Nights like Saturday can be nerve-wracking. When the home side only needs to defeat a struggling opponent to seal multiple accolades, including a first-round playoff bye.
Before a record crowd at Lumen Field, the Reign made it known early the win was theirs and everything that came with it. The eventual 3-0 result against the Orlando Pride secured the NWSL Shield and a first-round bye.
It’s the Reign’s third Shield in the club’s 10-year history, also winning in 2014 and 2015. But the Reign have never won a NWSL championship. They earned a bye last year and lost in the semifinals to the Washington Spirit at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.
The 10,746 gathered Saturday at Lumen had the home side amped beginning with the pregame warm-ups. The club is in its first season at the stadium and the season-finale crowd was the highest this year.
The Reign received a pair of good results before player introductions were made that coated the path to the Shield in gold.
First, Cascadia rival Portland conceded two late goals to draw 3-3 with NJ/NY Gotham FC in their season finale. Then, Racing Louisville found a goal in second-half extra time to defeat the Kansas City Current, guaranteeing the Reign could finish no lower than second in league standings.
Orlando, which was already eliminated from playoff contention, wanted to play spoiler but forgot to keep a mark on Megan Rapinoe. The Reign forward was open in the box to gather a grounder from Jordyn Huitema and knock in a left-footed shot at the near post for the game’s opening goal in the eighth minute.
Huitema went solo in the 24th minute to shred the Pride’s defense. She received a pinpoint through ball from fellow Canadian international Quinn and took on two Orlando defenders and keeper Erin McLeod to net the goal.
McLeod made a play for the ball too early, Huitema using a right-footed shot to finish the embarrassment. It’s Huitema’s second goal of the season.
Rapinoe tag-teamed with midfielder Jess Fishlock to craft the third goal. Once Fishlock was in place in the corner, Rapinoe fed her the ball and the Welsh international used a quick first-touch to get past her defender then sent a cross into the box. Reign forward Bethany Balcer leapt to send the ball past McLeod with her shin guard.
It was Balcer’s seventh goal of the season to tie with Rapinoe for the team lead.
Reign coach Laura Harvey started making her substitutions in the 60th minute when she pulled captain Lu Barnes for Sofia Huerta. The starting lineup was the 21st different look for Harvey in the club’s 22 matches.
There’s a FIFA international window before the playoffs begin. The U.S. women’s national team — including Rapione, Rose Lavelle, Alana Cook and Huerta — will play friendlies in Europe against England (Oct. 7) and Spain (Oct. 11).
The Reign will hold their semifinal match Oct. 23 at Lumen.