by Jeff Lageson with photos by Vanya Tucherov
Preseason friendlies are an interesting mix of starters getting in sync, reserves playing for future time, end of the roster players trying to make a team, refs getting up to speed, and coaches trying things while mostly hoping no one gets hurt.
Watching the Reign in training prior to the Portland match it was clear the team was ready to play matches and needed to face opposition. The Reign then beat UP 5-0 a few days later.
Fast forward another week the final preseason match provided home fans a chance to see their team and extra minutes for new faces while national team players were away with their teams.
Spring season college teams like Washington provide NWSL sides with capable opposition. The Huskies came out and pressured quickly and worked hard to make the Reign earn it. Although the Reign were generally in control and the better side, the UW very much looked like it deserved to be on the pitch.
Dani Foxhoven scored on a wonderfully timed run about 13 minutes in. “They were holding a high line,” she said post game and her finish past the UW keeper was a confident strike.
With many national team absences and a couple of major offensive personnel changes, touches like Foxhoven showed on that first goal should provide a wide range of scoring options for Coach Laura Harvey.
Earlier in the week at the kit unveiling at Chihuly, Coach Harvey was asked where the goals would come from this year and she deadpanned, “Kim.”
Following up she offered that she saw goals coming from a variety of sources. Reign offensive options on the 2015 roster speaks to that confidence. Expect a number of players to spread goals across the stat sheets as teams have to deal with a variety of attacking options and Kim Little and others being available all season.
Bev Yanez’ touch, turn and finish on the second goal paid off the work newcomer Merritt Mathias did to bring the ball deep down the right flank and serve it in to the Reign forwards. Mathias’ strength on the ball should provide many an opportunity as when she gets it her ability to hold off defenders will allow the second goal scenario many opportunities to play out this season.
The Reign made a stunning trade earlier in the week. Sydney Leroux and Amanda Frisbie out for the rights to Abby Wambach and Amber Brooks. Brooks arrived in Seattle and had made training the morning of the game, and when provided an opportunity to get on the pitch did not seem to hesitate. Post game Brooks commented, “I have played with so many players before with the national team and other clubs.” Whether Wambach plays this year or not, the Brooks roster move is excellent in a year full of major absences. It hurts to lose good players, but the Reign roster benefits from Brooks.
Looking forward to the season opener, it is no longer about what is missing and what has changed, it is about what they have and moving forward.
