Coach’s Corner
Seattle Reign FC returned home to The MODA Pitch at Memorial Stadium Wednesday evening with a chance to claim a second consecutive NWSL Shield.
Playing against the playoff eliminated and last place Boston breakers had all the makings of a classic trap game. A team with nothing to play for but pride against a team with a buffer zone of points to give. The two teams might have conflicting senses of urgency on display.
Any thoughts of a lull in intensity were quelled early as the match had a lot of energy in the opening twenty minutes. Megan Rapinoe finally broke through what had been an outstanding early display by Alyssa Naeher. Not to be outdone by her USWNT back up, Hope looked sharp early on a quick restart by Boston, sliding out to stop a dangerous challenge. With Kendall Fletcher making it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, it appeared Seattle was ready to put the game away early. Anything less than the display Naeher put on and it could have been much worse than 2 nil at the half.
Katrine Veje took advantage of the opportunity to start in the place of injured Bev Yanez with a number of deep runs and chances created. Yanez missed her first match after 41 consecutive, but Veje filled in and was yet another weapon for Boston to deal with.
Kim Little completed Seattle’s scoring when she was gifted the ball in the 56th atop the 18, adding to her scoring total and making the league player of the year vote that much closer.
Boston grabbed a late consolation goal, but the game was over by then.
“We won the league, in our home town!” Jess Fishlock and Head Coach Laura Harvey sang arm in arm on the pitch after the match.
Photos by Denise McCooey
