Boyds, Md. (5/4/19) – The Washington Spirit and Reign FC played to a scoreless draw at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Despite chances from both sides, neither team could break the deadlock after 90 minutes.
Keeper Aubrey Bledsoe put in an incredible performance between the sticks. Her night started early as she collected a Jodie Taylor header from the right side of the box in the 4th minute. Bledsoe continued to stop shots, bolting off of her line in the 42nd minute to stop a Reign chance from developing inside the box. At the half, Bledsoe had six saves to her name.
Bledsoe continued to frustrate opposing attackers in the second half as she made three more saves to preserve the Spirit’s clean sheet. In the 85th minute, Bledsoe somehow saved a point-blank shot from Bethany Balcer, extending her right hand to deflect the chance wide of goal. Bledsoe finished the night with nine saves.
Spirit attackers Cheyna Matthews and Jordan DiBiasi left their marks on the game, combining to make five key passes. Matthews entered the game in the 46th minute and had an immediate impact, as she made a streaking run in towards goal two minutes later, only to have her shot deflected wide of goal.
Spirit players Bayley Feist and Chloe Logarzo made their NWSL debuts for the Spirit, with Logarzo subbing on in the 66th minute and Feist entering in the 80th minute. Logarzo found herself with space in the third minute of added time and showed off her fancy footwork with a heel-to-heel flick and subsequent nutmeg on Reign defender Megan Oyster.
The match provided no shortage of offensive firepower as the two teams combined for 31 shots, with 14 on target. Chances were taken from everywhere on the field, as the Spirit took eight shots inside the penalty area and five outside. Both teams combined for 16 corners on the night, and also played in 27 crosses.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Reign FC
Date: May 4, 2019
Venue: Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland SoccerPlex
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Low 70s, Cloudy
Attendance: 2,097
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reign | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lineups:
WAS (4-3-3): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 3-Sam Staab; 19-Dorian Bailey; 5-Megan Crosson; 14-Paige Nielsen; 12-Andi Sullivan (c); 8-Meggie Dougherty Howard (80’ 13-Bayley Feist); 7-Amy Harrison (46’ 20-Cheyna Matthews); 33-Ashley Hatch; 4-Jordan DiBiasi; 17-Cali Farquharson (66’ 6-Chloe Logarzo)
Unused Substitutes: 2-Arielle Ship; 30-Shae Yanez; 24-Carlin Hudson; 18-McKenzie Berryhill
RFC (4-3-3): 18-Michelle Betos; 13-Celia Jimenez Delgado; 3-Lauren Barnes; 4-Megan Oyster; 8-Theresa Nielsen; 20-Rumi Utsugi(72’ 88-Elise Kellond-Knight); 17-Beverly Yanez; 19-Kristen McNabb; 11-Darian Jenkins (46’ 24-Bethany Balcer); 2-Shea Groom; 9-Jodie Taylor (82’ 44-Maegan Kelly)
Unused Substitutes: 1-Lydia Williams; 21-Christen Westphal; 5-Kiersten Dallstream; 14-Morgan Proffitt
Stats Summary: WAS / RFC
Shots: 12 / 18
Shots on Goal: 4 / 9
Saves: 9 / 4
Blocked Shots: 4 / 3
Fouls: 15 / 11
Offside: 2 /3
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Cheyna Matthews 86’ – Yellow Card
RFC – Lauren Barnes 88’ – Yellow Card
Officials:
Referee: Jasmine Peralta
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo
Assistant Referee 2: Kristin Sundberg
Fourth Official: Max Smith