May 19, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – The Reign fell 3-2 against the Orlando Pride, coming up just short of salvaging a point in front of a home crowd. After going down 2-1 in the first half, the Reign tied the match up early in the second half. Before the final whistle, the Reign conceded one more goal and went down to 10 players after forward Bethany Balcer was issued a second yellow card and sent off the field.
Though the Reign recorded two shots within the first three minutes of the match, Orlando scored the opening goal in the ninth minute. From outside of the box, defender Emily Sams struck the ball into the right corner of the net.
Orlando doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later, when forward Adriana crossed the ball to the back post, where forward Barbra Banda was waiting to head it into the back of the net.
As the half was coming to a close, the Reign pulled a goal back. Midfielder Ji So-Yun beat Orlando’s defense as she cut the ball to the top of the box, where midfielder Angharad James-Turner solidly struck the ball, directing it into the back of the net.
After halftime, Seattle started the match on the front foot. The home side found an equalizer just three minutes into the half. From the midfield, veteran Jess Fishlock hit a perfectly placed long ball into the path of Balcer. Balcer took one touch to carry the ball into the box and beat Orlando’s defense and goalkeeper as she struck the ball into the back of the net.
Orlando found the game winning goal in the 58th minute of the match. A deflected corner kick fell to the feet of Banda at the six-yard box and the forward struck the ball into the back of the net with power.
In the 83rd minute, Balcer was issued her second yellow card of the match for dissent and the Reign went down to 10 players through the end of the match. The Reign managed four shots before the end of the half, but it wasn’t enough to take down Orlando.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
NEW STARTING XI: Through all 10 games this season, the Reign have not listed a replicated starting XI as the club continues to utilize the depth of the squad. Defender Sofia Huerta is the only player to start in all 10 games and to play every minute this season for a total of 900 minutes.
BETHANY BALCER: Forward Bethany Balcer scored in the 48th minute to tie the game, 2-2. The goal is Balcer’s fourth of the season, which is tied for fifth in the league through Week 9. Balcer finished the…