The Cascadian sides fund out their season openers today as the NWSL released the schedule for the opening weeks. Seattle Reign will host Western New York Flash at Memorial Stadium while Portland Thorns host the Boston Breakers.
The NWSL will take a brief 12 day break during the group stages of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
The Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium will see US Star Abby Wambach among the visitors. The match will be the seventh between the clubs in the NWSL regular season and the first time the clubs will face each other in the opening game of the season. Reign FC went 2-0-1 against WNY last season and has an all-time record of 3-1-2 against the club.
Reign FC is 1-0-1 all-time in NWSL regular season openers, including a 3-0 home win over the Boston Breakers in 2014. Reign FC managed a 1-1 draw on the road against the Chicago Red Stars in the 2013 opener.
For the Thorns, it is their first season opener at home. Since the inaugural 2013 season, Portland has opened the season on the road against FC Kansas City (2013) and the Houston Dash (2014).
Thorns FC are 2-0-0 in NWSL home openers. In 2013, Portland earned a 2-1 win against Seattle Reign FC on April 21, while Thorns FC registered a 3-1 victory in the 2014 home opener against FC Kansas City on April 26.
Here is the NWSL full release:
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the schedule of home openers for the 2015 regular season. The season opener will feature the Houston Dash hosting the Washington Spirit on Friday, April 10 at BBVA Compass Stadium, kicking off a 20-game schedule.
On opening weekend in the NWSL, six of the nine clubs in the league will begin their respective campaigns starting on Saturday, April 11 with Portland Thorns FC against Boston Breakers and continuing on Sunday, April 12 with Seattle Reign FC vs. the Western New York Flash. The defending NWSL Champions FC Kansas City will complete Week 1 action by hosting Sky Blue FC on a soon to be determined date.
In Week 2, the Chicago Red Stars host Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC takes on the Houston Dash and Washington Spirit face off against FC Kansas City on Saturday, April 18. The final two home openers will feature Boston Breakers vs. Houston Dash on Sunday, April 26 and the Western New York Flash against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, May 2.
The NWSL will take brief 12-day break during the group stages of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. The 2015 regular season will then culminate on the weekend of September 5-6 and be followed by the playoffs, including two semifinal matches on the weekend of September 12-13 with the championship match scheduled for the weekend of September 26-27.
Additional information on times for these games and others will be revealed in the coming weeks as part of the complete 2015 regular season schedule announcement.
Dates and matchups for the 2015 home openers are below (home teams listed first).
All matches subject to change
WEEK 1
Friday, April 10
Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Saturday, April 11
Portland Thorns FC vs. Boston Breakers (Providence Park)
Sunday, April 12
Seattle Reign FC vs. Western New York Flash (Memorial Stadium)
To Be Determined
FC Kansas City vs. Sky Blue FC (TBD)
WEEK 2
Saturday, April 18
Chicago Red Stars vs. Seattle Reign FC (Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex)
Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash (Yurcak Field)
Washington Spirit vs. FC Kansas City (Maryland SoccerPlex)
WEEK 3
Sunday, April 26
Boston Breakers vs. Houston Dash (Harvard University)
WEEK 4
Saturday, May 2
Western New York Flash vs. Boston Breakers (Sahlen’s Stadium)
