It’s been a banner two months for Seattle Reign FC.
And with a 2–1 win on Saturday night on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium, Seattle solidified an unbeaten month of June, the second straight in which the team stayed out of the loss column.
Now, the team has won its last three games, while going undefeated in six straight NWSL matchups in a stretch that has propelled the team to a tie for first place in the league alongside the Washington Spirit. Reign FC’s streak of league home games at Memorial Stadium was extended to 18 with the victory.
For goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer, who made 2 saves in the win, the team has been on a particular upswing in the last couple of games.
“It’s good that we’re kind of coming into form now.” Kopmeyer said.
After several near misses in the first 45 minutes of action on Saturday, a pair of second half goals in a two-minute span propelled Seattle in the victory.
In the 62nd minute, forward Beverly Yanez broke the scoreless tie with her team-leading fifth goal of the season, corralling a ball in the box before slotting it past goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart to give Seattle the one-goal advantage.
“I say it all the time, but I really mean it, the team does so great in putting me in position and attacking players in positions to score goals,” Yanez said.
It didn’t take long to double the Seattle lead.
Less than two minutes later, forward Kim Little got in on the action, bringing down a ball into the box from forward Danielle Foxhoven, and firing it past Barnhart to give them a 2–0 advantage.
“I thought we moved the ball really well,” head coach Laura Harvey said. “I thought we controlled the tempo.”
While Kansas City cut the deficit in half with a 90th minute goal from forward Shea Groom, FCKC would get no closer. However, losing the clean sheet in the game’s waning moments didn’t sit well with Seattle’s backline.
“We won’t be happy until we’re getting some more clean sheets,” defender Kendall Fletcher said.
With the 2–1 win, Reign FC has now outscored its opponents by a 12–5 margin since May 2.
For Harvey, the victory — and unbeaten stretch — still don’t indicate the level of play Reign FC can attain.
“We don’t think we’ve played the best we can, and we don’t feel like we’ve peaked, but we haven’t lost in that period,” Harvey said. “I think it’s given us a good playform to build on.”
Next Friday, Seattle will be back in action for a road tilt against the Western New York Flash at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. That matchup kicks off at 4 p.m. PT.
Match Report:
Match: Seattle Reign FC vs. FC Kansas City
Date: June 27, 2015
Venue: Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
Scoring Summary
SEA — Yanez, 62' (Fletcher)
SEA — Little, 63' (Foxhoven)
KC — Groom, 90’+
Misconduct Summary
SEA — Barnes, 67'
Lineups & Stats
SEA: GK Haley Kopmeyer, D Rachel Corsie, D Kendall Fletcher, D Lauren Barnes, D Stephanie Cox, M Keelin Winters, M Jessica Fishlock, M Kim Little (Dallstream, 87'), F Mariah Bullock, F Beverly Yanez (Reed, 67'), F Merritt Mathias (Foxhoven, 60')
Substitutes not used: Kendall Romine, Caroline Stanley, Amber Brooks, Michelle Cruz
FCKC: GK Nicole Barnhart, D Leigh Ann Robinson, D Amy LePeilbet, D Becca Moros, M Yael Averbuch, M Jen Buczkowski, M Mandy Laddish, M Erika Tymrak, F Liz Bogus, F Shea Groom, F Sarah Hagen
Substitutes not used: Katelyn Rowland, Domi Richardson, Meghan Lisenby, Kaysie Clark, Caroline Kastor, Frances Silva
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referee: Veronica Perez, Kelsey Harms
Fourth Official: Ian Johnson
Stats Summary
Shots: SEA — 15 / FCKC — 7
Shots on goal: SEA — 9 / FCKC — 4
Saves: SEA — 2 / FCKC — 5
Corner kicks: SEA — 6 / FCKC — 2
Fouls: SEA — 9 / FCKC — 6
Offside: SEA — 3 / FCKC — 0
