May 23, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Seattle, WA – The Spirit battled OL Reign to a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon in Seattle. Both sides tallied a point in the table, bringing Washington to five points and the squad from Seattle to three points through four matches.
Goalkeepers Aubrey Kingsbury and Phallon Tullis-Joyce each kept a clean sheet making nine and three saves, respectively. Tullis-Joyce got things started with a save of an Ashley Sanchez shot from the top of the box in the fourth minute before the Reign controlled possession in the sides’ attacking third for the better part of 30 minutes. In the 12th minute, a driving Veronica Latsko fired a shot wide from the top of the box and a minute later, Bethany Balcer headed a crossing pass just over the crossbar. Jess Fishlock then fired a shot wide right in the 16th minute.
The Reign tried an entry lob into the box in the 22nd minute that Kingsbury was able to step up and intercept before any damage could be done. Just three minutes later, Kingsbury again had to make a stop when she was able to punch out a ball that came off the head of Fishlock.
The Spirit found itself with a scoring chance again in the 34th when Ashley Sanchez received a feed in the box and took a sliding shot from close range that was knocked aside and out of bounds. Before the half, the Reign’s Latsko made a great move to get around a defender, drove in and fired a shot directly off the crossbar. Rose Lavelle was able to corral the rebound and make a move at the net but was unable to get a shot off as the Spirit defense stifled the threat.
The first 30 minutes of the second half saw another long Spirit offensive drought as the Reign mostly held control of possession well into the final third of the match. In the 53rd minute, Rose Lavelle deflected a crossing pass on net but Kingsbury was there to make the save. In the 68th minute, the Reign’s Ally Watt found herself on a breakaway with…