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NWSL Seattle Reign FC

Reign FC Return to Memorial Stadium to Face the Boston Breakers on Saturday

July 1, 2016 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release


SEATTLE - On the heels of an undefeated two-game road trip, Seattle Reign FC return home to face the Boston Breakers in the final meeting between the two teams this season. Reign FC head into the game undefeated in their past four matches and looking to sweep the season series against the Breakers.

The game will be live-streamed on the NWSL's official YouTube channel and can be watched at youtube.com/nwsl. Fans can also follow live play-by-play at the Reign's official Twitter page, @SeattleReignFC, and can join the conversation using the hashtag #SEAvBOS.

Reign FC (3-3-4, 13 points) are coming off of a 0-0 tie against FC Kansas City, earning a clean sheet in four-straight matches for the first time in team history. Seattle has now tied the NWSL record for most consecutive shutouts.

"We've always had the mentality of if you keep the score at zero on our end then all we need is one chance," said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey. "It's something we are obviously proud of and want to keep going."

Seattle controlled the early moments of the match, earning four corners in the first eight minutes and generating their first dangerous chance within just three minutes of the opening kickoff. Lauren Barnes sent a long ball forward, looking for Beverly Yanez. Yanez was able to direct her header back to Kim Little, who was waiting just outside of the 18-yard box. Little fired a shot on frame, but Nicole Barnhart deflected it wide.

Hope Solo had one save in the match, and defended 13 corner kicks. Along with teammate Megan Rapinoe, Solo will now head to Chicago for camp with the U.S. Women's National Team and will miss this Saturday's match against Boston.

Solo and the USWNT will face South Africa for the first time in team history on July 9. Should Solo notch a shutout, she would be the first goalkeeper in U.S. or world history to reach the milestone of 100 shutouts.

As a result of Solo and Rapinoe being called up for National Team duty, Reign FC added goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski and defender Paige Nielsen as amateur players. Both will be on the roster and available for selection in the match.

Pending receipt of her ITC, Nahomi Kawasumi could also be available for selection in her first match since rejoining Reign FC.

"We're hoping that she [Kawasumi] can be available," said Harvey. "She's a clever footballer and she's got really good quality on the ball. Just having her around the group again has been amazing."

Seattle will be looking to generate some offense against the Breakers, as they have scored just one goal in the past four games. Reign FC notched three goals in the first meeting between the two teams on April 24, which is the highest goal total in a single game for Reign FC this season.

Kim Little is the Reign's all-time leading scorer against the Breakers with five goals. Should Little score it would be her 30th career NWSL goal. She would be the first NWSL player to reach that milestone.

The Boston Breakers (1-8-1, 4 points) will be looking to end their current four-game winless streak. During this run, the Breakers have allowed 15 goals and scored just 2 goals. The streak began with a 4-0 loss against the Western New York Flash on Friday, May 27. After a 7-1 loss against the Western New York Flash this past weekend, Boston remains on the bottom on the NWSL table in 10th place.

Reign FC will look to maintain its all-time undefeated record of 8-0-1 against the Boston Breakers. Depending on other results, a win on Saturday could move the Reign up two spots into fifth place.

"We're in a position now, from a standings perspective, where we've got to push on and we've got to get three points," said Harvey. "It's not unknown territory for us but it's a little bit of a different mentality."

Seattle will be without Merritt Mathias and Carson Pickett for Saturday's match. The NWSL Disciplinary Committee has suspended Mathias for one game for an incident involving Shea Groom in the match against FC Kansas City on June 25. Pickett received a red card in the 90th minute of the same game and must sit out this Saturday's match against Boston.

Up next, Reign FC is back on the road to face the Western New York Flash on July 9 at 4:00 p.m. PT. Seattle will look improve upon its all-time record of 5-1-3 against the Flash. This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

Reign FC will then return home to Memorial Stadium to face the Flash again the very next week on July 16 at 7:00 p.m. PT. This will be the final regular-season meeting between Seattle and Western New York this year. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased at reignfc.com/flash or by calling (855)-REIGN-FC.

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