Reign FC & Washington Spirit Draw In Tacoma

Reign FC 1
Washington Spirit 1
NWSL Regular Season
Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA
June 15, 2019

Photo by Maddy Grassy

Top of the table Washington Spirit made the cross country trek to take on Reign FC in a Saturday evening match up in Cheney Stadium in Tacoma Washington.

A match in early May at the Maryland Soccerplex finished level and scoreless. The first half in Tacoma continued that trend. Spirit head coach Richie Burke expressed his unhappiness with his side’s first half performance, but they entered half time still level and with a clean sheet.

Both sides were without multiple starters away in France on world cup duty. In addition, the home side had a number of other players out, leading to a string of emergency signings and a line up pieced together. The timing of Welsh midfielder Jessica Fishlock’s recent return to the Pacific Northwest has emerged as an even more important factor in the international stretch of the season. Fishlock’s equalizer brought the crowd very much back into the match down the stretch until the final whistle and the 1-1 draw.

Photo by MEL

A lot will be made of all the missing players, 15 in total for Reign FC and seven away on international duty for the Spirit, and that is a story, but clubs must play with contingency plans. Looking at the Reign FC starting defense and midfield, much of that line up could have started on a given night. Where the turnover was for the hosts was up front.

For Washington, Andi Sullivan was about the last cut from the USWNT, but brought leadership to her side and her second half goal broke the initial deadlock. It was her first NWSL goal and showed her maturation as a player in the way she played through the Reign defense and hit the ball at a tough angle to the far post.

The match was also the return from retirement of three years for Steph Cox. Cox turned in a full 90 minutes and contributed to the Reign attack with diagonal balls into dangerous places and a set piece that just went high. Any rust was not readily apparent.

Photo by MEL

Aubrey Bledsoe has continued her top tier play in the Spirit net, Saturday evening being no exception. Although the Reign did equalize with Jessica Fishlock’s goal, Bledsoe had an excellent match, with a possible save of the week candidate save.

Bethany Balcer and Ifeoma Onumonu brought energy and push to the Reign offense. Playing a few matches together in the next few road games could bring more goals as they get used to playing together. For the Reign FC, the saving grace was that up the middle and across the back line was a reasonable amount of experience. The signing of Casey Murphy as goalkeeper on an replacement backup contract has ended up with her now having started the past three matches and displaying starting level talent. “We created opportunities,” Reign FC coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “We didn’t finish them, but that’s part of the game. This is a fairly young team, there are young three forwards that we have. Besides being young they’re young in the league too. I think they’re doing well and if we keep creating as much as we did, I think we’ll be just fine.”

Photo by MEL

The Spirit are a young side, but much like the recent run young players being successful in Western New York and North Carolina, Washington’s young side is getting results and points and has placed themselves in a position to make a playoff run.

Reign FC used to consider Seattle’s Memorial Stadium home and a fortress. Five matches in Tacoma have yet to see Reign FC lose, but the three draws that go with the two victories are a lot of points left on the pitch.

BOX Score

Attendance: 3,572

Scoring Summary
WASH – Andi Sullivan (Cali Farquharson) 62’
RFC – Jess Fishlock 77’

Misconduct Summary
WASH – Tori Huster (caution) 55’

REIGN FC: GK Casey Murphy, D Steph Cox, D Lauren Barnes, D Megan Oyster, D Theresa Nielsen, M Morgan Andrews, M Jess Fishlock, M Bev Yanez, F Ifeoma Onumonu, F Bethany Balcer, F Maegan Kelly (Kiersten Dallstream 69’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kori Butterfield, D Christen Westphal, M Morgan Proffitt, M Erin Yenney, F Addison Steiner, F Jaycie Johnson, F Kiersten Dallstream
Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

Shots: 24
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 11
Corner kicks: 6
Saves: 3

WASHINGTON SPIRIT: GK Aubrey Bledsoe, D Megan Crosson (Crystal Thomas 84’), D Sam Staab, D Paige Nielsen, D Tori Huster, M Dorian Bailey, M Andi Sullivan, M Meggie Dougherty Howard, M Jordan DiBiasi (Carlin Hudson 66’), F Ashley Hatch, F Ari Ship (Cali Farquharson 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Shae Yanez, D Tegan McGrady, D McKenzie Berryhill, M Bayley Feist
Head Coach: Richie Burke

Shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 6
Corner kicks: 3
Saves: 8

Website Featured Image Photo by Maddy Grassy