It may have been the most enthusiastically jubilant a Seattle audience has seen Reign FC coach Laura Harvey. Harvey led Jess Fishlock, then most of the rest of the team in singing “We won the League. In our home town. We won the League in our home town!” and were in turn joined by many of the four thousand-plus in attendance after the final whistle blew to seal a 3-1 Seattle victory over the visiting Boston Breakers.
The three points did indeed clinch the Shield for the Reign, insuring that prize for the league’s best record stays in the Emerald City – and with it a home date for the semi-final match. That game will be played against one of three opponents: the Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, or the Washington Spirit – the only three teams to best the Reign this campaign, and all away from the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium.
Perhaps more ominously, the Final will not be played in those familiar confines. The NWSL announced with four games remaining in the season that an agreement had been reached by the owners back in April to hold the game at a predetermined venue, now disclosed as Portland’s Providence Park.
The distance will make it more possible for Reign fans to attend than visitors from any of the three other claimants to the league championship, but the venue will likely be more crowded with Portland partisans rooting for ACES: Any Club Except Seattle.
This doesn’t change the objective for Harvey and team. After falling short in last year’s championship – relocated to the Starfire complex south of Seattle due to scheduling conflicts and the demands of a television contract – this season’s goal has been both Shield and the championship crown.
In Boston, the Reign were taking on the cellar-dwelling side in the NWSL – or perhaps the team with nothing to lose, and made sure to come out aggressively to dispel any notion of the Breakers playing spoiler. A Megan Rapinoe goal assisted by Stephanie Cox in the 19th minute opened the scoring, but was the third or fourth legitimate opportunity, as Rapinoe earlier hit the crossbar and Danish international Katrine Veje had the misfortune of catching the right upright. By the time right outside back Kendall Fletcher put away the second tally in the thirty-fourth minute, the outcome was all but settled. Indeed, a goalkeeper of any less prowess than Boston’s Alyssa Naeher – herself meriting inclusion with the World Cup laureate US national team – would have been hard-pressed to keep the margin at two.
After the break, Scottish international Kim Little would boost her grip on the scoring lead, tallying her tenth goal of the season to go along with six assists. The Breakers would claw one back late, with Maddy Evans slipping one past Hope Solo in the 88th minute.
On Saturday, the Reign close out the home portion of their regular season as they host Sky Blue FC. They will close out the campaign the following Saturday against the Washington Spirit before hosting a semi-final match on Sunday, 13th September.
