May 8, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release
SEATTLE, WA – OL Reign (0-1-1, 1 point) drew their regular season home opener 2-2 against Racing Louisville FC (0-1-1, 1 point). This was OL Reign’s third match this week, after playing two back-to-back in Washington D.C. Tziarra King scored her first ever brace after the Reign initially went down 1-0. The team’s next match is on Friday, against their fiercest rivals, Portland Thorns FC.
OL Reign started the match absorbing high pressure from Racing. The team did well to connect passes under pressure. OL Reign defender Sofia Huerta came up big on defense early on, making a goal line save to keep the teams level at zero.
It was the visiting team to get on the board first. Louisville forward Jess McDonald was played the ball in the box before taking a touch and nailing a shot into the back of the net. Down a goal, OL Reign picked up the intensity, hungry to find an equalizer.
OL Reign found their first goal in the 33rd minute, compliments of forward Tziarra King. Midfielder Rose Lavelle connected with Midfielder Angelina, who served a beautiful ball through to King. King made no mistakes as she received the ball and played it low past Lund in goal for Louisville.
Just four minutes later, King found a second goal to put the Reign ahead 2-1. She was in position to follow up on a saved shot from Lavelle and blasted the ball into the back of the net. The Reign held onto the lead through the halftime whistle.
After halftime, the game became more physical as tensions flared and both sides battled for three points. In the 60th minute of the match, Louisville found a second goal to pull the score level. The goal came from a freekick, which was eventually redirected into the net by OL Reign for an own goal.
The game continued to build as the Reign mounted a hopeful attack in the 65th minute, but the play was stopped by Lund fouling Bethany Balcer, which earned her a yellow card. Despite the best…