**SEATTLE, Wa.** – The OL Reign battled back from a two-goal deficit after 78 minutes against Racing Louisville to earn a 2-2 draw, with goals from Bethany Balcer and Elyse Bennett in the final 12 minutes plus stoppage time helping the hosts to earn a point in the end. The Reign move into 2 ^nd place with 24 points from 14 games with the result, while Racing Louisville is in 8 ^th place with 16 points from 14 games and will likely stay in that spot pending huge results in favor of either Angel City FC or the Orlando Pride.
The visitors Louisville got off to the bigger start between the two sides when they were awarded a handball in the 24 ^th minute after a shot from attacker Wang Shuang was judged to have illegally struck the arm of Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, with the playmaker Fishlock also booked for the offense. From there, up stepped Wang Shuang, who sent Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce the wrong way with her spot kick to the bottom left corner to open the scoring.
Holding its lead all the way through the second half, Louisville prevented a Reign equalizer in the 73 ^rd minute with goalkeeper Katie Lund coming up in a massive way to preserve the clean sheet. Reign midfielder McKenzie Weinert attempted a left-footed shot from the left side of goal that somehow snuck its way through a sea of bodies and forced Lund to produce an acrobatic save to keep the effort out.
Then, just a few minutes later, Louisville doubled its lead through midfielder Paige Monaghan, who took advantage of the referee’s advantage after a potential foul just outside the box and continued play. A ball out wide for a Louisville player saw a Reign player make a challenge outside the box, but instead of the referee immediately whistling for a free kick, she let advantage play. With the ball squeezing to Monaghan on the right side of the box, she unleashed a drive at the near post that Tullis-Joyce was able to get both hands to, though she was ultimately unable to keep the shot out.
However, the Reign began their comeback in the 82 ^nd minute when a deflected cross from attacker Elyse Bennett found its way just past the penalty spot and onto the head of teammate Bethany Balcer. Balcer, who has been one of the host’s most prolific scorers, then did well to get in front of her marker and power an effort past Lund to throw a late lifeline to her side.
With the home crowd doing its best to rally behind its side, the Reign then were able to produce the game’s equalizing goal in the 87 ^th minute as Bennett turned from provider to scorer to bring the match level at two apiece. The Reign had earned a corner with defender Lauren Barnes on set piece duty, and she swung in a deep cross to the top of the box toward midfielder Nikki Stanton. From there, Stanton headed the ball toward goal, and Bennett was able to then flick on just a few yards out from goal to beat Lund and give her side a hope at earning at least a point with just a few minutes to spare.
In the end, though, neither side would be able to break the deadlock as Racing Louisville will feel hard done by giving up a two-goal lead. Meanwhile, the Reign will be happy to have come back to earn a point, but less happy that a two-goal deficit was their obstacle with such little time to respond.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights