OL REIGN X GOTHAM FC

At Lumen Field, OL Reign lost to Gotham FC by a score of 4-1. The Reign tried their best to rally a comeback in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the three-goal deficit they produced in the first half. OL Reign had a rough start to the game, giving up two goals in the opening 12 minutes. Jenna Nighswonger, a forward for Gotham, scored the game's opening goal in the tenth minute. She received the ball, took a touch, and then fired just outside the box, nailing it into the far side.

Lynn Williams would later go on to capitalize on a defensive error by the Reign in the 12th minute to score a second goal. OL Reign's goal-giving frenzy remained right up until halftime. Gotham connected on a series of passes in the 38th minute, culminating with a low shot from defender Taylor Smith that found the back of the goal to make it 3-0.

After allowing three goals in the first half, the Reign came out of the locker room looking more energized but still not quite clicking. After the Reign gave up control of the ball inside the penalty area, Gotham scored first in the second half with a goal by Bruninha's foot to make it a resounding 4-0 score.

In the 76th minute, OL Reign finally found themselves on the scoresheet, throwing Lumen Field into a frenzy. The ball ricocheted around the penalty area after defender Sofia Huerta's corner kick. Jordyn Huitema, a forward for the Reign, took advantage of a fortunate bounce to score the game's only goal for the Reign. Tensions rose as time passed, but the Reign ultimately lost 4-1 on a difficult night at Lumen Field.

[Photography by Jackie Shinstrom]