Reign failure to convert chances continues in UKG Challenge Cup semifinal loss to Racing Louisville
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The OL Reign continue to struggle with converting their chances, and it’s resulted in the fourth semifinal loss that they have suffered (across all competitions) since Laura Harvey has returned as the club's head coach. This match can be summarized more as the Reign losing it as opposed to Racing Louisville FC winning it, with the only goal of the match being scored off a mistaken pass from Sam Hiatt that ended up going right to Kirsten Davis. Davis’ attempt with nobody around her easily beat Reign goalkeeper Laurel Ivory, who was put in a tough position entirely, and the first goal against the Reign in any Challenge Cup match was scored. It’s a tough and frustrating way to be eliminated for the Reign, but they now must turn all focus to the rest of the regular season as they hope to secure a top spot in the NWSL playoffs.
“We mentioned as a team that we make it to so many semi-finals, and we really wanted to win one finally, especially in front of our fans.”
The OL Reign defensive unit of Sofia Huerta, Phoebe McClernon, Sam Hiatt, Shae Holmes, and goalkeeper Laurel Ivory played a solid match with exception to the one defensive mistake that ultimately lost the match (Photos by Rio Giancarlo)
Another early deficit against Louisville
Matches between the OL Reign and Racing Louisville FC always seem to end up going as such: Louisville gains an early advantage somewhere in the first half before the Reign must make a miraculous effort to level things and the match eventually ends up in a tie. Considering that, in their past six head-to-head matches, the two clubs have five draws and the Reign the singular victory, this sort of thing has been happening for a little bit now. We saw this same sort of event take place in today’s Challenge Cup semifinal, except the Reign weren’t able to bury the equalizing goal and fell to Louisville for the first time in the past three seasons.
The first and only goal of this match was scored by Louisville forward Kirsten Davis, taking advantage of a Reign free kick that essentially went right to her. The Reign had drawn that free kick just outside of their 18-yard box, and center back (and team captain for this match) Sam Hiatt went with a somewhat quick decision to try and find either backline teammate Shae Holmes or Phoebe McClernon, both who were wide open on the other side of the pitch. The only problem with this decision was the fact that Davis was right in the way of this pass, backing up in preparation for that free kick. Despite seeming surprised at first that the ball came right at her, Davis was able to collect herself and make a move to get Holmes in motion to score on Ivory in goal. In just a few moments, one mistake caught both teams off guard, but Louisville had still managed to take advantage of it.
The Reign attack put pressure on goalkeeper Katie Lund and Racing Louisville FC, but failed to get a goal in the shutout loss. (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Close chances not converted
The Reign had multiple opportunities to either go ahead against Louisville or find the equalizing goal, but they failed to do so. It started in the second minute of the match, when Brazilian midfielder Angelina was left all alone in the six-yard box with Louisville keeper Katie Lund but was unable to head the ball on target to beat Lund off the cross in from Sofia Huerta. Then, a bit later in the tenth minute, Louisville gave up a ball around their own box to Reign forward Tziarra King, but King took a shot too far out to really challenge Lund. In the 35th minute, Huerta had some open space in the box, but her shot went wide as the Reign had solid support numbers. One of the biggest moments of this match came in the 59th minute, when it appeared that Huerta had been fouled as she entered the Louisville box, resulting in a penalty. VAR and head referee Natalie Simon spent a long time reviewing it, and ultimately determined that the foul was committed just at the edge of the box, resulting in a free kick as opposed to a penalty.
“I felt like the first 10-15 minutes we were really on them, and then even towards the end we were putting it on them as well. I think we had opportunities to score and it’s unfortunate, but now we move on. That soccer, that’s life, we have to continue with the season and push for playoffs.”
The Reign attack, featuring non-traditional starters in Veronica Latsko, Angelina, and Elyse Bennett, brought pressure but wasn’t able to make it matter. (Photos by Rio Giancarlo)
A second straight somewhat sloppy showing
You could go back to the club's regular season loss on the road to Angel City FC on August 27th if we’re looking at incomplete performances from the club, but since these two matches are just a few days apart, we’ll stick within that time range. The struggles for the Reign on the attack have been noted, including when we looked at them this match and the win over the Pride, and just like when they were heading into their semifinal match against the Current last night, the club needs to figure out their own issue. Again, from earlier in this recap, Louisville did not do enough to win this match. If you subtract the mistake giveaway from Hiatt, this match more than likely heads to penalties as per Challenge Cup rules once the regulation time had ended. Alas, that wasn’t the case, and the Reign are left frustrated with another semifinal loss of some kind over the past few seasons.
“In regards to just the game, we were the better team. We’ve probably played in, however many semifinals and been the better team. But goals change games, I’ve said that for the longest time. It’s true. If you don’t take chances, you don’t make saves, you don’t put the ball in the net, you’re not going to win games. And it’s not just this game. It’s not just semifinals that’s happened, it’s consistent right now. We have to put that right, we have to acknowledge that.”
Now, there is some time for the Reign to try and turn things around before the regular season comes to an end, but they must get that figured out as soon as possible because that Portland Thorns team absolutely wants to do whatever they can to ensure that the Reign don’t get anything positive especially considering that it’s the last time Megan Rapinoe will play at Providence Park. Also, through the four remaining matches in the regular season, what’s to make anyone believe that the Reign can turn things around with their attack, considering that these struggles have existed for the large majority of the past two years? I’m not trying to bring the negativity, but the question needs to be asked. Time is running out for change to be made, and the Reign still need to figure out their issue in semifinal matches. They may not get to that point this season with the current form that they’re in.
“I don’t have a good answer for you. Sometimes I think when you talk about it too much, then it’s just like you’re jinxing yourself. Something we have to figure out as a group, especially coming up on the playoffs, I believe that we’re gonna make it to semifinals, and we need to win that one. We’ll come together, the coaching staff will put things together, we’ll come together as a team. That’s how it always goes. And hopefully we can just get over the hump, but I don’t have an answer for you.”
Reign head coach Laura Harvey and the rest of her staff will have to figure out the attack conundrum if the club is going to secure a solid playoff spot and make a deep run. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo)
Quick notes
Tonight’s attendance was 3,906 for this UKG Challenge Cup semifinal
What’s next?
Following the disappointing defeat that ends their Challenge Cup this year, and forever as the tournament is ending after this season concludes, the Reign will have ten days before their next contest comes up. With only four regular season matches left to play and only three points separating the top five spots in the NWSL table, time is running out for the club to move up the table and secure their spot, so adjustments will need to be made in training over the next few days. The Reign will get back into regular season action and they’ll do so in a big way, hitting the road on Saturday, September 16th when they battle their biggest rivals in the Portland Thorns. That match will have a kickoff time of 7:30PM PST and will be broadcast on both Paramount+ and TSN+.
