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Post by Admin on Jul 28, 2016 1:32:06 GMT
Seattle Reign FC avenged their May loss to the Orlando Pride with a resounding 5-2 win on Saturday night, lead by an individual performance to remember by defender Kendall Fletcher. When talking about the May loss to Orlando, we said it was because whatever magic spells the Reign had, the Pride had the perfect counter spells. Over the course of that season, the league has been sharing that magic potion, as it's been in the form of a compressed defense that does not give Reign FC the space and time that has punished anyone facing Seattle. This season has been an exercise for the Reign in trying to break that compression, and tonight it sure looked like the solution was there. Seattle has always been a possession-heavy side where smothering the ball is a must. Should they lose the ball, they get it back on a scary-quick pace. Think about it, the next time any Reign player loses the ball, start to count and on average they get it back within about ten seconds. Tonight was not any different as Seattle was on the ball a lot but where the frustration of this season has been not converting those chances, tonight it came together. The first goal came in the 21st minute after Kendall Fletcher won a penalty fighting for a second chance attack on Orlando's goal after they tried to clear out a corner. Kim Little smoothly converted the penalty and Seattle was underway. Seattle's second came in the 30th minute where a Nahomi Kawasumi free kick was deflected and fell into the box. Jess Fishlock was in range and just let it rip, and it found the back of the net faster than a blink of the eye.
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Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2016 1:11:03 GMT
The Portland Thorns (8-3-5, 29 points) went down 2-0 on a pair of Manon Melis goals before responding with an Allie Long goal late in the 3-1 loss to the Seattle Reign (6-5-5, 23 points) at Memorial Stadium in Seattle in a key National Women's Soccer League match. Seattle scored in the 27th minute when Melis converted a one-time, left-footed shot over Thorns goalkeeper Michelle Betos as the Reign took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Melis did it again, taking advantage of a Thorns miscue, when she broke in one-on-one against Betos in the 50th minute. The Thorns got a goal back when Long scored in stoppage time, connecting on a Tobin Heath free kick, but former University of Portland star Megan Rapinoe scored for Seattle on a counter for the final goal of the game.
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Post by Admin on Sept 8, 2016 1:22:48 GMT
Toyota Park was the site of some National Women's Soccer League action tonight as the Chicago Red Stars hosted Seattle Reign FC in a match that huge playoff implications. Looking at the score line, many who may not have watched the game might be forgiven for thinking that the goalkeepers had average games but that was not the case. Both Alyssa Naeher and Hayley Kopmeyer produced some outstanding saves that kept their teams in it and they both did not deserve to have conceded two goals each. As the team that needed the three points more, Seattle wasted no time in getting on the front foot. In fact. their goals came within in the first ten minutes of the match, that is how quickly they managed to take control of the game. Manon Melis continued her good form in front of goal when Beverly Yanez played a nice slip ball through to Melis who put the ball past Naeher for Seattle's opener in the fifth minute. Four minutes later and Seattle were two-nil up. Lauren Barnes stepped up to take a free-kick just outside the box and she curled it beautifully into the near post, out of the reach of Naeher in Chicago's goal. Seattle continued to push for goals and Melis' runs were causing Chicago's back line all sorts of problems. In the 15th minute, Jess Fishlock found Melis once again but she was thwarted by Naeher who came out quickly to block the shot. Slip passes through to the forward line would be a feature for Seattle all through the half and it took heroics from Alyssa Naeher to keep the scoreboard from ticking over.
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Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2016 1:30:05 GMT
As we hit the Olympic break there are less than 10 points that separate the first six teams in the NWSL, four of which will head to the playoffs in October. With the middle of the table compacted as much as it is, the job of predicting who might or might not make the playoffs becomes more challenging. But I decided to take a stab at looking at the tea leaves to see what the future holds for the NWSL playoffs. With 5 games left (or 6 if you're Washington), there are still quite a few points left on the table. Washington Spirit: Washington has 6 games, one more than any other team in the playoff race. Because of those "extra" three points that could be won, I see them ending up at the top of the table for the first time. Portland Thorns FC: Portland has survived having the national team players away better than most people thought. I'm predicting no more losses for the Thorns but three more draws to close out their season. Western New York Flash: This is the team that has surprised quite a few people. Last season was undoubtedly rough for the Flash. But this season the "blue collar" team has managed to put together quite a few surprising wins and made themselves a contender. Seattle Reign FC: If Seattle is going to fulfill my prediction to make the playoffs, they are going to need to win at least three of their last five games. I have two draws to round out their five games. With Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo rejoining the team post Rio, the Reign might have a little magic left heading into the final stretch of the season.
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