May 13, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release
SEATTLE, WA – OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC are meeting for the first time this regular season tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. The Reign will be looking to pick up their first win of the regular season against their fiercest rival.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT on Friday, May 13 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on CBS Sports Network in the U.S. and Twitch internationally
2022 REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 0-1-1 (1 point), Portland Thorns FC 1-0-0 (3 points)
Key Points Ahead of the Match:
1. LAST MEETING – OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC met twice in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. The first meeting between the two teams was on March 18. Both teams were playing their first Challenge Cup match at Lumen Field in Seattle. In the 19th minute, OL Reign took the lead. The team worked the ball down the left side of the field past Portland’s defense before midfielder Angelina laid the ball off to defender Sofia Huerta, who fired a beautiful shot into the back of the net. However, in the 28th minute, Portland found an equalizer. Forward Sophia Smith sent a shot on frame and Tullis-Joyce came up big to make a save, but forward Christine Sinclair was there to follow up on the rebound and level the score.
The rivals met again on April 2 in another Challenge Cup group stage match. The teams were deadlocked for the majority of the game, before Rose Lavelle scored the game winner in the 74th minute of the match. OL Reign connected as a team to break Portland’s deep-sitting backline. Bethany Balcer, who came on as a sub, played to Fishlock. Fishlock hit a one-touch pass to Lavelle, who slotted the ball into the back of Portland’s net.
2. SCOUTING PORTLAND – In the Challenge Cup, Portland finished second place in the West Division, but did not advance to the semifinals. They put up a record…