Reign FC grabs 2–1 road win over Boston, extends winning streak to three
Reign FC headed east this weekend to take on the Boston Breakers. In front of a sold-out crowd of 4,325 at the Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium in Allston, Mass., Seattle defeated the Boston Breakers 2–1 to pick up its third straight win.
Forward Beverly Yanez and midfielder Kim Little both tallied goals in the victory as Reign FC grabbed its third road win of the 2015 campaign to remain on the top of league with 30 points.
The home side had the bulk of the possession early as Yanez opened the scoring in the 24th minute. A corner kick from Little was punched on by Boston goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher but the rebound fell to a waiting Yanez at the back post who fired it into the roof of the net to put Reign FC up 1–0.
Boston managed to find their equalizer just 10 minutes later as midfielder Suzane Pires had space at the top of the box. Her cross found forward Kristie Mewis who headed the ball off the crossbar and into the goal past Reign FC goalkeeper Caroline Stanley to bring the scoreline to a 1–1.
Little almost gave the advantage back to Reign FC in the 37th minute when she gathered a ball in the box and pulled the ensuing shot past Naeher but inches wide of the goal.
Following the half, Reign FC amped up its pressure in search of a game-winner. In the 58th minute, Little dribbled into the box before being tripped up by defender Julie King. King was given a yellow card on the play and Little slotted the penalty kick past Naeher to put Reign FC up 2–1.
Boston’s chances to find an equalizer were far and few between as Reign FC’s backline remained stout. Momentum by the home side slowed once King was given her second yellow card for pulling back Yanez, leaving Boston to play the remaining eight minutes with 10 players.
Reign FC held the offensive edge over Boston, registering six shots on goal compared to the Breakers two. Yanez notched her third goal in two games and is now tied with Washington Spirit’s Crystal Dunn at the top of the NWSL standings for goals scored with eight while Little tallied her sixth.
On the defensive end, Stanley made her NWSL debut and finished the day with one save.
With the win, Reign FC remained on top the standings with 30 points. They now sit four points ahead of the Chicago Red Stars, who will face off against FC Kansas City later today.
Saturday’s match was the second of three regular season games between Reign FC and the Breakers, with Seattle also defeating Boston 3–2 on June 21. The two sides will face off in their final regular-season contest in Seattle on August 26 at 7 p.m. PT.
Reign FC will now return home to face the Houston Dash in a home-and-home series beginning on Wednesday, August 12 on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium. Reign FC will then travel to Houston on Friday, August 21.
For tickets to see Reign FC take on the Houston Dash, visit ReignFC.com or call (855) REIGN-FC for details on single match tickets. Seats start at $19.
#LetItReign
Match Report
Match: Seattle Reign FC vs. Boston Breakers
Date: August 1, 2015
Venue: Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium (Allston, Mass.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. PT
Attendance: 4,325
Scoring Summary
SEA — 24' Yanez
BOS — 34' Mewis (Pires)
SEA — 59' Little (Penalty)
Misconduct Summary
BOS — Ejection (Second yellow) — Julie King
SEA — Caution — Kim Little
Lineups & Stats
SEA: GK Caroline Stanley, D Rachel Corsie, D Kendall Fletcher, D Lauren Barnes, D Stephanie Cox, M Keelin Winters (85' Mariah Bullock), M Jessica Fishlock, M Kim Little, F Katrine Veje (69' Elli Reed), F Beverly Yanez, F Merritt Mathias (75' Danielle Foxhoven)
Substitutes not used: Steele, Brooks, Cruz
BOS: GK Alyssa Naeher D Kassey Kallman, D Julie King, D Lauren Lazo (73' Stephanie Verdoia), D Maddy Evans, M Mollie Pathman, M Suzane Pires (85' Nkem Ezurike), M Kristie Mewis, M Amy Barczuk (77' Rachel Wood), F Stephanie McCaffrey, F Katie Schoepfer
Substitutes not used: Morgan Marlborough, Jami Kranich, Bia
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referee: Adrienne McDonald; Kali Langevin
Fourth Official: Ian McKay
Stats Summary
Shots: SEA- 10, BOS- 6
Shots on goal: SEA- 6, BOS- 2
Saves: SEA- 1, BOS- 4
Corner kicks: SEA- 3, BOS- 1
Fouls: SEA- 7, BOS- 7
Offsides: SEA-4, BOS -2
