NWSL Seattle Reign FC

OL Reign Falls 1-0 on the Road

Published on May 14, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release


SEATTLE, WA. - OL Reign (4-2-1, 13 points, 2nd place) fell 1-0 on the road in Cary, North Carolina against the North Carolina Courage (3-3-1, 10 points, 5th place). In their third straight match at home, the Courage scored a 34th minute goal that made all the difference against a Reign side that couldn't quite connect.

In the first minute of the match, the Reign blazed forward, creating their first offensive opportunity. The chance ended in a shot over the bar from midfielder Jess Fishlock but was a good look to start the match. After that chance, OL Reign shifted and was forced to spend a lot of time defending North Carolina.

In the 14th minute of the match, it looked like the Courage had found the opening goal. Forward Kerolin received a ball in the box and took one touch before hitting the ball through traffic and into the back post, but the goal was ruled offside and scored remained 0-0.

20 minutes later, the Courage found the lone goal of the afternoon when forward Rikke Madsen played a long ball through to forward Tyler Lussi, who dribbled to top of the box and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Before halftime, the Courage found the back of the net once more, but the goal was waved off again.

After halftime, the Reign did better to keep the ball, but still struggled to break through the Courage. In the 58th minute, midfielder Quinn subbed in, returning from injury. The midfielder brought new life into a Reign squad that was battling hot conditions in Cary.

In what was likely the Reign's best chance of the match, forward Jordyn Huitema got her head of the end of a cross into the box from defender Sofia Huerta, but Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy was in position to collect and keep the Reign off the board.

At the final whistle, the Reign fell 1-0, picking up their first loss since their opening match of the season on March 26.

UP NEXT: OL Reign returns to Lumen Field in one week, taking on NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, May 21at 3:00 p.m. Fans can get tickets for the match HERE.

MATCH SUMMARY

2023 NWSL Regular Season

North Carolina Courage 1 - 0 OL Reign

Date/Time: Sunday, May 14, 12:00 p.m. PT

Location: WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC

Weather: 80, sunny

Scoring Summary

TEAM 1H 2H FT

OL Reign 0 0 0

North Carolina Courage 1 0 1

RGN: None

NCC: Lussi - 34'

Discipline

RGN: Huerta (Caution - 42'), Rapinoe (Caution - 75')

NCC: Williams (Caution - 83')

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes © (Brown 84'), M Sonnett, M Fishlock, M Balcer (Quinn 58'), F Latsko (King 75'), F Huitema (Bennett 75'), F Rapinoe

Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, M Athens, M Stanton, M Canales, D Holmes

Total Shots: 10 (Huitema - 3)

Shots on Goal: 2 (Huitema - 2)

Fouls: 13 (Rapinoe - 4)

Offsides: 0

Corner Kicks: 5

Saves: 2 (Tullis-Joyce - 2)

NCC: GK Murphy, D Williams, D Kurtz, D Berkely, D Fox, M O'Sullivan ©, M Speck (V. Pickett 74'), M Narumi Miura, F Kerolin, F Madsen (Wingate 68'), F Lussi (Gejl 83')

Unused substitutes: GK Rowland, M Pinto, F Ratcliffe, M Robbins, D K. Pickett, M Tagliaferri

Total Shots: 9 (Lussi- 2)

Shots on Goal: 3 (Lussi - 2)

Fouls: 7 (O'Sullivan - 3)

Offsides: 3

Corner Kicks: 8

Saves: 2 (Murphy - 2)

Player of the Match: Phallon Tullis-Joyce

Referee: Alex Billeter

Assistant Referee 1: Tome Felice

Assistant Referee 2: Art Arustamyan

4th Official: Josh Rush

Var: Jorge Gonzalez

Avar: Kaili Terry

Check out the Seattle Reign FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 14, 2023


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