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After a lackluster performance in their home opener, Seattle Reign FC came out hungry on the road and earned a 3-0 win over the Boston Breakers. The win put the Reign in third place, with six other teams at three points.
Seattle dominated possession early, with Kim Little and Bev Yanez both getting more active in the attack from the beginning. It paid off in the ninth minute, when Kim Little found Manon Melis at the top of the box. Melis volleyed the bouncing pass, chipping it slowly over Boston keeper Libby Stout. The goal was Melis' first in the NWSL.
Things took a turn for the worse in the 34th minute, when Jess Fishlock got tangled with Boston's McCall Zerboni. Fishlock stayed down for a few minutes, holding her knee. She limped off the field without much help, but was subbed off a few minutes later. Coach Laura Harvey confirmed after the match that Fishlock will get an MRI on Monday.
While Fishlock was off getting treatment, Rachel Corsie made it 2-0, getting her head on a Kim Little corner kick in the 40th minute. Seattle ended the half up two.
Fishlock's absence in the second half was obvious, as the Reign allowed Boston more build-up in the attack. Boston got off 8 shots in the second half, while Seattle had just five. However, despite a number of great opportunities, the Breakers couldn't finish any of their shots.
Just when it felt like Boston might get one in, Kim Little gave the Reign their third goal in the 79th minute. Some great passing in the box unleashed Little on the left. What felt like a tight angle for most players was a simple shot for Little, who cut the ball easily to the far post. Little ended with two assists and one goal.
While the 3-0 victory felt much better than last week, the Reign still didn't play their best for 90 minutes. There were still quite a few bad passes, and many of them occurred in dangerous areas. They'll need to be much sharper next week, when they face two-time NWSL Champions FC Kansas City at Memorial Stadium.