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Seattle Reign Close NWSL Weekend Action With Draw Against Orlando Pride

Seattle Reign Close NWSL Weekend

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (June 3, 2018) — Stalemate in Seattle.

Seattle Reign FC hosted the Orlando Pride at Memorial Park on Sunday night. The match ended in a scoreless draw between the two sides.

Orlando was missing a few key figures. Haley Kopmeyer got the start in goal while Ashlyn Harris is away with the U.S. Women’s National Team. The match was Kopmeyer’s return to Seattle, where she featured from 2013-17.

Seattle Reign Close Weekend Action With 0-0 Draw Against Orlando Pride

Meanwhile, Marta was not in Orlando’s 18-player game day roster due to left calf strain.

Ali Krieger is currently out four to six weeks with an MCL injury. Also out is Rachel Hill, who is nursing a left groin strain.

As for Seattle, powerhouse goal-scorer Megan Rapinoe is also away on international duty, along with midfielder Allie Long. Two defenders were listed as out, as Yael Averbuch is still overcoming illness. Meanwhile, Megan Oyster also sat out due to a left knee sprain.

Kopmeyer was busy in goal, recording five saves against Christen Westphal, Rumi Utsugi, Beverly Yanez and Jodie Taylor.

On the other end, Lydia Williams made two saves against Poliana and Chioma Ubogagu. Williams started once again over Michelle Betos, who started the first six matches of the season.

Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni called the match a “tough game.”

“Coming over here is always difficult, particularly with the bounce of the field and the size of the field,” Sermanni said. “So it was the kind of game we expected. A very competitive one. I thought Seattle had the better of the first half. They came out of the blocks quicker than us, they dictated how the game was played in the first half.”

Reign FC Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski said it was a “pretty intense” match up.

“Both teams played hard, intense and energetic,” Andonovski said. “They had that one good opportunity, where Lydia [Williams] came up huge for us. We had a few we would put away, but this game you don’t know. You score some and you don’t.”

“I’m very proud of the players for their performance,” Andonovski said. “Actually, more so their intensity, fight, battle, hustle and the mentality. [I am] not happy with the result.”

“We should get three points.”

Three Takeaways

  1. Betos’ benching is confusing: Why fix what isn’t broken? Of course, Lydia Williams has more experience over Michelle Betos. However, the Seattle Reign wouldn’t be as high up on the NWSL standings if it weren’t for Betos. It’s a wonder why Vlatko Andonovski wants to fix what isn’t broken.
  2. Beverly Yanez gets more time: Megan Rapinoe is obviously going to get called into more future camps with the U.S. Women’s National Team because of how she’s played this season for Seattle. That being said, that means Beverly Yanez gets more time on the pitch. The forward had a few good looks against Orlando.
  3. The next bout at home will be tough: The Seattle Reign will rest during the short international break and then go on the road to face the Washington Spirit. However, after that, the team will return for a tough home match against North Carolina. Even with Rapinoe and Long back, it will take everything for Seattle to upset the undefeated club.

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