REIGN DEFEAT THE SPIRIT 3-1 IN SEATTLE

Washington Spirit  |   May 3, 2015
REIGN DEFEAT THE SPIRIT 3-1 IN SEATTLE Featured Image

SEATTLE, Was. (May 2, 2015) – Seattle Reign FC (2-1-1, 7 points) defeated the Washington Spirit (2-2-0, 6 points) to put an end to their two game losing streak. The Reign displayed a strong performance in their home win with goals from Beverly Yanez, Merritt Mathias, and Jessica Fishlock. Meanwhile, the lone Spirit goal came courtesy of Joanna Lohman.

Both sides had spells of possession early in the match. Crystal Dunn, who scored a brace last weekend against Sky Blue FC, looked dangerous early as she made a cutting run with the ball toward the right side of the 18-yard box. Dunn unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, but her effort was off target.

The Reign pulled ahead in the 36th minute as Mathias knocked a cross into the box to Yanez who slammed her shot against the underside of the crossbar leaving Spirit goalkeeper Kelsey Wys with no chance.

The Spirit earned a free kick just before the close of the first half. The ball was played from a typically dangerous area for Christine Nairn, but she put a little bit too much on her shot and it sailed over the crossbar.

Merritt Mathias doubled Seattle’s lead just three minutes into the second half. Mathias used her shoulder to beat Alex Singer on the far post and redirected the cross sent in from Kim Little on the right to beat Wys.

Washington pulled one back in the 63rd minute as Dunn threaded a masterful ball through traffic to Lohman inside the box. Lohman ran onto the ball from Dunn and slotted her shot into the lower right corner of the Reign goal.

The Reign responded with their own perfectly weighted through ball about ten minutes later when Little sent a pass into Fishlock from midfield releasing Fishlock centrally and in behind the Spirit backline allowing her to tap the ball under Wys to bring the scoreline to 3-1 in favor of the home side.

Tori Huster nearly scored with a long range effort just before the end of regular time, but the Reign goalkeeper made an impressive leap to tip Huster’s shot up and over the crossbar securing a 3-1 win for Seattle.

Next week the Spirit continue their Pacific Northwest road trip as they head south to Oregon to face the Portland Thorns on Saturday May 9th at 10 PM.

Washington Spirit season tickets are available now (10 home matches), with packages starting as low as $170. Check out all of the phenomenal NWSL soccer at the Maryland SoccerPlex by calling 301-337-8579.

Washington Spirit Lineup
Kelsey Wys; Katherine Reynolds, Megan Oyster, Estelle Johnson, Alex Singer (Caprice Dydasco 84′); Tori Huster, Joanna Lohman (Angela Salem 84′), Christine Nairn (Amanda Da Costa 76′); Crystal Dunn, Francisca Ordega, Estefania Banini

Subs not used: Emily Lillard, Whitney Church, Jennifer Skogerboe,

Seattle Reign FC Lineup
Haley Kopmeyer; Elli Reed, Fletcher, Lauren Barnes, Stephanie Cox; Keelin Winters, Jessica Fishlock (Amber Brooks 79′), Kim Little; Dallstream, Beverley Yanez (Dani Foxhoven 79′), Merritt Mathias (Rachel Corsie 93+)

Subs not used: Caroline Stanley, Danielle Romine, Michelle Cruz, Mariah Nogueira

GOALS                                 1          2         F
Seattle Reign FC                   1           2          3
Washington Spirit                0          1          1

SCORING SUMMARY
Goal    Time   Team                Goal Scorer                      Assist
1               36        Reign                 Beverly Yanez                      Merritt Mathias
2              48        Reign                 Merritt Mathias                   Kim Little
3              63        Spirit                 Joanna Lohman                   Crystal Dunn
4              75        Reign                 Jessica Fishlock                    Kim Little

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Time   Team                  ##        Player                             Card               Reason
None

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