OL Reign 5
Houston Dash 1
NWSL Regular Season
August 7, 2021 – Cheney Stadium – Tacoma, WA
The surging OL Reign took on the visiting Houston Dash in Tacoma on Saturday night. With the season moving past the midpoint with internationals about to return, teams were looking to grab points and get into playoff position.
The first half got off to a blazing start for the hosts. Bethany Balcer grabbed a 6th minute goal and Sofia Huerta doubled the lead near the 20th.
The early offense set the tone for the half. The hosts kept on their front foot for the most part.
Houston pushed to cut the lead, getting an own goal making it 2-1 in the 30th.
The hosts pressed back quickly and did not seem phased by losing part of their lead. Eugenie Le Sommer netting her third of the season and the third of the match for OL Reign.
Early season finishing troubles seemed long ago for OL Reign, nabbing five goals in the half for the first time when Jessica Fishlock and Balcer grabbed two late goals before the half. For Balcer, it was a first half brace.
After the interval, the match rolled along, Houston attempting to counter and chip away, but was unable to break through and the hosts saw out the match with the 5-1 score line in tact.
The three points pushed the Reign up over Houston and Washington and into 5th place, into the 2021 6 team playoff picture. It was a rough result for Houston, but they remain one point off the pace in the playoff picture themselves.
Interim Head Coach Sam Laity has guided the transitional period between coaches for the OL Reign with the team on the upswing.
BOX
Scoring
RGN: Balcer – 6’, 45+1’, Huerta – 19’, Le Sommer – 35’, Fishlock – 42’
HOU: Own goal – 30’
Discipline
RGN: None
HOU: Fields (Caution – 49’), Alozie (Caution – 84’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Bouhaddi, D Celia (King 71’), D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes © (Lopez 82’), M Marozsán (Angelina 65’), M Weatherholt, M Fishlock (Cruz 71’), F Le Sommer (Hedge 82’), F Balcer, F Huerta
Unused substitutes: GK Dederick, D Brooks, D McNabb, F Pruitt
Total Shots: 21 (Balcer – 7)
Shots on Goal: 9 (Balcer, Le Sommer – 3)
Fouls: 7 (Fishlock – 2)
Offsides: 1 (Le Sommer – 1)
Corner Kicks: 6
Saves: 1 (Bouhaddi – 1)
HOU: GK Harris, D Fields, D Naughton ©, D Oyster, D Hanson, M Ogle (Nairn 67’), M Seiler, M Groom (Diaz 50’), F Spencer (Alozie 46’), F Rosa (Gomera-Stevens 46’), F Latsko
Unused substitutes: GK Dennis, D Schmidt, M Hauksdottir
Total Shots: 3 (Groom – 2)
Shots on Goal: 1 (Groom – 1)
Fouls: 14 (Spencer – 3)
Offsides: 2 (Spencer – 2)
Corner Kicks: 1
Saves: 3 (Harris – 3)
Officials
Referee: Natalie Simon
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Baboucarr Jallow
