Reign vs. Courage: Highlights, stats, quotes

Seattle Reign ventured to North Carolina for their first road match of the season, facing a tough Courage side with a 9-1-0 record at home against the Reign. The Reign weren't deterred and earned a 2-1 road win.

Jess Fishlock opened the scoring in the 35th minute on a well-worked team goal that was assisted by Maddie Mercado. Jordyn Bugg doubled the lead in the 56th on a banger from distance. The Reign then took the foot off the gas and let North Carolina pressure them for the final 20 minutes. Aline Gomes got one back for the Courage in the 59th minute, but Claudia Dickey came up with big stops to seal the road win.

Up next: the Reign (1-0-1) continue their road trip with a match against Angel City on Sunday, March 30.  That match kicks off at 5 PM Pacific and will air on CBS Sports Network.

Reign remain undefeated with rare road win in North Carolina

Fishlock and Bugg score excellent goals as Seattle’s aggressive game plan pays off against Courage.

Sounder at HeartSteve Voght

Highlights

Stats

SCORING SUMMARY

35' - Jess Fishlock (assisted by Maddie Mercado) - SEA

56' - Jordyn Bugg - SEA

59' - Aline Gomes (assisted by Denise O'Sullivan) - NC

LINEUPS

70' - Sam Meza for Jessica Fishlock; Emeri Adames for Ana Maria Crnogorcevic

79' - Olivia van der Jagt for Ji So-Yun

86' - Lauren Barnes for Maddie Mercado

69' - Meredith Speck for Aline Gomes; Hannah Betfort for Manaka Matsukubo

79’ - Shinomi Koyama for Riley Jackson; Brianna Pinto for Maycee Bell

POSSESSION

Courage: 56.9%

Reign: 43.1%

EXPECTED GOALS

Courage: 1.29

Reign: 1.15

TOTAL SHOTS

Courage: 14

Reign: 12

SHOTS ON TARGET

Courage: 5

Reign: 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET

Courage: 5

Reign: 6

SHOTS BLOCKED

Courage: 4

Reign: 1

SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE BOX

Courage: 12

Reign: 10

TOUCHES INSIDE THE OPP. BOX

Courage: 28

Reign: 22

PASSES

Courage: 452

Reign: 348

PASSING ACCURACY

Courage: 80.3%

Reign: 74.1%

PASSES IN FINAL THIRD

Courage: 131

Reign: 85

PASSING ACCURACY IN FINAL THIRD

Courage: 67.2%

Reign: 62.4%

CROSSES (EXCLUDING CORNERS)

Courage: 20

Reign: 5

CORNERS WON

Courage: 3

Reign: 4

OFFSIDES

Courage: 3

Reign: 1

FOULS

Courage: 6

Reign: 8

YELLOW CARDS

Courage: 0

Reign: 0

RED CARDS

Courage: 0

Reign: 0

Quotes

Laura Harvey

"I thought in the first half we really controlled the game. There was some periods where we could have done a little bit better defensively, but I thought overall we did a good job with and without the ball. In the second half, we started well defensively again, and I thought we were in control until honestly we scored the second goal. Once we scored the second goal, I'm not sure whether tiredness set in or we became a little bit comfortable and they started to step onto us a little bit, and then after their goal it became more and more difficult for us. But really, really proud of the group, because again, there's no way under that pressure we would have seen that out, I don't think, last year. So again, real good steps in the right direction. Coming here is never ever easy. They've got an unbelievable record here for a reason, and to come here and get a result, I'm really, really proud of the group."

"I mean, we've really worked on that of trying to control the game on both sides of the ball. And you know we play North Carolina twice every year, and my mentality to them is that you have to be aggressive defensively, but that's really hard work, so often when you're aggressive defensively you can be sloppy in possession. And I think that's a real development of our team is we want to work hard without the ball, but with the ball we want to control the game, and I thought we did a really good job of that for the first hour tonight. Both goals very different, but the buildup to the first goal and the touch and finish by Jess was excellent, and Jordyn Bugg's probably going to win goal of the season. So, you know, they were both excellent goals. I don't know whether a bit of fatigue, a little bit of taking a foot off the gas and not being able to get it back on there, but again something we can learn from, and the best time to learn is when you've won so we'll take it."

Angharad James-Turner and Jess Fishlock

"I think at the end just obviously really happy with the three points, and I think at the end you saw kind of like the grit and determination that we have as a team. There were definitely moments in the game where we had kind of full momentum and full control, and that was really nice for us and a progression from last week. But there's also times when they have the momentum, and how do we kind of manage that and I felt like today was a really good start for us being on the road."