Notebook: Smith joins the Reign, preseason results
The latest news from NWSL preseason

by Jacqueline PurdyMarch 25, 2019

Taylor Smith played in 23 games for the Spirit in 2018. (Photo credit: Roy K. Miller/isiphotos.com)
Taylor Smith played in 23 games for the Spirit in 2018. (Photo credit: Roy K. Miller/isiphotos.com)

Defender Taylor Smith has signed with Reign FC, the club announced Friday.

Smith, who was a member of the Washington Spirit last season, is currently out with a torn ACL suffered in W-League action on December 15 while playing for Newcastle. She is not expected to play for the Reign in 2019.

“I was super excited to get the phone call from [Reign FC owner Bill Predmore],” Smith said in the Reign news release about the signing. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the organization and Vlatko [Andonovski, Reign FC head coach], which is very important me. I’ve had the privilege of playing with Darian [Jenkins] and Megan [Oyster] at UCLA and am stoked to be reunited with such great people and great players.”

Smith was an allocated player in 2018 for the Spirit, and the Spirit elected not to retain her rights this offseason. She was not selected in the Distribution Process and became Discovery Eligible. Reign FC made a discovery request for Smith and were awarded her rights, based on their ranking in the Discovery Process order.

“I am very excited to have Taylor on the squad,” Andonovski said in the Reign’s statement. “I think she’s very dynamic, a very intense player. She’ll fit perfectly in our type of team that we’re trying to build. Obviously, we’re not going to have her for this season, but I’m sure that she’ll do whatever it takes to get back on the pitch as quickly as possible. On our side we’ll do whatever it takes for her to get ready for next season.”

Eleven NWSL players have been named to Australia’s roster for April 4’s meeting with the United States in Colorado.

Ellie Carpenter (Portland Thorns FC), Steph Catley (Reign FC), Caitlin Foord (Portland Thorns FC), Elise Kellond-Knight (Reign FC), Alanna Kennedy (Orlando Pride), Sam Kerr (Chicago Red Stars), Chloe Logarzo (Washington Spirit), Clare Polkinghorne (Houston Dash), Hayley Raso (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Van Egmond (Orlando Pride) and Lydia Williams (Reign FC) have been called in for the match.

MORE | USWNT training camp roster for April friendlies

NWSL preseason results from this weekend:

 

At the Thorns Spring Invitational, Portland Thorns FC beat the Chicago Red Stars 2-1. Tyler Lussi and Christine Sinclair scored for Portland. Kayla Sharples scored for Chicago.

 

At the same tournament, Reign FC topped the U.S. U-23 team, 2-1, with goals from Allie Long and Darian Jenkins.

 

In North Carolina, the Courage shut out the Orlando Pride 4-0. Meredith Speck, Jessica McDonald, Lynn Williams and Julia Spetsmark scored for the home side.

 

Utah Royals FC took on the University of Southern California in three 30-minute halves on Saturday. Christen Press scored three times and Utah also got goals from Verónica Boquete, Michelle Maemone, Becky Sauerbrunn, Amy Rodriguez, Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Alexandra Kimball and Brittany Ratcliffe.

 

The Houston Dash topped Texas A&M 3-0 with goals from Veronica Latsko, Kealia Ohai and Rachel Daly.

Sky Blue FC played to a 0-0 draw vs. West Virginia University.

The Washington Spirit fell 1-3 to French club Girondins de Bordeaux. The Spirit benefited from an own goal in the first half, before Claire Lavogez scored to even the score in the second half. Viviane Asseyi scored twice (79′, 90+1′) for the visitors to clinch the win.

 

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