Last weekend, Seattle Reign concluded a three-game road trip with a match against expansion club Bay FC. Unfortunately, the Reign didn't get the result they wanted and fell 3-2 to Bay FC. It was the club's third straight loss.
After scoring first, the Reign gave up two goals off set pieces. Bethany Balcer pulled things even, but the Reign again let Bay FC score – this time off an unfortunate own goal from Alana Cook. The Reign pushed hard for an equalizer, and thought they had it when Veronica Latsko scored – but the goal was called back due to a very tight offside call.
Alli Haynie
Here are three stats from the Reign's road loss to Bay FC.
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Reign FC midfielder Ji So-yun has been the team's best creator this season. While she notched an assist this weekend, Ji unfortunately didn't get as involved as I'm sure the team would have liked. Ji completed just four progressive passes. She averaged about eight in her three previous games.
She also completed just one pass into the final third. That one pass was her assist – and it was a gorgeous touch to bring down Emeri Adames' cross.
In comparison, Ji had 13 completed passes into the final third against Chicago.
As Jason Anderson notes for Pro Soccer Wire, after initially having Jess Fishlock push wide at the start of the game, Laura Harvey moved Ji toward the left wing against Bay FC. This theoretically would allow left back Lily Woodham to use the width while Ji could tuck in. Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite go as planned, and the Reign couldn't get Ji into as many dangerous positions.
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The Reign had eight progressive carries this match – and they dribbled into the box just two times. The Reign also successfully dribbled past a Bay FC defender in just two of their seven attempts.
When they did manage to beat a defender, the Reign couldn't get a quality shot off.
In comparison, Bay FC had 17 progressive carries and dribbled into the box nine times. They successfully dribbled by the Reign eight times in 16 attempts. With Ji tucking in and Woodham hanging back more for the Reign, right back Caprice Dydasco dominated this category for Bay FC.
Now, the Reign haven't been a team that looks to create a ton of chances with speedy players who can carry the ball up the field. But when you aren't able to combine or get crosses off, it's another dimension to add to an attack and create space. The Reign are at the bottom of this category after four matches.
The Reign have players like Adames and Sam Meza who can add this dynamic, and Veronica Latsko likes to push forward aggressively. The Reign could also turn to the speed of McKenzie Weinert. Could we see more minutes from any of these players as the season progresses?
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Seven of the Reign's eight shots came in the second half. And five of those came after Quinn, Latsko, and Phoebe McClernon came on for Angharad James, Olivia Van der Jagt, and Woodham.
This moved Fishlock back to a deeper spot in the midfield next to Quinn and put Ji into her more natural position. This allowed the team to absorb some of Bay FC's pressure more effectively – something the team really struggled with in the first half and before the subs came on in the 72nd minute.
"I thought today, we got played through too easily. I thought when Quinn and Jess went back there, it got a bit more solid for us. But yeah, we gave them too much opportunity today to get momentum on us," Harvey said after the game.
The Reign are finally back at home this weekend. On Sunday, April 21, they'll host the Chicago Red Stars. The match kicks off at 3 PM PT and will air on KONG-TV and stream on NWSL+.
If you are still looking for tickets, consider buying them at this Fevo link provided by the Reign. You'll avoid expensive ticket fees, and a portion of the sale supports our Reign coverage!
