Reign vs. Bay: Highlights, stats, quotes

On Saturday evening, after giving up a goal in the first half, Seattle Reign came from behind to earn a draw on the road against Bay FC. It was the first point the Reign have earned against Bay FC, who joined the league in 2024.

Jordyn Huitema scored the lone goal for the Reign just after halftime, heading in a cross from Sam Meza, who earned her first NWSL assist.

 The Reign (2-2-2) return home on Friday, May 2. They'll face the Kansas City Current (5-1-0) at Lumen Field, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT. That match will air on NWSL+ and Paramount+.

Highlights

Stats

SCORING SUMMARY

32' - Racheal Kundananji (Assisted by Caroline Conti) - BAY

50' - Jordyn Huitema (Assisted by Sam Meza) - SEA

LINEUPS

46' - Emily Mason for Madison Curry

74' - Ana Maria Crnogorcevic for Ji So-yun

87' - Shae Holmes for Lauren Barnes; Maddie Mercado for Jordyn Huitema

90' - Olivia Van der Jagt for Lynn Biyendolo

70' - Asisat Oshoala for Caroline Conti; Rachel Hill for Karlie Lema

POSSESSION

Bay: 43.3%

Reign: 56.7%

EXPECTED GOALS

Bay: 1.22

Reign: 0.99

TOTAL SHOTS

Bay: 12

Reign: 9

SHOTS ON TARGET

Bay: 3

Reign: 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET

Bay: 5

Reign: 4

SHOTS BLOCKED

Bay: 4

Reign: 0

SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE BOX

Bay: 8

Reign: 8

TOUCHES INSIDE THE OPP. BOX

Bay: 21

Reign: 27

PASSES

Bay: 386

Reign: 493

PASSING ACCURACY

Bay: 73.3%

Reign: 82.8%

PASSES IN FINAL THIRD

Bay: 99

Reign: 142

PASSING ACCURACY IN FINAL THIRD

Bay: 58.6%

Reign: 62.7%

CROSSES (EXCLUDING CORNERS)

Bay: 9

Reign: 23

CORNERS WON

Bay: 3

Reign: 10

OFFSIDES

Bay: 2

Reign: 1

FOULS

Bay: 9

Reign: 9

YELLOW CARDS

Bay: 1

Reign: 1

RED CARDS

Bay: 0

Reign: 0

Quotes

Laura Harvey

 Her thoughts on the match:

I think in the first half, we dominated possession. I thought their goal was obviously a great finish, but we could have done better on the ball when we gave it away. But outside of that, they weren't a threat at all. I said to the group at halftime, I thought that they'd come out at us a little bit more in the second half, which they did. And the game became really transitional in the second half. Felt like I was at Wimbledon for a little bit. But I said to the group last year, we played them twice, didn't get a point, and the games were pretty similar to what they were tonight. Tonight, we've come here and we're disappointed to get a draw. So that's progress. It's not exactly what we want, which I'm alright with. I'm glad that they're in their locker room and they're not overly happy. I'm great with that, but I think for me and the staff, we're looking bigger picture. At the end, I thought we were hanging on a little bit, which we need to talk about and work on, but to come here, get a point, they're good at home, we know that. And yeah, there were a bit of a bogey side for us last year, so I'm glad we've got that monkey off our back.

On Jordyn Huitema's current role, playing behind Biyendolo:

That's the role Jordyn needs to play underneath Lynn in some capacity. And the way that we've been building lately, we have two people who do that and it was Ji and Jordyn tonight and it was Coco and Jordyn last week. And I do think that that's her best role for us offensively, where she can attack the box late when she can. And I was so happy for her because she had that chance in the first half and she was devastated at halftime that she hadn't taken it. So that's why I think she ran to the bench when she scored, because I told her at halftime, 'We need you.' We need what she brings and she brought it. So I'm really happy for her that she got that goal.

On having to adapt to Bay's low block:

Yeah, I think we need to work on it, if I'm honest. I think we did some good things, but I think one thing that we are very good at is we're very good instinctively to do things under pressure. And when you don't have pressure coming and they sit off you, the one thing you've got to be is patient. And the other thing you've got to be is you've got to be good with your structure. And we just weren't that at times, and that's what caused us a few problems in the first half. The second part of that is, and I said this to Lynn after the game, we end up trying to force it into Lynn with the first ball rather than being patient and trying to work ways where we can still get the ball where we want it and then find Lynn on the second pass.

And again, I think we are still working through the wrinkles of how Lynn impacts our team because tonight's another wrinkle. No one's really dropped off us the way that they did tonight and what does that mean for us when we can't get linen behind as much as we can? So yeah, I think it'll be a really good film session for us on Monday, but I don't want to dwell on it too much. I don't think many teams will do that if I'm honest. But fair play to Bay, it was a challenge for us, but I think if we were to ever face it again, we'll definitely be better out.

Lauren Barnes and Sam Meza

On how the team dealt with Bay FC's dangerous transition attack:

Barnes: Yeah, I actually think we had most of the control of first 45. Second half, we knew that they'd come out and press a little bit more, and yeah, the weapon is transition and they did quite well this game, but I think we defended well and we created a lot of opportunities. We just need to put 'em away and it's a different game.

On how her teammate Sam Meza has impacted games:

Barnes: Yeah, I think she knows this, too. I've texted her almost after every game just how proud I am. I think what you guys don't see is behind the scenes. Sammy went on loan, which was really hard for us in her leaving. She's a great human on and off the field, and it's something you want to keep in the locker room as much as you can, but I'm so proud of her for going out and bettering herself and coming back and killing it in the league now. And that's exactly what going on loan and having those opportunities does for players. And she stepped into, like you said, big shoes and she's literally killing it. So I hope you feel so confident and supported and I know you do and I want to continue to tell you that, but I am so proud of her and it's been such a joy to watch her in front of me.

On her defensive mentality in the midfield:

Meza: Yeah, I mean I think it takes a village. I think our back line is very good at communicating too. So obviously, the more you over-communicate, the better it is for everybody. And ultimately, yeah, I mean I do have a big defensive responsibility and I want to take that responsibility and do my job well and ultimately it's just about being very disciplined and being very aware of the game and what's going on and honestly just reading the game and the endless energy, just wondering, I don't really know how to explain it. I enjoy playing with my teammates. It's a great group, it's a great group of women, and honestly I just enjoy playing with this group so it makes it easy and fun for me to just keep going and keep battling for them.

On reacting to Bay FC's low block:

Meza: I think personally, I don't think we were expecting them to sit as much, especially that low. I thought it was difficult for us, even though we did have position, it was hard for us to kind of break lines, but ultimately it was just about being patient. I thought we did a pretty good job of being patient and taking the opportunities out wide when it was presented and I think that was working.

Barnes: I totally agree and I think with teams that are going to sit like that and be compact and let us have the ball, you just have to wear 'em down. And that comes with discipline and finding the pockets and the moments that we can hurt them and I think it took us time to kind of figure that out. And what I've come to learn in this league is you can have 1% possession and still win a game. So we're just trying to find that balance of playing the soccer we want to play, but also when teams come at us with low block like that, we got to figure out how to win and be ruthless and that's the balance we're trying to work on right now.

On being the first player to reach 20,000 NWSL minutes:

Barnes: I mean, it's been a wild journey. I love that I've been able to do it with one club. I'm super proud of that and building a legacy within the club, but not even just that globally and in this league, I'm so proud of where it's at and everyone that's been a part of that is truly incredible and I don't think there's been enough recognition on the people that didn't really get to have all this stuff right now. So yeah, I'm proud of those minutes. I knew I was close. I didn't know if I was going to hit it this game or not. But yeah, I mean we've talked about it. I am nowhere and no one without the team around me and the amazing coaches I've had, and especially under Laura Harvey, who I've been under with most of my career. I just truly want to continue to make an impact on and off the field, regardless of my role. I take it very personal, and it's really important to me. So I'm not really here for the awards. I just want to win and I want to be competitive and I want to continue to grow this league.