**SEATTLE, Wa.** – OL Reign put on a dominant display Saturday afternoon in their 4-1 win over Angel City FC, with goals from Elyse Bennett, Veronica Latsko, and Quinn, all helping them to another win at Lumen Field. The win temporarily sends OL Reign to 2 ^nd place in the league standings on 16 points, ahead of San Diego on goal differential and pending Gotham FC’s match on Sunday. It’s also their fourth win in five home matches (L1). For Angel City, the result keeps the club at 10 ^th place but extends their winless run to three games.
In the early goings, it was a fairly even back and forth between the two sides as both the Reign and Angel City tested the other’s goal. In the 6 ^th minute, Angel City forward Claire Emslie had a shot saved by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Then, just four minutes later, OL Reign had their first quality look on goal as a cross from the left via forward Bethany Balcer was aimed toward teammates Veronica Latsko and Elyse Bennett near the penalty spot. Arriving first was Latsko, but she could not get enough power on her headed effort to put the shot on frame and her shot instead skewed wide and was eventually cleared.
The battle only continued through the first half as Latsko forced Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic into a good save in the 13 ^th minute. Latsko had attempted to get on the other end of a lifted through pass, but Haracic did well to smother the opportunity and end the move. Five minutes later, Bennett was afforded her chance as a cross from Balcer, this time out wide to the right, was aimed toward the attacker in the penalty area. Though Bennett produced a beautiful flick toward the back post, she could not get it inside the far post and in as momentum continued OL Reign’s way.
As Angel City continued to get its stops on the other end, the side won a corner in the 26 ^th minute and would end up taking the lead off the ensuing move as Claire Emslie produced an unreal olimpico effort from the right side. Emslie stepped up to take and whipped in a high cross that was always curling back toward the goal, but the placement of the ball saw it sneak just inside the near top corner and in a flash the visitors were a goal in front.
Of course, that goal then prompted the Reign to convert a chance of their own as Bennett equalized for the hosts in the 34 ^th minute. With forward Megan Rapinoe on the ball on the right flank, she placed a perfectly weighted ball to the near post for Bennett to rush onto ahead of a marking defender. Doing just that, Bennett bundled the ball over the line and past Haracic, who had come off her line in attempts to prevent the chance.
That scoreline would carry the two sides through the halftime break and into the second half, but OL Reign needed just seven minutes to find their first lead of the net as Veronica Latsko produced a right-footed rocket from outside the box that nearly burst through the top of the net on its way in. Credited with the assist, Rapinoe played a ball forward to Latsko some 20 yards out from goal. Turning and having a look at goal, Latsko then unleashed and slipped to the ground as she watched the ball sail through the crowd and into the goal for her first of the night and OL Reign’s second.
From there, Latsko needed just three minutes to score her brace and double OL Reign’s lead, extending control even further in favor of the hosts. A truly beautiful team move continued as midfielder Jess Fishlock played the ball out to the left flank for Rapinoe. Taking a touch and then aiming inside, Rapinoe delivered a low cross that bounced into the area and landed squarely on Latsko, who was making a run from the outside in. Latsko then kept her foot level with the ball and thumped it into the back of the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and providing a little extra padding with still a half-hour to play. For Rapinoe, it marked her third assist of the afternoon and made her just the fourth player in league history to achieve such a milestone.
OL Reign continued to keep control as Megan Rapinoe was denied from inside the penalty area in the 71 ^st minute, but the icing on the cake for the Reign came as midfielder Quinn, who was subbed on in the 77 ^th minute, then scored a world class goal with their right foot from just outside the box in the 82 ^nd minute. Receiving a pass from teammate Nikki Stanton about 20 yards out just to the left of center of goal, Quinn produced a beautiful curling effort then soared over everyone and nestled into the top right corner to complete a prolific attacking afternoon for their side.
The Reign would hold onto that three-goal advantage all the way through the fulltime whistle, allowing them to halt a two-game slide in the regular season after losses to North Carolina and Gotham FC. For Angel City, it’s a second loss in the last three games (D1) as the club prepares to welcome Chicago next weekend after a Challenge Cup match midweek.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights