Seattle Reign FC 1
Chicago Red Stars 2
May 22, 2016 – Seattle, WA – Memorial Stadium
NWSL Regular Season
Seattle Reign FC have needed to make use of their depth in the early stages of the 2016 season. With Manon Melis and Jess Fishlock both out with tibia fractures to go with the still recovering Megan Rapinoe, coach Laura Harvey has had to shuffle her line up more than in the previous couple seasons. Hope Solo was off the squad for a family matter, giving Haley Kopmeyer her first start of 2016.
Chicago Red Stars played 2015 with 8 players on various World Cup squads. 2016 finds coach Rory Dames with a much younger squad, but still with the experience of Julie Johnston and Christen Press on the pitch in front of USWNT backup keeper Alyssa Naeher.
For Seattle, the line up shuffle has given a few players a chance to play different roles. With Jess Fishlock out, Kim Little has played much more defense with Bev Yanez playing more withdrawn in to the midfield. Merritt Mathias has played more as an up top striker. Kiersten Dallstream has found herself in the starting eleven a few times.
The younger Red Stars have the veteran experience in both halves with Press and Johnston, and have been off to a hot start with Naeher running several clean sheets in the opening weeks after an opening 3-1 loss to Houston.
The first half was a reasonably methodical affair. Neither team took too many chances, but there were more opportunities as the half progressed for both sides. Entering the locker room at the half nil-nil felt like a fair result.
Lindsay Elston entered in the 62nd minute for Seattle, enabling Little and Yanez to move up and more into their usual spots. The formation shift
Jen Hoy scored a brace in the 55th and 67th minutes. The first was a hustle follow up off a deflection. Kopmeyer had denied Press, but not held, and the deflection follow up was slotted in by Hoy. The second goal was off a through pass with Hoy beating the Seattle D Line and finishing far post.
Seattle made it interesting down the stretch with Kim Little converting a penalty in the 89th. Some pressure in stoppage time from Seattle came to naught.
The young Red Stars lost their opener, but have grabbed 13 points of 15 since. With the win Chicago pulled even atop the league table with Washington Spirit after 6 weeks.
What was once Fortress Memorial is now where Reign FC have managed 4 points out of 12 with two losses. Seattle finds themselves with only 7 points after 6 matches and in the bottom half of the table, waiting for returning starters, and looking for the edge that took them to two consecutive NWSL Shields and championship matches.
Chicago Red Stars
Seattle Reign FC
