Sports stats



NWSL Seattle Reign FC

Reign FC Faces off against China PR in International Friendly

May 21, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release


SEATTLE (May 21, 2015) - Seattle Reign FC will bring a taste of next month's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup action to the Emerald City as it takes on the China PR Women's National Team in an international friendly on Friday, May 22. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. PT on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium.

Reign FC and U.S. Soccer will be honoring Seattle's U.S. Women's National Team stars - goalkeeper Hope Solo and forward Megan Rapinoe - in a pre-match ceremony beginning at 6:45 p.m. PT.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and former Seattle Sounders FC and U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller will also be in attendance to help send-off Solo and Rapinoe before they depart for the World Cup in Canada.

While Reign FC will be without its pair of USWNT players, the rest of the roster will be available for Friday's friendly, including midfielder Jessica Fishlock, who will miss the upcoming May 30 league fixture while serving a red card suspension.

Head coach and general manager Laura Harvey said the game gives her team the chance to get experience against an international side, and allows them to try some things in advance of the next league game.

"The game against China comes at an interesting time for us," Harvey said. "I think we can utilize it as an opportunity to get prepared for the next game that we have in the league and show how we can compete against an international team preparing for the World Cup."

Reign FC does boast some players with extensive international experience. Defender Stephanie Cox appeared in both the 2007 and 2011 World Cup for the U.S., while Fishlock has amassed over 80 caps with the Wales National Team. Midfielder Kim Little and defender Rachel Corsie have appeared in nearly 200 games combined for Scotland - with the former also seeing action in five games for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics.

Meanwhile, China PR qualified for the tournament with a third-place finish at last year's AFC Women's Asian Cup. The team will be in Group A in Edmonton, alongside host Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

On Friday, China will feature a roster similar to the one used for March's Algarve Cup, in which it finished last among 12 teams with a 0-1-2 record in group play. That included a scoreless draw with Brazil and shutout losses to Germany and Sweden.

Friday's match is Reign FC's first international friendly since a 6-0 victory over the Haiti Women's National Team at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila on June 2, 2013.

Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer and defender Kiersten Dallstream both started that game, while Fishlock came on as a sub and notched an assist.

While Reign FC is currently in the midst of a three-week break from National Women's Soccer League action, the club's next league match will be the first of a two-game homestand beginning with the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, May 30.

For details on single match tickets, visit ReignFC.com or call (855) REIGN-FC. Great seats start at just $19.

Check out the Seattle Reign FC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the National Women's Soccer League message board...

National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central