WNY takes 4 of the possible 6 points in home-and-home series.
SEATTLE, WA — The Western New York Flash (8-4-1) took 19 shots on Saturday night, but only one crossed the goal line, as the visitors drew Seattle Reign FC (4-4-5), 1-1.
Jess McDonald tied the game at one just before the halftime whistle as she put a volleyed corner kick into the back of the net.
The Reign opened the night’s scoring early on as Manon Melis put one past the outstretched right hand of Flash goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.
From there, Western New York controlled most of the game. Hungry for an equalizer, the Flash used numerous corner kicks, free kicks, and crosses to put pressure on Seattle goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski.
Lianne Sanderson crossed a ball deep into the 6-yard box that found the head of captain Abby Erceg in the 26th minute, and the ball found the back of the net. However, the goal was quickly called back when one of the assistant referees called Erceg offside.
The Flash were able to find a break in the Seattle defense in the 45th minute, as Jaelene Hinkle crossed a corner kick to the far side of the 6-yard box that found the head of Abby Dahlkemper. Dahlkemper nodded it back to the far post, where McDonald headed it past Tostanoski and into the back of the net.
McDonald’s tally was her sixth of the season, putting her within one of teammate Lynn Williams on the National Women’s Soccer League leaderboard.
The Western New York Flash began the second half continuing to apply the offensive pressure found in the latter half of the first frame. The forward tandem of Williams and McDonald took turns putting chances on Tostanoski, and it seemed as though the Flash were ready to take the lead early in the second half.
The Flash scored in the 52th minute, as McDonald’s long throw-in found the foot of Dahlkemper, who fired a rocket through a few defenders and past Tostanoski. However, Erceg was again called offside by the assistant referee and the score was kept knotted at 1.
The ball was kept in the home side’s defensive zone for nearly the entirety of the first 13 minutes of the first half, as Nahomi Kawasumi’s shot in the 58th minute was the first for Seattle in the second frame.
Multiple crosses and corner kicks kept the ball in the Flash’s offensive zone for much of the second half. The visiting side managed 19 shots in the match, but Seattle’s defense, led by Tostanoski, somehow managed to hold the Flash to only one goal.
Rowland finished the night with 3 saves for the Flash, maintaining her 1.00 GAA as she allowed only Melis’s goal early on.
The Washington Spirit came away with a win over FC Kansas City on Saturday night, catapulting them into a tie for first place with Portland, who fell to the hands of the Houston Dash. Western New York now sits alone in third place entering week 14, just one point behind Washington and Portland.
The Flash will resume play next Saturday, July 23, when they play host to FC Kansas City (3-4-6) at Rochester Rhinos Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.