September 25, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release
SEATTLE, WA – OL Reign (10-4-7, 37 points, 1st place) rounded out their three-game road trip with a 2-0 win against the Houston Dash (9-6-6, 33 points, 4th place). This hard-fought win clinched OL Reign’s spot in the post-season.
OL Reign started the match with a spot of defensive work, as Houston used their fresh legs to press offensively and hold a high defensive line. However, OL Reign’s defense was up to the task. The team worked together to thwart Houston’s forward advances, not allowing the home side a single shot on target in the first half.
OL Reign displayed great patience, working the ball around the field to break Houston’s high press. Just before the half hour mark of the match, OL Reign midfielder Quinn made a great recovery run on defense to prevent Houston’s promising attack. Just moments later, they showed their skill offensively, when they played a perfectly placed through ball to forward Megan Rapinoe in transition, catching Houston’s backline off guard.
Rapinoe settled the ball and dribbled toward the endline before playing a cross into the box. Midfielder Rose Lavelle slid in, attempting to get on the end of the ball, but just missed. A Houston defender got a touch on the ball but redirected it straight into the path of OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer, who coolly tapped the ball into the back of the net to put OL Reign up in the 29th minute of the match. The lone goal saw OL Reign through to halftime with the lead.
After halftime, OL Reign had some more defending to do. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a diving save in the 48th minute to preserve OL Reign’s lead. As the game went on and a playoff spot was on the line, things became more intense and more physical, with the Dash conceding 17 fouls compared to OL Reign’s seven.
OL Reign found the breakthrough goal once again in the second half. This time, the attack was led by forward Jordyn Huitema, who subbed onto the field at halftime. Huitema won her battle with a Houston player, sliding to play a ball through to Lavelle, who split the defense before firing a shot at goal. Her shot hit the post and bounced back out into the box. However, forward Veronica Latsko put herself in a great position to finish the rebounded ball, tapping it off the left post and into the back of the net to double OL Reign’s lead in the 76th minute.
Continuing their season long streak of not conceding a goal in the final…
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