no mistake as she found the back of the net, scoring her second goal of her 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Campaign.
The second half continued, with both teams getting opportunities to add to the scoreboard before half time. OL Reign found three shots before the end of the half, compliments of Balcer, Quinn and Watt, and Angel City found two shots, but neither team found the back of the net.
At halftime, the teams had a chance to regroup. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was called on more often in the second half, making three crucial saves to maintain OL Reign’s lead. However, Angel City found a goal back in the 83rd minute of the match. Forward Jun Endo earned the assist on Simone Charley’s goal.
Determined to take three points from the match and extend their lead in the West Division of the 2022 Challenge Cup, the Reign pushed on and showed their character through the end of the match. It was rookie Olivia Van der Jagt to find the game winner. In just her second NWSL…