April 15, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Bay FC News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Trailing 1-0 after the first half, Bay FC scored three second-half goals to earn their first home win in club history, defeating Seattle Reign FC 3-2 in front of 16,719 fans at PayPal Park on Sunday evening. Kayla Sharples, Alex Loera, and Joelle Anderson all tallied their first goals for Bay FC, while Emily Menges and Savy King each registered their first assists for the club.
Bay FC scored a pair of goals in a 10-minute span in the second half with Sharples leveling the match in the 48th minute before Loera put Bay FC in front with her long-distance strike in the 58th minute. Seattle pulled a goal back through Bethany Balcer in the 83rd minute to even the match a 2-2, but Anderson notched the game-winning goal in the 87th minute.
Goal-Scoring Plays
SEA – Own goal (Kayla Sharples), 27th minute: Bay FC attempted to clear the ball from inside their goal box, but on the attempted clearance by Alyssa Malonson, the ball deflected off Kayla Sharples into the goal.
BAY – Kayla Sharples (Emily Menges), 48th minute: Off a corner kick, Bay FC kept possession inside their box. Emily Menges played a lofted cross back across the face of the goal and Kayla Sharples converted with a header from close range.
BAY – Alex Loera, 58th minute: Seattle cleared the ball just outside the box off a corner kick, and the ball landed at the feet of Alex Loera, who unleashed a swerving left-footed strike into the right side of the goal from 25 yards out.
SEA – Bethany Balcer (Ji So-Yun), 83rd minute: Seattle worked the ball down the left side of the field. Ji So-Yun received a cross in the box and laid it off for Bethany Balcer, who finished with a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.
BAY – Joelle Anderson (Savy King), 87th minute: Savy King played a short pass to Joelle Anderson near the edge of the box. Anderson drove toward the left corner and fired a shot on frame that took a deflection and ended up in the back of the net.
Notes:
Bay FC earned their first home win in club history. It was also the first come-from-behind win in club history
Bay FC finished the match with 23 shots, which is the second-most shots by a team in a game this season.
Ther have been six equalizing or go-ahead goals scored after the 80th minute in Bay FC’s first four NWSL games.
Kayla Sharples scored her second career goal. Her last goal came during the 2023 season with the Chicago Red Stars.
Bay FC have scored in…