**SEATTLE, Wa.** – OL Reign and the Washington Spirit dueled to a 0-0 draw at Lumen Field on Friday night as Reign forward Megan Rapinoe’s home sendoff ended in a stalemate. The result has major implications on the playoff race even still, with the Spirit remaining in 4 ^th place with 30 points from 21 games played and OL Reign in 6 ^th place with 29 points from 21 games played.
The hosts first had a look on goal in the 26 ^th minute when Rapinoe ignited a move that she eventually aimed to finish with a headed chance near the left side of goal. Taking the ball up field, Rapinoe connected with teammate Jess Fishlock just ahead of her, and Fishlock swung the ball all the way out to the right side of the field. With a subsequent cross sent near Rapinoe at the back post, she did all she could to head the ball back across goal, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was able to collect the chance.
The only other opportunity in the first half for the Reign came in the 43 ^rd minute when midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt rolled a left-footed shot toward the center of goal where Kingsbury was able to collect. A set piece in had been cleared outside the box where Van der Jagt took possession of the ball, and though her shot on goal got through the crowd, Kingsbury had little trouble making the save.
The first half ended with not much between either side, but the second half was full of looks as the two teams became increasingly comfortable in the match. The first chance for the Reign came in the 50 ^th minute as again Rapinoe threatened the Spirit goal. Rapinoe was found on the left side of the box where she was able to inch toward goal and fire in a shot at the near post that Kingsbury was able to catch and hold.
Washington then forced Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey to make a save in the 52 ^nd minute when forward Trinity Rodman produced the visitors’ first quality move in front of goal to coax Dickey into action. Rodman was moving down the center of the field when she blitzed past two Reign players and into the box. Just a couple of yards in, she opted to flame a right-footed shot that was over Dickey’s head but tipped over the bar and out of play in the end to be safe.
The Reign then had two chances in the 62 ^nd and the 82 ^nd minutes that were close but not enough, the first a shot from Rapinoe that Kingsbury saved and the second a move that resulted in the ball pinballing around the box before it eventually rolled towards Kingsbury and was cleared again.
However, the Spirit nearly stole the match late with opportunities of their own in the 89 ^th and 95 ^th , and 96 ^th minutes, all three of which saw Dickey made a good set of saves. The first was a chance for the Spirit’s Dorian Bailey, who ripped a shot from outside the box that Dickey palmed over the crossbar and out of play for a corner. But the back-to-back chances in the 95 ^th and 96 ^th minutes saw Dickey make two outstanding saves on shots from Trinity Rodman, and the heroics helped Washington earn a huge road point in the end.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights