April 22, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – OL Reign News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – OL Reign (3-1-0, 9 points, 1st place) scored five goals in an action-packed match against the Chicago Red Stars (1-3-0, 3 points, 10th place) at Lumen Field. Wrapping up a congested week, OL Reign’s depth and tenacity was on full display with their dominant performance against Chicago.
The match started with Chicago applying pressure to the Reign, using their fresh legs to move the ball around the field. As the first minutes past, OL Reign stepped into the match rattling off their first shot in the 13th minute. From there, the Reign were building a steady attack, which culminated in the 15th minute of the match, when the Reign broke the deadlock.
Forward Veronica Latsko got into the box and cut a ball back to the second six, where forward Jordyn Huitema used a clever dummy, acting as if she was going to play the ball, before forward Bethany Balcer on the end of it, playing low into the back of the net.
Immediately after taking the lead, OL Reign’s defense stepped up and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a great 17th minute save to keep the Reign ahead. Before long, Balcer bagged herself a brace, scoring a second and doubling OL Reign’s lead in the 20th minute.
This time, the assist came from the foot of OL Reign original, captain and defender Lu Barnes. Barnes looped a cross into the box and Balcer was in the perfect place to beat her defender and head the ball into the back of the net.
Chicago wasn’t completely out of the match, earning a goal back in the 32nd minute, from the foot of midfielder Arin Wright, who found the upper corner of the net from the middle of the 18-yard box.
In stoppage time of the first half, OL Reign scored a third goal to up their lead before the end of the half. After a series of blocks in the 18-yard box, defender Emily Sonnett fed a ball to midfielder Jess Fishlock, who slipped the ball into the back of the net.
After ending the second half up two goals on Chicago, OL Reign had a shaky start to the second half, conceding a goal almost immediately, when forward Ally Schlegel fought to win the ball in OL Reign’s 18-yard box and found the back of the net herself.
Dissatisfied with allowing the goal, OL Reign immediately fought back adding a fourth and fifth goal before the end of the match. The fourth goal was scored in the 73rd minute. Forward Megan Rapinoe stepped up to take a free kick, whipping the ball into the box and hitting a…