With the sun setting and the summer breeze blowing the Seattle Reign came to Starfire Stadium ready to continue their winning streak. With Megan Rapinoe as a substitute, the stadium was packed and full of enthusiasm!
Throughout the first half both teams were equally aggressive and possessing the ball well. The first scoring opportunity for the Reign came in the 24th minute with a side volley that Jessica Fishlock found off a cross from her teammate. The volley was placed just over the crossbar. With possession equally spilt between the two teams the next scoring opportunity did not come until the 36th minute with Fishlock finding the ball again for an attacking header on goal. Chicago keeper, Erin McLoed came up with the save to keep the game at 0’s. With the sun almost set, the game went to halftime with a score of 0-0.
Both teams came out rested, hydrated, and ready to score. In the 51st minute Seattle’s Kennya Cordner was drug down in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. Katelyn Kyle beautifully placed the shot to put the Reign up 1-0. A few short minutes later Megan Rapinoe would make her first appearance at Starfire Stadium. The crowd erupted in cheers, which could be heard all over the Starfire campus. In the 59th Fishlock found the opportunity to chip McLeod and did so beautifully. Fishlock’s goal put Seattle up by two. The half continued with the Reign possessing the ball for the majority of the half. In the 84th minute Michelle Wenino of Chicago was able to capitalize on a Chicago corner to bring the game within one. In the closing minutes of the match Christine Nairn of Seattle found space on the field to attack Chicago. She placed a lovely through ball to Rapinoe, who then beat the defense with a simple cut and shot to the back post. Chicago had no chance to stop the shot and the Reign went up 3-1. The game would end seconds after Rapinoe scored with a score of 3-1.
The Seattle Reign will be back at Starfire on July 3rd against the Boston Breakers with kickoff at 7 pm. Click here to buy your tickets. Come and join us!
