SEATTLE - OL Reign faced off against Club América on Saturday night in the frigid Seattle air. With snow in the forecast later that night, the Mexican superpower traveled to the Pacific Northwest in a kickoff match for the two clubs’ landmark partnership.
The hosts prevailed in a comfortable, 3-1 victory that gave opportunities to several reserves with major internationals still on duty with their respective nations.
Photo by Jane Gershovich / OL Reign
The agreement, announced earlier this month, tied together clubs from three continents in what they said would, “significantly accelerate the development of women's soccer around the world”.
Not only would it lead the three into a new era of women’s football, but it provided a significant opportunity for the 2022 NWSL Shield winners to feature in their first match since falling out of the playoffs in the semifinals last year.
Forward Tziarra King discussed the anticipation, saying pre-match that “playing another professional club (is) completely different…being able to get these games in your legs, training just doesn’t do it!”.
While marquee signing Emily Sonnett did not feature, the matchday squad for the Reign saw captain Lu Barnes lead a side onto the frigid Starfire pitch including Bethany Balcer and Sam Hiatt.
The first half was evidence of the Reign’s preseason focus on pressing mentality: King made a nuisance of herself as América goalkeeper Itzel González struggled in possession, often initiating a high press that saw their formation shapeshift throughout the game, with King and Balcer pressing as twin forwards.
However, their efforts came at a cost as Barnes struggled to deal with the late-arriving América right back Sabrina Enciso in the opening stages, which allowed several half-chances to fall her way.
Photo by Jane Gershovich / OL Reign
Despite the flurry of pressure from the visitors, King was able to convert an 11th-minute high, looping cross from Veronica Latsko that in her words, “...put it on a platter for me” into a sweetly volleyed finish that left González stunned (in King’s words, “BOOM!”) and opened the scoring.
Latsko featured heavily offensively throughout the match, beginning on the right side of the back four and moving up the pitch as others exited the game.
King’s influence would become evident in the closing stages as América’s forward push left rookie signee McKenzie Weinert 1v1, where she swept past the backpedaling defender and duly slotted past González for her first senior tally.
The goal, which effectively ended any hopes of an América equalizer, was the result of Weinert’s work with the team throughout the preseason.
Joining from the local University of Washington as an unsigned winger, Weinert put her early success down to veteran support, noting that the transition from NCAA success to senior football was, “smooth, thanks to all of the teammates on Reign”.
Harvey noted the significance of the opportunity post-match, pointing out that the XI on the pitch at the final whistle was an early chance to, “...(see) what the team looked like without them”.
The influx of reserve support, with several substitutes entering after the halftime interval, gave an important preview of head coach Laura Harvey’s squad in the summer.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted in Australia and New Zealand, will leave several of the Reign’s big-name players unavailable, leaving eager like Weinert and fellow rookie Natalie Viggiano in pole position to step up come the summer months.
While the Reign pride themselves on their pressing abilities, the rotating defensive unit continued to display an impressive degree of composure and maturity as they weathered a storm of América pressure. Center back Phoebe McClernon played the full 90 minutes, one of only three to do so for Harvey’s side, and time and again shrugged off forwards.
The frequent entry passes into midfield constantly left the defense on their heels, and her impressive stability provided a solid platform for her partners throughout the match, and the performance will ensure that the 25-year-old gets a look in throughout the regular season as OL Reign fight to retain their NWSL Shield title in 2023.
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