Friday, November 22, 2024
Fantasy Guru - Baseball

NWSL Challenge Cup Preview: OL Reign (1-0-1) at San Diego Wave FC (1-0-0)

Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, California – Wednesday, May 31 at 10:00 PM ET

Players to watch:

San Diego forward Alex Morgan has been involved in five of the 10 goals San Diego has scored in its NWSL Challenge Cup history (4 goals, 1 assist). Morgan scored both of San Diego’s goals in its matches against OL Reign in last year’s edition of tournament. Morgan’s five regular season goals also have her tied for the top of the league in scoring alongside three other players, with forwards Jaedyn Shaw (3) and Sofia Jakobsson (2) the only other multi-goal scorers on the year so far.

OL Reign attacker Megan Rapinoe delivered three assists in OL Reign’s win over Angel City on Saturday, becoming the fifth player in NWSL history to record a three-assist game (all comps). San Diego is the only opponent Rapinoe has never recorded a goal contribution against in her NWSL career. The quarter of forwards Bethany BalcerVeronica Latsko, and Jordyn Huitema as well as midfielder Jess Fishlock lead the team in regular season goals scored with three each.

Match facts: San Diego plays its second Challenge Cup match of the season when it faces OL Reign at Snapdragon Stadium, looking to build on a one-goal win over Portland in mid-April while the Reign have won one and drawn one in back-to-back matches against Angel City. 

San Diego opened its 2023 Challenge Cup with 1-0 home win over Portland on April 19. The Wave have lost only one of their four home Challenge Cup matches (W2 D1) while they’re managed just one point from three away matches in the tournament. Riding a good amount of momentum since that match, San Diego is on a three match unbeaten run entering Wednesday night (W2 D1) after two straight losses against Orlando and Washington temporarily chopped its waters. 

OL Reign is unbeaten in 11 straight Challenge Cup matches (W7 D4, including a penalty shoot-out loss in last year’s semifinal), tied with North Carolina for the longest unbeaten run in competition history. The Reign have won four of their five road matches during that time, including a 2-0 win at Angel City in April.

OL Reign is unbeaten against San Diego in all NWSL competitions (W3 D2) including a 1-0 home win in April in the first meeting between the sides this year. The Reign have won all three of their home matches against the Wave while both meetings in San Diego have ended in draws.

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