OL Reign dominated in their final match of the regular season, downing Kansas City Current 3-0. The victory secured OL Reign a second-place ranking in the NWSL standings as well as a playoff bye and a semifinal home game.
OL Reign started the match on the front foot, forcing the Current to absorb a wave of attacks early. The game’s first goal came in the 35th minute with a lofted Sofia Huerta cross, forcing an own goal from Kansas City to put the Reign up 1-0.
KC own goal makes it 1-0 Reign#KCvRGN l https://t.co/k1mmahThWQ l #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/MIOfWWTg3n
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 31, 2021
The Reign doubled their lead in the 48th minute after Eugénie Le Sommer rifled in a loose ball off a well-placed Megan Rapinoe corner kick.
OL Reign's 8th cross goes to Le Sommer!#KCvRGN l https://t.co/k1mmahThWQ l #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/E0n7QrmS9R
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 31, 2021
Le Sommer struck again 15 minutes later, nodding in Rapinoe’s pass to the back post, putting the game out of reach. Saturday’s two-goal performance marks Le Sommer’s third brace of the season, a league record.
LE SOMMER! 3rd Brace of the season makes it 3-0 OL Reign#KCvRGN l https://t.co/k1mmahThWQ l #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/E2DHIkU5V1
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 31, 2021
OL Reign ends their season with 13 victories, winning four of their last six contests as they head into the playoffs. The team will host their semifinal match on Nov. 15 at Cheney Stadium.
Eugenie Le Sommer is putting her name down on the ballot for strike of the year.
The forward was all over the pitch against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, scoring her first goal in the 28th minute. An uncontested strike, it would put the OL Reign up 2-0.
While a stunning goal in its own right, it still might not have topped Le Sommer’s debut NWSL goal in August, itself a clear goal of the year candidate.
Unstoppable from Eugenie Le Sommer ☄️
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 26, 2021
(via @NWSL) pic.twitter.com/3AWWppvFQn
Against Orlando, Le Sommer found the back of the net again in the 32nd minute, knocking in a beautiful pass from Dzsenifer Marozsan to put the Reign up 3-0.
Laura Harvey, who has seen many goals live and coached many great players and teams, says of this "Hollywood" pass from Dzsenifer Marozsan:
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) September 27, 2021
"I need to watch that third goal back, but I think that's the best goal I've ever seen live." #NWSL pic.twitter.com/GpmPVaK7yH
With the win, the Reign sit firmly in second place with 35 points. Staying put would mean that the team earns a bye into the semi-finals of the NWSL playoffs.
They next play the league-leading Portland Thorns on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 10 p.m. ET.
Eugenie Le Sommer’s first goal for the OL Reign was an absolute stunner.
The French striker put OL Reign on the board in the 27th minute of the team’s 2-0 win over Racing Louisville on Saturday night, shaking off her defender before curling the ball into the far post.
It's goal No. 1 in a Reign uniform for Eugenie Le Sommer!
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 1, 2021
The home team takes the lead! #RGNvLOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/goMjG1rnU1
Le Sommer’s fancy footwork on the go-ahead goal is so spectacular, it’s worth taking a closer look at the sequence.
Cruel (Le) Sommer. #NWSL pic.twitter.com/GPKlwSAhhw
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) August 1, 2021
The 32-year-old forward struck again in the 42nd minute, splitting Racing Louisville’s backline to slot home her second goal of the game.
It's Le Sommer's world, we're all just living in it 🌎#RGNvLOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/jtGYHjREuh
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 1, 2021
Le Sommer’s brace powered OL Reign past Racing Louisville, securing the club a critical three points in the NWSL standings. Le Sommer, on loan from Lyon for the 2021 NWSL season, can be a difference-maker for OL Reign as they look to get back into the playoff hunt.
Next up: OL Reign will host the Houston Dash on Saturday. Louisville will head home to face Kansas City next Sunday.