Coach’s Corner
Photos by Vanya Tucherov
Seattle Reign FC capped off a second consecutive unbeaten home season at Fortress Memorial (aka The Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium) in dramatic fashion with a 90th minute equalizer by Jessica Fishlock against Sky Blue FC on Saturday night. Following a resounding win over Boston midweek there was still plenty of emotion left on the pitch for a spirited regular season finale.
Head Coach Laura Harvey had remarked recently that she would not take the foot off the gas this season and brought out her regular starting eleven, less injured Bev Yanez, on three days rest with the NWSL Shield already secured. In a scrappy match in wind and rain, Sky Blue pressured Seattle after a 6th minute goal and looked ready to break the Seattle home unbeaten streak at 21. That didn’t happen. Post-match, Harvey reflected on her team’s character, “We have a changing room full of winners.”
Looking forward to the final road match Seattle might seem to have nothing to play for. Yet, a quick glance at the standings and playoff implications as of posting shows the Reign have a direct influence on the entire course of the NWSL playoffs from who they play in Seattle on September 13 to who plays who and where amongst the other seeds. A Seattle win or draw at Washington Saturday and the Spirit must take a cross country journey to Seattle. A Spirit victory means a Kansas City visit to Memorial Stadium and that the Red Stars must get a result to host a home semifinal.
Again, Harvey has remarked on not taking her foot off the pedal this season. The line up on Saturday should indicate a fair amount about what that exactly means.
