Set pieces lift Reign past Spirit, to perfect start

Seattle Reign FC won Wednesday’s match convincingly with goals coming from Kendall Fletcher, Keelin Winters, and Jess Fishlock in a 3-1 decision over the Washington Spirit. So far, the Reign are living up to expectations created by head coach Laura Harvey’s offseason rebuilding. The visiting Spirit showed they are still a work in progress.

Seattle got on the board less than two minutes into the contest. The Spirit conceded back-to -back corner kicks both taken by Nahomi Kawasumi. Harris was able to push the first over the cross bar but she couldn’t thwart the second. The subsequent corner was taken short. Jess Fishlock sent it into the box and Kendall Fletcher volleyed past Ashlyn Harris for the lead.

Keelin Winters extended the Reign’s lead in the 49th minute off another corner kick from Kawasumi. The Winters’ goal was set up by a terrific effort from Kim Little to earn a corner, beating two Spirit defenders by herself.

After subbing on Veronica Perez and Lori Lindsey, the Spirit offense showed signs of life. In the 72nd minute, Washington got one back when Fletcher was called for a handball in the box. Diana Matheson stepped to the spot and converted her league-leading 3rd goal of the season.

Fishlock scored the only goal from the run of the play in the 80th minute. The Spirit gave Fishlock too much room and she drove a hard, low shot past Harris.

The Reign (2-0-0, 6 points) are now at the top of the table and will host the Houston Dash on Sunday to complete their season-opening homestand. The Spirit (1-2-0, 3 points) face another daunting road match Saturday night in Chicago.

Highlights

Box Score

Seattle Reign FC vs. Washington Spirit April 22, 2014 – Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F

Seattle Reign FC 1 2 3
Washington Spirit 0 1 1

Scoring Summary
SRFC – Fletcher (Fishlock), 3
SRFC – Winters (Kawasumi), 48
SPIRIT – Matheson, 73
SRFC – Fishlock (Kawasumi), 80

Misconduct Summary

SPIRIT – Averbuch (Caution), 56
SPIRIT – Matheson (Caution), 87

Lineups & Stats

SRFC: GK Hope Solo, D Lauren Barnes, D Kendall Fletcher, D Stephanie Cox, M Elli Reed, M Kim Little, M Jess Fishlock, M Keelin Winters, M Bev Goebel, F Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi (Kiersten Dallstream, 93), F Sydney Leroux (Kate Deines, 82)
SPIRIT: GK Ashlyn Harris, D Ali Krieger, D Robyn Gayle, D Crystal Dunn (Lori Lindsey, 64), D Toni Pressley, D Tori Huster, M Yael Averbuch, M Christine Nairn, M Diana Matheson, F Jodie Taylor (Renae Cuellar, 77), F Danesha Adams (Veronica Perez, 64)

Referee: Josh Wilkens
Assistant Referees: Timon Berry, Melissa Gonzalez
4th Official: Levi Rippy
Attendance: 1,754

Weather: Cloudy, light showers, 54 degrees

Full replay