Seattle Reign FC opens Summer Cup with 2-1 win over Utah — Seattle Reign FC

In the first match of the NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup, the Reign secured a 2-1 victory over the Utah Royals. In a physical battle that featured a lineup that featured nine changes from the previous match, the Reign took the lead twice in the match and saw three club debuts on the night.

Seattle started the first half with the majority of possession, stringing together passes and adjusting to a new formation. Forward McKenzie Weinert took the first shot of the game in the fourth minute, nearly knocking the ball onto the frame.

Weinert continued to push the Reign’s attack forward and put pressure on Utah. In the 41st minute, her hard work paid off when she entered the penalty area and drew a foul, earning the Reign a penalty.

Midfielder Olivia Athens took the shot and fired the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, evading the hands of Utah goalkeeper Cristina Roque to give the Reign the lead in front of the home crowd at Lumen Field.

Utah struck back in first-half injury time. After a Reign player’s shot attempt was deflected, striker Cameron Tucker fired the ball into the net to even the score. Just before halftime, Reign defender Ryanne Brown was injured and had to leave the field.

As the second half of the match began, the physical tension increased as both teams desperately searched for a winning goal. The Reign utilized a series of substitutions throughout the half, which brought new energy to the match. One such substitution was midfielder Sam Meza, who made her NWSL debut when she entered the field in the 57th minute.

Seattle found the game-defining goal in the 77th minute of the game on a header from Sofia Huerta. Forward Tziarra King carried the ball down the left side of the court before using her skill on the ball to beat a Utah defender and serve a cross into the back of the net, where Huerta used her head to put the play away.

To close out the night, recently acquired U-18 player Ainsley McCammon came on in the 90th minute, officially becoming the youngest player to ever play for the Reign.

MOST IMPORTANT POINTS:

DAY OF DEBUT: Tonight’s NWSL x LIGA MX Summer Cup opener against Utah Royals FC featured three debuts. Defender Julia Lester started the match, making her Reign FC debut. Freshman midfielder Sam Meza, who Reign drafted with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, made her professional debut tonight, coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute. After signing her first professional contract today and becoming the youngest player in club history, midfielder Ainsley McCammon made her debut in the 90th minute.

UNDEFEATED IN FIVE: Seattle Reign FC extended their unbeaten run to five games (1W, 4D) in all competitions. The run began on June 16, after a 0-0 draw against Portland Thorns FC.

The goal is Athene’s first of the year and the third of her NWSL career since entering the league in 2022. Athene has scored in the regular season (2022), the Challenge Cup (2023) and the Summer Cup (2024).

Huerta has now scored in four NWSL competitions: regular season, Challenge Cup, Fall Series and Summer Cup.

NEXT ONE: The Reign will be at Lumen Field on Sunday, July 28 at 3:00 p.m. to play another NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, this time against Club Tijuana. Fans will receive tickets to the match HERE.

MATCH SUMMARY

2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Seattle Reign FC 2 – 1 Utah Royals FC

Date/Time: Friday, July 19, 6:00 PM PT

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Weather: 79, sunny

Summary of the score

SEA: Athens – 43′, Huerta – 76′

UTA: Tucker – 45+5′

Discipline

SEA: Stanton (Caution – 50′), Meza (Caution – 63′)

UTA: Betfort (Attention – 75′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Holmes, D Brown (Huerta 46′), D McClernon, D Lester, M Stanton, M Athens (McCammon 90′), M Mercado (Meza 57′), F Adames (King 65′), F Weinert (Balcer 65′), F Latsko

Unused Substitutes: GK Dickey, D Perez, D Bugg, D Cook

Total shots: 9 (Balcer, Weinert – 2)

Shots on target: 4 (four equal with –1)

Errors: 8 (Weinert – 3)

Offside: 0

Corners: 6

Rescues: 2 (Ivory – 2)

UTA: GK Roque, D Del Fava (Merrick 46′), D Tejada, D Burns, D Pogarch (O’Brien 88′), D Riehl, M Foederer (Boren 86′), F Mozingo, F Monaghan (c) ( Murison 86′), F Tucker, F Betfort

Unused substitutes: GK Haught, D Smith-Griffitts, M Nyberg, F Vasconcelos

Total shots: 11 (Monaghan, Pogarch – 3)

Shots on target: 3 (Three equal with –1)

Errors: 12 (Tejada – 4)

Offside: 3

Corners: 6

Saves: 2 (Roque – 2)

Player of the match: Sofia Huerta

Referee: Elijio Arreguin

Assistant Referee 1: Elijo Arreguin

Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger

4th official: Dion Coxe-Trieger