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OL Reign clinch NWSL playoff berth behind six-game run

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OL Reign forward Veronica Latsko (24) celebrates with midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) after scoring a goal against the Houston Dash during the second half at PNC Stadium. (Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

OL Reign clinched an NWSL playoff berth Saturday, capping off a week on the road with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash.

The Seattle-based club picked up nine points in three road games in a productive eight-day sprint that included victories over the North Carolina Courage and Gotham FC.

Bethany Balcer and Veronica Latsko stamped their name on the scoresheet, with OL Reign grinding out a win despite the Dash holding 60 percent of possession.

Saturday marked back-to-back clean sheets for OL Reign, with goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce notching three saves to keep her side out in front.

“Just can’t speak highly enough of them, really proud of them, and really excited for what this can mean for us, because I think we’ve been a team this year that’s played some really good football, and we feel we’ve not got what we deserve at times,” OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey said after the team’s postseason clinching win.

“Tonight, we had to dig in, we didn’t play the greatest football we can, but we showed our quality in periods and patches.”

OL Reign’s six-game unbeaten streak lifts the team atop the NWSL standings, putting the club in contention for the NWSL Shield. OL Reign will finish out their season at home, taking on the Orlando Pride on Oct. 1 at Lumen Field with an NWSL title on the line.