NWSL Booth Recap: OL Reign vs NY/NJ Gotham

Up to speed:

The National Women’s Soccer League’s regular season is coming to a close, and the top teams are fighting for their playoff spots. A big matchup this week was between the two teams currently sitting in the top four, OL Reign and NY/NJ Gotham FC.

Breaking down the game:

Gotham entered the match at Lumen Field as the favorites, but it was Reign that looked the more dangerous side from the start by Pepperdine alum, Midge Purce. Gotham’s defense was able to hold strong for most of the first half. Gotham started the second half strong and looked likely to score, but it was Reign who took the lead against the run of play, with a goal from Bethany Balcer in the 78th minute. Gotham pushed for an equalizer, but Reign held on to claim a crucial three points.

Player to watch:

One of the standout performers for Reign was the 23-year-old forward Bethany Balcer. Balcer, who represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, recently joined Reign from the Orlando Pride, where she scored 6 goals in 14 appearances. Balcer has carried her goalscoring form over to Reign, and currently leads the NWSL’s Golden Boot race with 13 goals in 18 appearances. Balcer is a clinical finisher who can score from a variety of positions and is starting to develop a real goalscoring instinct.

Summarizing

The win sees Reign move up to second in the NWSL standings, while Gotham remain in fourth place. With just two games remaining in the regular season, both teams will be hoping to finish in the top four and secure a spot in the playoffs.

Upcoming Matches At a Glance:

• OL Reign vs. Portland Thorns FC on Oct. 1 at Lumen Field
• NY/NJ Gotham FC vs. Chicago Red Stars on Oct. 1 at Red Bull Arena

Tickets for both matches are on sale now. For more information on the NWSL, visit the league's official website.