March 23, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – Seattle Reign FC lost 2-1 to the Chicago Red Stars in the team’s first road match of the 2024 season. The Red Stars scored first but the Reign managed to level the score, before conceding once more.
The Reign started the match off on the front foot, forcing Chicago to chase the ball from the first whistle. With just one change in the lineup that saw veteran defender and captain Lauren Barnes slot into the backline in place of the second-year Reign defender Shae Holmes, the Reign were looking to control the ball and find a rhythm.
The Reign took three shots just four minutes into the match, all from the team’s Canadian players, Jordyn Huitema and Quinn, though all three were blocked. As the teams began to settle into the match, it became a wide open, box to box battle between the two teams, who both look significantly different than last season.
In the 14th minute of the match, midfielder Jess Fishlock served a cross into the box for Huitema, nearly connecting to find the opening goal of the match, but the header went high, clearing the danger for Chicago.
The 30th minute brought another promising chance for the Reign, this time from South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun, who had been causing problems for Chicago all match. Her shot forced Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to make a diving save to keep the ball out of the net.
As the half was coming to a close, Chicago scored, taking the lead in the 42nd minute of the match. After forward Jenna Bike crossed a ball over into the box, it was half cleared to the top of 18-yard box, where Bianchi took possession and fired the ball into the back of the net.
Coming back from halftime down a goal, Head Coach Laura Harvey opted to field the same lineup. Notably, Barnes was leading the team from the backline, coming up with several important challenges to shut Chicago down. Ji, who had an excellent showing in the midfield, opened the half with shots in the 53rd and 57th minutes before finally opening her NWSL account.
In the 63rd minute, Ji became the first South Korean player to ever score an NWSL goal. Defender Sofia Huerta started the play with a cross served into the box, but Chicago’s defense was there to head it away from goal, but out of danger. Just outside the 18-yard box, Ji was lurking and made no mistake as she displayed her technical ability to settle the ball and loop a perfectly placed shot into the top corner of…