The Seattle Reign returned to league action after a World Cup break with a 3-2 defeat over the Boston Breakers on the road. The win extends Seattle's unbeaten streak to five games, and gives the team their first three points on the road.
The Breakers scored first in the 14th minute. After earning a free kick outside the box, midfielder Kristie Mewis curved a ball in that deflected off Reign defender Stephanie Cox and into the net. Kim Little answered just before halftime. Jess Fishlock was tackled hard by Boston's Julie King, and the ball fell to Little's feet at the halfway line. With the ref signaling advantage, Little took the ball all the way into the box, cut to her right, and slotted it far post to bring it even just before halftime.
The Reign were the first to score in the second half. Keelin Winters collected the ball at the top of the box and slid it right for a sprinting Elli Reed. Reed's cross on the ground skipped past the Breakers defense and found Beverly Yanez on the back post, who tapped in the goal in the 66th minute.
Boston was quick to equalize 10 minutes later. After Haley Kopmeyer saved forward Nkem Ezurike's shot, it deflected to the back post. Morgan Marlborough slid and got her foot on it to tie the match 2-2.
But the connection between Kim Little and Jess Fishlock was too strong for Boston to contain, and in the 86th minute the Reign found their third goal. Little collected the ball out wide on the right and carried it toward the center. Right before she reached the box, Fishlock made a cutting run behind the defense. Little sent the ball through perfectly to Fishlock, who shot it on her first touch past Breakers goalkeeper Jami Kranich.
While the Reign were outshot 18 to 9, they still managed to find a way to win. In fact, all three shots on frame resulted in a goal. On the defensive end, Kopmeyer had 10 saves to help hold the Breakers to their two goals.
"I think our performance could have been better but our priority today was getting the three points," said head coach and general manager Laura Harvey after the match.
The win moves the Reign to 4-2-2 on the season, and their 14 points have them tied in second with the Washington Spirit, and puts the Reign just one point behind the first place Chicago Red Stars.