The Seattle Reign hosted the Orlando Pride on Saturday night in what was a wild match that resulted in seven total goals, five of which were for the home side.
The first goal of the night came in the 20th minute after Kendall Fletcher went down in the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Kim Little stepped up to take it, and her shot went left as Kaitlyn Savage went diving right, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead.
It was ten minutes later that Seattle doubled the lead when Jess Fishlock took advantage of a lose ball following a free kick and blasted it into the top side of the net from inside the penalty area.
Orlando nearly got themselves back in the game in the 38th minute when Christine Burkenroad crossed the ball from the edge of the penalty area towards the goal from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer dove to try to block it, but failed, and Fletcher then came up with a huge diving header to keep the ball out.
At halftime it was Seattle 2, Orlando 0.
Back from the break, it took Seattle just two minutes to cause further damage. Little played the ball into the penalty area where it bounced and then was headed away by Cami Levin, but not strongly enough. Manon Melis then immediately chased the ball and shot it into an open net to make it 3-0.
Despite three goals against, Orlando was not giving up, and they found themselves on the scoreboard in the 57th minute as Jamia Fields played a ball into the area where Jasyme Spencer finished from just outside the six-yard box.
Then just five minutes later, Seattle further extended the lead when a corner kick was headed in by Fletcher, making it 4-1.
Two more goals were scored inside the final 3 minutes of regulation time adding to the thrill.
Orlando unfortunately aided the Reign in the 87th minute with an own goal as Lindsay Elston’s short cross deflected off Toni Presley’s leg and in.
The Pride responded with their second goal of the night after Sarah Hagen played a perfect through ball for Kristen Edmonds who squeezed her shot into the goal right by Kopmeyer’s feet, where it was difficult for her to save, ending the match at 5-2 for Seattle.
