Seattle Reign FC 2
Houston Dash 1
October 18, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Two clubs playing out the NWSL regular season met in Seattle on Friday evening. Both Seattle Reign FC and Houston Dash have been eliminated from playoff qualification with two matches remaining. With both clubs level on 20 points at the bottom of the table it was an opportunity for both to avoid finishing at the actual bottom.

The hosts find themselves in unusual territory at the end of the 2024 campaign; having played in the NWSL Championship in 2023 and in winning the NWSL Shield in 2022. Houston and Seattle are only differentiated by goal difference as the season concludes after the international break.

The first half of the first half was a fairly free flowing affair. Neither side was taking huge risks with numbers forward or in pushing their defenses forward.

The result was a lot of ball movement with the intermittent look on goal. Houston had a few really good looks, but Reign keeper Claudia Dickey was solid. It was the same at the other end as the Reign managed a few good looks on goal, but nothing Dash keeper Jane Campbell could not handle.

In the middle of the half, Seattle midfielder Olivia Athens would get a look on goal from outside the box and her long range volley opened the scoring.

The lead would not hold, as moments later Reign captain Lauren Barnes would be called for a penalty at the other end. Bárbara Olivieri would convert the penalty and things were right back to level at one.

The level scoreline continued well into the second half. As neither side changed tactics or personnel the match continued in the same manner as the first half.

Then Dash seemed to have the most success on the counter from the left side through Ryan Gareis, who managed to get free a number of times through the match running onto long through balls.

Haitian Nerilia Mondesir would break the deadlock in the 65th minute. Pouncing on a loose ball a few yards in front of the Dash goal, Mondesir would manage to poke it past Campbell for a Reign lead. The goal was the first NWSL goal for Mondesir.

The second goal would hold up for Seattle. The goal and win appeared cathartic for the home side, a positive result for the final match at home at the end of a season of frustrations.

Lee Pate Photos

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Athens – 22’, Mondésir – 65′
HOU: Olivieri (P) – 25’

Discipline

SEA: None
HOU: Chapman (Caution – 51′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Dickey, D Barnes (c) (McClernon 81’), D Bugg, D Glas (Holmes 89’), M Ji (Stanton 81’), M Athens, M Mondésir, F Latsko, F Huitema (Lester 90+6’), F Adames (Crnogorčević 73’), F King (Mercado 81’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, GK Perez

Total Shots: 12 (Adames – 3)
Shots on Goal: 5 (Mondésir – 2)
Fouls: 8 (Mondésir – 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 3 (Dickey – 3)

HOU: GK Campbell (c), D Chapman (Jacobs 85’), D Lima, D Nielsen, D Harris, M Schmidt, M Puntigam (Matthews 85’), M Gareis (Briede 66’), M Patterson, F Nagasato (West 77’), F Olivieri
Unused substitutes: F Ordóñez, GK Hinz, D Ayson, GK Mckinney

Total Shots: 10 (Gareis, Puntigam– 2)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Gareis – 2)
Fouls: 9 (Olivieri – 3)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 3 (Campbell – 3)

Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger
4th Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Alexandra Billeter
AVAR: Rhett Hammil

Seattle Reign FC 0
Angel City FC 1
October 4, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Angel City FC on Friday evening in Seattle. Faint playoff hopes was the primary storyline on the field, making three points utterly essential.

Off the field, Angel City was hit this week with a massive penalty for administrative matters pertaining to the salary cap. An in season three point deduction, fines, and penalties to front office personnel had damaged the already fragile playoff hopes for 2024.

The two clubs had played a back and forth 3-2 thriller down the coast only a few weeks ago the Reign held on to win.

Seattle came out with another new starting eleven. Recent signing Ana-Maria Crnogorčević already found herself with the captain arm band. Jaelin Howell and Ainsley McCammon got starts, along with a second start at outside back for Veronica Latsko. Recent roster moves and injuries has meant the REign has yet to have a duplicated starting eleven in back to back matches this season.

Although the early minutes saw the Reign with more possession and chances, it did not take long for Angel City to begin to make headway. Messiah Bright and ALyssa Thompson found some openings, creating some havoc a few times in front of Reign keeper Claudia Dickey. But, the early goal did not come.

The visitors continued to press, maintaining pressure for stretches and the half progressed. A few breaks went the Reign way, but the goal finally came in the 34th minute. M.A. Vignola would slot home the first goal of the match off of a nice layoff pass from Thompson past the sliding Dickey. Two separate first half VAR reviews went the Seattle defense’s way, or penalties would have made it even more daunting.

What little margin the Reign season had was ever more on a thin edge going into the half a goal down. The goal drought of the past several matches was becoming a season ending story. The Reign had managed to claw back into the playoff picture with a seven match unbeaten run just a few weeks ago after the win in Los Angeles, but the run of scoreless matches since has seen those hopes near evaporate.

Seattle would push forward in the second half, but the Angel City defense did well to absorb. A good deal of possession was not turning into clear chances.

With the goal advantage, there was little reason to risk numbers forward. Angel City still looked to counter, bringing on fresh legs in Sydney Leroux up front, but those moves forward were less about numbers and mostly seems to stretch the field and Reign.

Even as Seattle threw everything forward in stoppage time, the clear looks on goal just didn’t come. The visitors managed to team defend and deflect, keeping the Reign from getting clean shots off. A clean sheet was well earned by DiDi Haracic and her defense.

The three points may not be enough for Angel City, especially with the point deduction. The loss is a devastating blow to the Reign season at this point, and now four matches without a goal.

Of note, each club fielded three teenagers in the match. The six ranged in ages from sixteen to nineteen.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: None
LA: Vignola – 34’ (assist: A. Thompson)

Discipline

SEA: Howell (Caution – 88’)
LA: Dougherty Howard (Caution – 85′), Hammond (Caution – 90+5’)

Lineups

SEA: GK Dickey, D McClernon, D Holmes, D Bugg, M Howell, M McCammon (Glas 63’), M Ji, F Latsko (Athens 76’), F Huitema (Mondesir 90’), F King (Adames 64’), F Crnogorčevićc ©
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Barnes, D Lester, M James-Turner, M Mercado

Total Shots: 6 (Crnogorčevićc – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Crnogorčevićc – 1)
Fouls: 9 (Howell – 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 9
Saves: 1 (Dickey – 1)

LA: GK Haracic, D Vignola (Thompson 45’), D Gorden (c), D Reid, D Curry, M Hammond, M Dougherty Howard (Fuller 81’), M Zelem, F Thompson (Press 88’), F Bright (Leroux 64’), F Emslie
Unused substitutes: GK Anderson, D Eddy, D Spencer, M Nabet, M Rodriguez

Total Shots: 11 (Thompson – 3)
Shots on Goal: 2 (Thompson, Vignola – 1)
Fouls: 15 (Curry, Dougherty Howard – 4)
Offsides: 4
Corner Kicks: 8
Saves: 1 (Haracic – 1)

Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Schwartz Assistant Referee 2: Darren Bandy
4th Official: Joshua Madison
VAR: Laura Rodriguez
AVAR: Kali Smith

Seattle Reign FC 0
Bay FC 1
September 29, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Bay FC in Seattle at Lumen Field on a Sunday afternoon.

With few matches and points left to take to make the postseason, both clubs were in must win mode. Dropping any more points at this stage is simply not something that can be made up later. Seattle has absolutely no room for error, coming in five points below the line having dropped all six possible points in recent matches after clawing their way back into it with a seven match unbeaten run. Bay has some wiggle room left as they are in a tight race for the final spot.

For Bay FC, it is the first trip up the coast to Seattle in their expansion season.

Neither side dominated the early going.

Both created chances in a fairly end to end first half. The chances generated mostly came in the form of wide service and corner kicks. Quality chances were rare. Most of the crosses were deflected away and good looks on goal remained scarce.

The opening goal would not come from the run of play. Bay would break through on a penalty in the 27th minute. Asisat Oshoala converted from the spot.

The goal enabled Bay to slow down, taking more time on their counters. The goal also put even more pressure on the Seattle offense. A lack of goals in recent matches had taken the hosts from the cusp of the playoffs to fighting to still have a chance down the stretch.

Jordyn Bugg would come on for an injured Lauren Barnes to begin the second half for the Reign. Unfortunately for Seattle, the penalty had played out while Barnes was off the pitch and the Reign were playing with ten.

Bay FC proved to be able to absorb and counter. The Bay forwards are particularly dangerous on the counter, enabling their middle and back lines to hold shape in transition. With a goal buffer, the steadiness in the back of a veteran defender like Abby Dahlkember and goalkeeper like Katelyn Rowland was a significant factor.

Seattle would push hard for leveling the match. Emeri Adames, Nérilia Mondésir, and Jaelin Howell all came on as the match progressed with fresh legs in the attack. Howell would manage a late crack on goal in stoppage, but in the end it was not to be for the home side.

The three points is massive for Bay’s chances of making the playoffs as an expansion side. Seattle is not yet eliminated, but the loss seems to have sealed their 2024 fate.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: None
BAY: Oshoala (P) – 27’

Discipline

SEA: None
BAY: Dydasco (Caution – 58′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Dickey, D Glas (Holmes 68’), D Barnes (c) (Bugg 46’), D McClernon, M Quinn, M Athens (Howell 86’), M Ji, F Latsko, F Huitema, F King (Adames 68’), F Crnogorčević (Mondesir 79’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, M James-Turner, M McCammon, M Mercado

Total Shots: 13 (Ji – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 4 (Four tied with– 1)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 8
Saves: 5 (Dickey – 5)

BAY: GK Rowland, D Dydasco, D Menges (c), D Dahlkemper, D Moreau, M Pickett, M Bailey, M Boade (Castellanos 88’), F Hocking (Hill 57’), F Oshoala, F Kundananji
Unused substitutes: D Beattie, M Doms, F Princess, M Shepard, M Conti, D Brewster, GK Silkowitz

Total Shots: 11 (Kundananji, Oshoala– 4)
Shots on Goal: 6 (Kundananji – 3)
Fouls: 9 (Dydasco, Kundananji – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 3 (Rowland– 3)

Referee: Elton Garcia
Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner
Assistant Referee 2: A. Max Smith
4th Official: Patricia McCracken
VAR: Alyssa Nichols
AVAR: Joshua Patlak

Photos by Lee Pate