OL Reign score five first-half goals in rout of Houston Dash

The OL Reign extended their win streak to three after Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing of the Houston Dash.

The Reign opened their scoring account early, with Bethany Balcer nodding in a lofted Jessica Fishlock pass in the 6^th minute.

Boats and goals, boats and goals #RGNvHOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/EGjFQvLzm8

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

Sofia Huerta extended OL Reign’s lead to 2-0 in the 19^th minute, beating a string of defenders inside the box before tucking a curling ball into the far post.

That's @schuerta opening her 2021 account 👀#RGNvHOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/aTkX9pi9Rv

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

The Reign stuck again in the 35^th minute after Shea Groom cut the scoreline to 2-1, with Eugenie Le Sommer blasting in a deflected ball to put the game at 3-1.

Can't stop scoring 😏#RGNvHOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/MDCuP5mFL7

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

Fishlock kept the scoring going with a world-class finish from distance, striking the ball into the upper 90 to give OL Reign a 4-1 lead.

TAKE A BOW, @JessFishlock ⚽️💥#RGNvHOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/yUj4vZWDtn

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

Balcer capped off OL Reign’s offensive barrage with a clinical finish to put her side up 5-1 just before the half. Balcer’s s goal marked her second brace of the season.

Balcer Brace™️ is becoming a regular thing 😏#RGNvHOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/QxQqFbnKer

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2021

OL Reign’s dominant performance earned the club three points in the NWSL standings, moving the team up to fifth in the table.

Next up: The Dash with face off against the Washington Spirit on Friday. OL Reign will take on Kansas City on Saturday.