NWSL Seattle Reign FC

Reign FC Match Day Preview

Published on May 9, 2014 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release


SEATTLE (May 9, 2014) - Seattle Reign FC (5-0-0, 15pts) look to defend their undefeated 2014 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) record on Saturday, May 10 when they take on Pacific Northwest rivals and the defending NWSL Champions Portland Thorns FC (2-0-2, 8pts) at Providence Park in Portland. The match is set to kickoff at 4 p.m. (PT) and will be available via a live, high-definition webstream at YouTube.com/NWSL.

Both Seattle and Portland enter Saturday's match as the only remaining undefeated teams in the NWSL.

Reign FC are coming off last weekend's 2-1 comeback victory over the Washington Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD.

Just after halftime, Spirit defender Ali Krieger opened the game's scoring with her first goal of the season after a flurry of shots from the Spirit. Two minutes later, Scottish midfielder Kim Little floated in a cross towards the far post, which was headed past keeper Ashlyn Harris by U.S. international Sydney Leroux and riffled into the goal off the foot of Welsh midfielder Jess Fishlock for the equalizer.

Leroux, who is this week's NWSL Player of the Week, registered her first goal of the season, the game winner in the 76th minute when she slotted a shot past Harris following a one-on-one battle with defender Tori Huster.

The victory gave Reign FC the best five-game start to a season in NWSL history - topping the Thorns' 4-0-1 record over the first five games in 2013.

After three consecutive weeks on the road, Seattle leads the NWSL in goals scored with 15, and has the best defense with only 2 goals conceded through its first five matches of the season. Little is the leagues top scorer with four goals and was named the NWSL Army National Guard Player of the Month for April, while Fishlock has registered two goals and three assists this season.

Portland has started the season on a four-game unbeaten streak and enter Saturday's contest having conceded just three goals in four matches, which ranks tied for second-fewest goals conceded in the league.

Saturday's match marks the first of three regular-season meetings between Reign FC and Thorns FC. The two sides will meet again on Sunday, July 27 at the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium and Sunday, August 17, in Portland's regular-season home finale at Providence Park.

As it stands, Reign FC occupy first place in the NWSL rankings, followed by Thorns FC who have a game in hand.

Following Saturday's match, Reign FC return home to face FC Kansas City in a midweek match on Wednesday, May 14, at the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PT) with a live, high-definition webstream available at YouTube.com/NWSL.

Visit ReignFC.com or call (855) REIGN-FC for details on single match tickets.

Check out the Seattle Reign FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 9, 2014


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