On a crisp Pacific Northwest evening, 9,051 fans gathered at Lumen Field to witness Seattle Reign FC take on Bay FC for only the second time in club history. Despite a determined performance, the Reign fell 1-0 after a first-half penalty kick, marking their second consecutive home defeat.
Seattle began the match energetically, quickly asserting control of possession and pushing forward on offense. In the ninth minute, captain and defender Lu Barnes delivered a dangerous corner kick that forced Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland into action, punching the ball away to prevent an early goal.
Off the ball, the Reign applied pressure to Bay’s midfield, forcing turnovers and disrupting their transitional play. However, disaster struck in the 25th minute when Barnes was injured and had to leave the field, temporarily reducing the Reign to ten players. This shift in momentum gave Bay FC an opening, and moments later, a penalty was awarded after contact in the box sent forward Asisat Oshoala to the ground. With the referee ruling out any offside interference, Oshoala calmly converted from the spot, giving Bay FC a 1-0 lead.
The Reign responded quickly, with midfielder Quinn unleashing a long-range shot in the 34th minute, only for Rowland to tip it over the crossbar. As the first half wound down, Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was called upon twice to make crucial saves, keeping the deficit at one as the teams headed into the break.
In the second half, Seattle dominated possession, controlling the ball 65% of the time and firing off eight shots. However, the team struggled to find a breakthrough. In stoppage time, substitute Jaeline Howell launched a shot on target, but Rowland was again up to the task, preserving the lead for Bay FC. In the dying moments of the match, defender Jordyn Bugg made a crucial tackle inside the box to deny Bay FC a second goal, but the final whistle blew before the Reign could muster an equalizer.
Key Takeaways:
A Constantly Changing Lineup: Throughout all 22 regular season matches, Seattle Reign FC has fielded a different starting lineup each time. Only two players, midfielder Ji So-Yun and defender Phoebe McClernon, have appeared in all 21 games so far this season.
Narrow Margins: Of the Reign’s 22 regular season games, 14 have been decided by a single goal, including this loss to Bay FC.
Veronica Latsko’s Versatility: Forward Veronica Latsko made her second consecutive appearance as a right back, marking her eighth start of the season in 19 appearances. Latsko’s defensive contributions were notable, as she won six duels, made three interceptions, and completed two tackles. She also surpassed 5,000 career regular-season minutes during the match, achieved in 104 appearances with both the Reign and the Houston Dash.
Head-to-Head History: The defeat brings Seattle Reign FC’s all-time record against Bay FC to 0 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws.
