OL Reign Earns 1-1 Draw on the Road in San Diego

June 12, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release

SEATTLE, WA – OL Reign (2-2-4, 10 points) battled to a 1-1 draw against San Diego Wave FC (4-2-3, 15 points) on the road at Torero Stadium in San Diego. The team started a bit slow, but really grew into the game and flipped the momentum in their favor.

OL Reign got a shot off in the second minute of the match, but then had to focus on a spell of defensive work. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce make a crucial save in the third minute of the match, when she stepped up to the top of the box and used her feet to stop forward Alex Morgan from scoring the opening goal of the match.

The Reign continued to defend San Diego’s offensive combinations, stopping two shots from Morgan before conceding a goal in the eighth minute of the match when goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan played a through ball to Morgan over the top of OL Reign’s backline.

It took OL Reign a few minutes to begin to connect after conceding a goal, but in the 15th minute of the match, the Reign mounted a promising attack. Midfielders Jess Fishlock and Rose Lavelle connected with forwards Bethany Balcer and Ally Watt, forcing the Wave to concede a corner kick. Defender Sofia Huerta served the ball into the box, finding the head of Quinn, but they were unable to direct the ball on target.

OL Reign found another chance to equalize in the 30th minute of the match when some chaos in San Diego’s 18-yard box ended in a low shot from rookie midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt, but her shot was stopped by Sheridan in goal.

In the 38th minute, OL Reign found the equalizing goal they had been searching for the majority of the first half. At the end of a team passing sequence, Balcer and Lavelle connected in a beautiful combination play before Fishlock received the ball and hit a powerful shot into the upper left corner of the goal.

After the halftime break, OL Reign came back out with momentum seemingly shifted in their favor. Forward Megan Rapinoe came onto the field as a substitute and immediately made an impact. In the 49th minute, Rapinoe’s nailed a shot from the top of the box, but San Diego was saved by the crossbar.

As the two teams continued to battle for three points, defender Alana Cook made an excellent recovery run to stop a San Diego break in the 67th minute. Between the 79th and 89th minute, OL Reign took four shots, but couldn’t quite find the final touch needed to take the lead.

Midfielder Angelina, who came into the match as a…