Reign vs. Spirit: Highlights, stats and quotes

Seattle Reign lost their third straight game on Friday evening, falling 3-2 to the Washington Spirit on the road. Veronica Latsko scored in first-half stoppage time and Emeri Adames scored her first professional goal just before the final whistle.

Croix Bethune, Andi Sullivan, and Ouleymata Sarr scored in the first half for the Spirit, forcing the Reign yet again to attempt a comeback.

The Reign moved to 2-8-1 and sit in 13th in the league.

Highlights

Stats

SCORING SUMMARY

21' - Croix Bethune (WAS)

39' - Andi Sullivan (WAS)

45' - Ouleymata Sarr (Assisted by Croix Bethune) (WAS)

45+5' - Veronica Latsko (Assisted by Phoebe McClernon) (SEA)

90+6' - Emeri Adames (Assisted by Jess Fishlock) (SEA)

LINEUPS

46’ - Nikki Stanton (IN) Olivia Van der Jagt (OUT)

61’ - Jordyn Huitema (IN) Angharad James (OUT)

72’ - Emeri Adames (IN) Tziarra King (OUT)

85’ - Lily Woodham (IN) Phoebe McClernon (OUT); Olivia Athens (IN) So-Yun Ji (OUT)

67' - Courtney Brown (IN) Kate Wiesner (OUT)

73’ - Ashley Hatch (IN) Ouleymata Sarr (OUT); Brittany Ratcliffe (IN) Trinity Rodman (OUT)

85’ - Lena Silano (IN) Croix Bethune (OUT)

ATTENDANCE

11,551 (Audi Field, Washington, D.C.)

POSSESSION

Spirit: 55.2%

Reign: 44.8%

EXPECTED GOALS

Spirit: 2.34

Reign: 1.17

TOTAL SHOTS

Spirit: 10

Reign: 13

SHOTS ON TARGET

Spirit: 7

Reign: 4

SHOTS OFF TARGET

Spirit: 2

Reign: 5

SHOTS BLOCKED

Spirit: 1

Reign: 4

SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE BOX

Spirit: 9

Reign: 11

TOUCHES INSIDE THE OPP. BOX

Spirit: 17

Reign: 23

PASSES

Spirit: 455

Reign: 354

PASSING ACCURACY

Spirit: 76.7%

Reign: 69.2%

PASSES IN FINAL THIRD

Spirit: 94

Reign: 124

PASSING ACCURACY IN FINAL THIRD

Spirit: 61.7%

Reign: 55.6%

CROSSES (EXCLUDING CORNERS)

Spirit: 7

Reign: 17

CORNERS WON

Spirit: 1

Reign: 6

OFFSIDES

Spirit: 2

Reign: 3

FOULS

Spirit: 11

Reign: 15

YELLOW CARDS

Spirit: 0

Reign: 2

Quotes

"Very similar to last week. We had chances to score. Really we did. We then gave them all three goals. I thought the first goal we needed to do better on multiple levels. I thought we were poor defensively that led to the penalty. I think the penalty is harsh but I can understand why it was given. And the third goal, we've spent so much time on defending crosses and talking about marking in the box and all the different things and it was carbon copy of last week. So we say every week right now that we kill ourselves in those moments when we can see goals. But we should have scored goals before they scored. And I think the game would've changed itself, but it didn't. And again, I'm saying the same thing to the team at the end. Can't fault their effort and desire when the chips are down but we can't wait for those moments."

On the team being close to pulling things together: "I've said that every week, so I think it's hard to keep saying that and it not changing. You can't be inches away and it not change. I think if we weren't scoring goals, if we weren't creating chances, I would be more concerned. But I said to the group at the end, I think we cannot keep shooting ourself in the foot and we keep doing that and that has to change. And whether that's personnel changes to stop that from happening, whether that's we change the way we play to stop that from happening, something has to change. And that may mean something completely different - what we look like on the field, who knows? But that is the point for me. We can't keep saying every week that we're inches away and conceding, we've conceded 10 goals in three games. It's just not acceptable. So we can keep talking about inches as much as we want, but the harsh reality is you can't concede that many goals in this league and expect to win games."

Overall thoughts on the match: "Yeah, it's disappointing. I think this has been another tale of two halves and we weren't good enough in the first half and in the second half we were a completely different team and we just have to learn from this one and keep going." - Veronica Latsko

On what the team needs to do: "I think we're inches away. I don't think we're far off. I think we prove time and time again what we're capable of. I think it's just being able to do that for 90-plus minutes, and I think we're right there and I think we just need to all believe that we're right there. I mean, I still believe, I think a lot of the teams still believe, I don't think anybody's questioning where we can still take this season. We want our fans to still believe. I think they're definitely a huge support for us. So having them to stay on our side and I mean the season's long and people and teams have proved time and time again that it's long. So I'd say don't count us out. I think we're right there. I think once we figure it out, you're not going to be able to stop us. We just have to get that final piece of the puzzle." - Jordyn Huitema