Little is needed to make a sporting event against Portland electric for a Seattle fan. The centuries-old animosity between Washington and Oregon seeps into everything.
But the Reign managed to amp the energy minutes into the Cascadia derby against the Thorns with a goal in the fourth minute. It was all the Reign needed to collect a 1-0 win at Lumen Field on Friday.
It’s the first time Seattle has beaten its rival at Lumen since 2022.
NWSL rookie Maddie Dahlien scored the game-winning goal. Reign forward Lynn Biyendolo’s control of the ball was essential as she angled a pass to Dahlien on the wing. The latter didn’t hesitate in dribbling at her defender to knife a right-footed shot past Thorns keeper Bella Bixby.
“It feels amazing,” Dahlien said of the win. “We just gutted it out. It’s not always going to be pretty, but you find the fight in those moments. The game presented a new thing for us and that’s managing the game, holding the lead. That’s important to learn.”
It’s Dahlien’s first score of the season. The assist is Biyendolo’s first of the season and 31st in her career, which ties Reign midfielder Sofia Huerta and journey woman Jess McDonald for the NWSL record.
“There are times in our career where we should be able to celebrate ourselves and not just wait until the end of our career,” Biyendolo said of her moment. “I’m sure I’ll go home and tell my husband and he’ll get excited for me. It is exciting and something that I’m proud of, but I’m more excited to beat the Thorns.”
Friday was also Biyendolo’s debut start with the Reign (2-2-1). The forward, who was acquired via trade from Gotham FC in December, played her first minutes of the season last week due to a leg injury.
Reign forward Jordyn Huitema joined Biyendolo in the starting lineup. The lively attack outshot Portland 5-2 in the opening half, including a chance from Biyendolo that grazed the outer side netting in the 35th minute.
The second half had a staccato feel because of multiple players needed medical attention. Reign keeper Claudia Dickey went to ground twice but remained in the match and put on a show as Portland (1-2-2) unleashed attempts.
Dickey had acrobatic saves at the post in the 74th minute and at the crossbar in stoppage time. Thorns forward Caiya Hanks had one of the better looks in the 84th minute. Her shot floated across the face of goal. Reilyn Turner had another in stoppage time that clanked off the crossbar, Dickey saving the rebound attempt.
“[Claudia] had to, at times, stand on her head,” Reign coach Laura Harvey said of Dickey tweaking her ankle and getting a crick in her neck in stopping some attempts. “That athleticism can feel painful. You saw that but thankfully, she’s OK.”
Seattle couldn’t find another goal to treat the bulk of the 7,609 in attendance screaming for the home side. The team had to more daring plays defensively to stop Portland.
It was a similar performance to last week’s loss to Orlando at Lumen. The Pride lead the league in goal-scoring but only managed one against the Reign.
“We played much better last week, but we didn’t win,” Harvey said of the 1-0 loss to Orlando at Lumen. “With this team, with the potential that it has, playing to win is what we need to look at and educating ourselves on that. If we do that, we can play the style we want if we do all the little things right … That’s the next layer for us, how do we sort of like marry the two. Play the style we want while also recognizing some games aren’t about that and it wasn’t about that [Friday].”
Seattle is back on the road next week with a match against Bay FC.
NOTE
Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock missed her second straight match due to a leg injury … Former Reign defender Sam Hiatt returned and started for Portland. Hiatt, a Seattle Prep alum, helped Seattle win its 2022 NWSL Shield.
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