**Seattle, Washington** – The OL Reign picked up their first regular season win on Wednesday night as the defeated the Kansas City Current by a 1-0 margin, though offensively the statistics were more than tipped in their favor.
The action started near straight away from kickoff as OL Reign managed to weave through the Current defense with Reign midfielder Rose Lavelle forcing a save out of Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch with a headed effort.
The hosts continued to press forward and nearly found the opening goal after 22 minutes through attacker Tziarra King. In on goal on the left side of the box, King tried to slide the ball past Franch, who got low and prevented the effort from getting through. However, forward Veronica Latsko picked up the loose ball and danced around the penalty area looking for a bit of daylight only for her subsequent effort to be blocked and the ball eventually cleared.
The visiting Current had their best look on goal via a corner kick in the lone minute of first half stoppage time, but the delivery landed directly into the arms of Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
At the halftime interval, though the score remained level, OL Reign looked the far more likely of the two sides to score as they produced the only shots on target (three) of the first half, with the Current managing just two total shots, none of which were on target.
Into the second half, it took time for either side to manage an attempt as they worked the energy back up through the hour mark.
In the 64 ^th minute, Kansas City had what was arguably their best opportunity of the night as Kate Del Fava received a slide rule pass into the left side of the penalty area and had a bit of space in front of goal. However, her ensuing shot was too high and sailed over the crossbar as the chance went missing. Eight minutes later, the Current had another half-chance as a corner kick for the visitors resulted in Elizabeth Ball getting on the end of the delivery, but her header from the right side of the six-yard box was blocked.
Approaching the final 10 minutes of action, though, OL Reign’s push for a goal finally came through forward Bethany Balcer and a powerful headed chance. Defender Sofia Huerta was in possession on the right side of the field and whipped in a beautiful ball near the back post where the forward Balcer was waiting. Rising above the Current defense, Balcer slammed her header home past Franch to give the hosts the lone goal of the night.
OL Reign would get close to earning a second goal through the likes of Balcer, Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe, but it would ultimately be Balcer’s goal in the 80 ^th minute that settled the score.
In the end, OL Reign kept all three points at Lumen Field and picked up some necessary momentum as they staved off the Current attack and ended up with a 1-0 win thanks to Bethany Balcer’s late headed goal.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights