Reign FC grabs all three points at home with 3–0 win over Sky Blue FC

Seattle Reign FC entered Saturday’s match looking to re-establish the home dominance that was shaken in last weekend’s 0–0 draw with Chicago.

And re-establish they did.

Reign FC strung together a dominating performance, defeating Sky Blue FC 3–0 behind goals from midfielders Keelin Winters, Jess Fishlock, and Kim Little.

The win extended Reign FC’s league unbeaten streak to four games and its league home unbeaten streak to 17 games, which dates back to the beginning of the 2014 season.

Reign FC midfielder Keelin Winters got the ball rolling early for the home side, tallying her first goal of the 2015 campaign in the 8th minute. Fishlock threaded a ball into the box for Winters who then slotted her shot past Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Brittany Cameron to give Reign FC the lead.

Reign FC did well to maintain possession and string together chance after chance. In the 28th minute, one of those chances fell as defender Stephanie Cox delivered a perfectly placed cross into the box for Fishlock who headed it home to put Reign FC up 2–0.

Fishlock’s impact on Saturday was immediately felt as the midfielder returned to action after serving a one-game suspension last week.

“I hadn’t played in three weeks, so yeah,” said Fishlock when asked if she felt she had something to prove. “I had been training for so long so I just really wanted to play. I missed playing.”

The game slowed down for both teams following half time but Reign FC remained patient on the ball. In the 77th minute, a foul was whistled just outside the Sky Blue FC 18 in favor of Seattle.

Midfielder Kim Little’s kick hit the arm of a Sky Blue FC defender in the wall and the referee awarded a penalty. Little stepped up to the spot and buried a powerful penalty into the upper left-hand roof of the net to put Reign FC up 3–0 and solidify all three points.

“Kim can go forward. It’s not just about goals for Kim. It’s everything else that she brings to the game,” head coach and general manager Laura Harvey said in the post-match press conference. “I think you saw tonight, between Kim, Jess [Fishlock], and Bev [Yanez], some of the link-up play they do at times is just scary.”

Reign FC outshot Sky Blue FC 19 goals to four, registering a total of 12 shots on goal. On the defensive end, Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer made one save on the night to preserve her second clean sheet of the season. Reign FC registered its second consecutive shutout in the victory as well extended an unbeaten streak on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium to 17 games.

After playing three straight home matches, Seattle now has a two-week break during FIFA Women’s World Cup play, before returning to action on Sunday, June 21 against the Boston Breakers. That matchup is set for a 1 p.m. PT at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium in Boston.

#LetItReign

Match Report — Seattle Reign FC vs. Sky Blue FC
Date: June 6, 2015
Venue: Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT
Attendance: 2,225

Goals by Half 1 2 F SEA 2 1 3 SBFC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary

SEA — 8’ Winters (Fishlock)
SEA — 28’ Fishlock (Cox)
SEA — 77’ Little (PK)

Misconduct Summary

N/A

Lineups & Stats

SEA: GK Haley Kopmeyer, D Rachel Corsie, D Kendall Fletcher, D Lauren Banres, D Stephanie Cox, M Keelin Winters (84’- Brooks), M Jessica Fishlock, M Kim Little, F Mariah Nogueira, F Beverly Yanez (80’-Reed), F Merritt Mathias (65’- Foxhoven)

Substitutes not used: Kendall Romine, Caroline Stanley, Kiersten Dallstream, Michelle Cruz

SBFC: GK Brittany Cameron, D Kristin Grubka, D Cami Levin, D Hayley Haagsma, D Lindsi Cutshall, M Meagan Morris (67’- LaBonta), M Shawna Gordon (55’, Killion), M Taylor Lytle, M Maya Hayes, M Kim DeCesare, M Katy Freels (81’- Stanton)

Substitutes not used: Nadia Nadim, Aubrey Bledsoe, Marushka Waldos

Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referee: Cameron Blanchard, Joshua Haimes
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms

Stats Summary

Shots: SEA- 19, NJ- 4
Shots on goal: SEA-12, NJ-1
Saves: SEA- 1, NJ-9
Corner kicks: SEA-4, NJ-2
Fouls: SEA-6, NJ-9
Offside: SEA-6, NJ-1

Photos by JaneG. Photography