Reign FC 2-1 over Utah Royals in Summer Cup play

Seattle Reign FC 2
Utah Royals FC 1
July 19, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup

Nate Koppelman Photos

The first NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup kicked off for Seattle and Utah on Friday night.  The two clubs find themselves at or near the bottom of the table going into the Olympic break, the Summer Cup possibly providing an opportunity to take a crack at a trophy in 2024.

With internationals not available or just returning from duty, it is also an opportunity for many in each squad to grab some playing time.

Utah’s return to NWSL play has been a slow start, already resulting in a coaching change.

Reign FC have had a rough 2024, but are looking for a late season run in.  In both 2022 and 2023 late season shifts in form led to a Shield and a championship appearance.

Both sides came out with pressure, pushing for an early goal or to create a mistake. As a result, the early stages was a pretty wide open field.

The hosts managed a set piece header just a few minutes in. The visitors forced Reign keeper Laurel Ivory into a tricky save in the 13th amidst a period of pressure.

Cup matches with squad rotation often provide a glimpse into possible futures of clubs. For Seattle, the mix of rotation regulars also included a look at Maddie Mercado, Sam Meza, and Julia Lester.  Rookie Emeri Adames was provided an opportunity to start, a long with McKenzie Weinert on the front line.

The two sides had recently played to a 1-1 draw in Seattle just before the international break.  The two starting elevens that took the field for the cup match looked nothing like those line ups.

The flow of play in the first half was fairly open and end to end, but not the sometimes near frantic like pace and pressure of league matches.  Both found a few opportunities, but the defenses held as the first half progressed.

Olivia Athens would open the scoring in the 43rd minute, converting from the spot from a foul on Weinert. The goal would not carry into the interval. Utah forward Paige Monaghan nearly had leveled in stoppage time on a counter, but the Reign defense held, to hold the one nil scoreline.

Moments later however, the match would be leveled when Cameron Tucker was left open on the far post and blasted a volley past Ivory.

The open play and pressing continued into the second half.  Both sides continued to create the odd chance, but neither keeper was especially tested.

in the 77th minute Sofia Huerta would get a head on a far post cross from Tziarra King, nabbing the second goal and putting the Reign back in the lead 2-1. Seattle has moved towards not merely overlapping with their outside backs, but in pushing them up into midfield wings on transition as 2024 has progressed.  The eventual game winner was an example of how that approach pushes their forwards up higher, a move which bought King the time to set up the goal and Huerta the space to get to the far post.

The Royals would push for the late equalizer, creating a number of chances in the waining minutes.

The 2-1 margin gives Seattle the early advantage in the group phase of the Summer Cup.

Ainsley McCammon would debut in the 90th minute for the Reign, her signing having been announced earlier in the day with Jordyn Bugg.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Athens – 43’, Huerta – 76′

UTA: Tucker – 45+5’

Discipline

SEA: Stanton (Caution – 50′), Meza (Caution – 63′)

UTA: Betfort (Caution – 75′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Holmes, D Brown (Huerta 46’), D McClernon, D Lester, M Stanton, M Athens (McCammon 90’), M Mercado (Meza 57’), F Adames (King 65’), F Weinert (Balcer 65’), F Latsko Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, D Perez, D Bugg, D Cook

Total Shots: 9 (Balcer, Weinert – 2)

Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)

Fouls: 8 (Weinert – 3)

Offsides: 0

Corner Kicks: 6

Saves: 2 (Ivory – 2)

UTA: GK Roque, D Del Fava (Merrick 46’), D Tejada, D Burns, D Pogarch (O’Brien 88’), D Riehl, M Foederer (Boren 86’), F Mozingo, F Monaghan (c) (Murison 86’), F Tucker, F BetfortUnused substitutes: GK Haught, D  Smith-Griffitts, M Nyberg, F Vasconcelos

Total Shots: 11 (Monaghan, Pogarch – 3)

Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)

Fouls: 12 (Tejada – 4)

Offsides: 3

Corner Kicks: 6

Saves: 2 (Roque – 2)

Referee: Elijio Arreguin

Assistant Referee 1: Elijio Arreguin

Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger

4th Official: Dion Coxe-Trieger