**Houston, Texas** – The OL Reign marched into Houston and defeated the Dash, 2-0, in their third game in eight days for their third straight victory as the side exacted revenge against Houston from a 2-1 loss in early August. The result sees the Reign clinch a place in the playoffs with the Road to the Shield race very much alive.
The Reign didn’t trouble the Houston goal much early on with attacker Megan Rapinoe’s cross into the middle in the 16 ^th minute easily handled by Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. On the other side, though, Houston also could not get past Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce early, with opportunities in front of goal for Maria Sánchez and Marissa Viggiano both failing to hit the target.
However, the Reign would not have to wait much longer in their quest for goal as forward Bethany Balcer pounced on a loose ball just in front of the goalmouth in the 29 ^th minute and put her side ahead from close range. Rapinoe had charged down the left flank in possession again and this time, instead of playing an aerial cross, slid a pass along the floor into the middle. Midfielder Rose Lavelle had rushed to meet the ball but was ultimately a fraction of a second late, though her run put off the awareness of a Dash defender and left the ball loose just a yard in front of goal. This allowed Balcer to clean up from close in and the forward slotted the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors a first half lead at PNC Stadium.
Four minutes after the goal, Lavelle then forced Campbell to make another save as she snuck into the right side of the box and drew the goalkeeper into a save from close in to prevent a second goal for the visitors. After receiving a pass, Lavelle surveyed the box and cut inside to her left foot where she opened her body up and attempted to poke a shot through Campbell. However, the netminder had done well to close the space in between her and made a good save on the shot to help her side.
Houston’s next best opportunity of the half came in interesting fashion as the attacker Sánchez inadvertently tested Tullis-Joyce with a cross from the far left flank that nearly found the top right corner on its way down. Sánchez was seeking a teammate with her ball in, but the flight path meant Tullis-Joyce had no other choice but to put it out for a corner, though the Reign eventually saw the danger away.
At the break, the Reign’s lone goal via Balcer was still enough to keep them above Houston as the sides regrouped.
The Dash started the second half strong though, bringing Tullis-Joyce into action in the 48 ^th minute on a shot from midfielder Sophie Schmidt. A couple of 50/50 challenges landed Houston’s way, but when forward Michelle Alozie lost the ball just outside the 18-yard box, the midfielder Schmidt stepped up and fired a shot on goal that had Tullis-Joyce scrambling, though she was able to prevent the goal in the end.
Two minutes later, the Dash had won a free kick on the right side through Alozie. Stepping up to take was the playmaker Sánchez, and she was also just inches away from creating Houston’s equalizer. Firing a left-footed effort toward the back post, Sánchez watched in agony as her effort ricocheted off the post and back into play with the Reign eventually able to get the ball away.
In the 76 ^th minute, OL Reign turned the tide back in their favor though as they doubled their advantage through Veronica Latsko’s rebound goal after a tight onside decision allowed Lavelle through. Forward Jordyn Huitema did well to hold the ball up and sent Lavelle through the middle of goal with a pass down the gut of the field. From there, Lavelle took the ball into the penalty area just on the left side where she unleashed a shot that beat Campbell but ultimately bounced off the far post and back into play. Just as Houston thought they had gotten away with one though, Reign forward Veronica Latsko buried the rebounded chance off the other post and the visitors went two in front.
Despite Houston’s best efforts through four minutes of added time, OL Reign would see the game out unharmed and the visitors earned all three points behind goals from Bethany Balcer and Veronica Latsko. The win also helps lift the Reign into first place for the night on 37 points, while Houston remains in fourth on 33 points with both Kansas City (fifth – 33 points) and Chicago (seventh – 30 points) able to catch the Dash (Chicago on GD) with games on Sunday.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights