Reign hold off KC Current for scoreless draw

The better team Wednesday night at Lumen Field did not win.

That was a good thing for Seattle Reign FC and its fans.

The Kansas City Current (5-0-3) dominated every stat except the only one that really matters, and the Reign (2-5-1) escaped with a scoreless tie in front of 5,083.

The Reign fans had little to cheer about other than the stellar play of goalkeeper Laurel Ivory and the defenders in front her. They somehow managed to keep the Current off the scoreboard despite a near-constant onslaught from the visitors.

Kansas City had 19 shots to the Reign’s five, and it had a few very good chances to score, but Ivory was up to the challenge, making six saves.

That was enough for the Reign to earn a point against the team tied for the best record in the league.

“I thought the whole backline was excellent defensively today,” Reign coach Laura Harvey said. “But obviously, Laurel should get her flowers for sure.”

Twice, Ivory needed to be tended to after taking hits, but she never came out.

“I’m a little tired but it just feels really good to have a clean sheet,” Ivory said. “The backline deserved it. I think they blocked just as many shots that got on frame. … If just feels really good. If I need to take some hits, then I need to take some hits.”

The Reign won their season opener at home against Washington, but then lost five straight before rallying to beat San Diego 2-1 at home Friday night despite competing a player down after a red card.

So while the Reign could not put together their first winning streak of the season, they do have their first unbeaten streak.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever lost five games in a row,” Reign defender Sofia Huerta said. “That was super challenging for the staff and the team. … It’s so hard to lose that many games, then to go down a man and win, and then play the best team in the league and tie. I just think it shows the character we have in this group.”

Kansas City took control of the match early, and if it hadn’t been for a brilliant save by Ivory, the Current would have scored in the eighth minute.

Michelle Cooper fired a straight-on shot from about 20 yards that seemed destined for the back of the net, but Ivory got her fingertips on the ball, redirecting it above the net.

The Current took six shots — three on goal — before the Reign took their first shot of the game in the 28th minute. That shot from Olivia Van Der Jagt never had a chance, sailing way over the goal.

Ivory saved the Reign twice more with outstanding saves late in the first half.

First, she denied Cooper again with a diving stop, then made a save in extra time on a shot from Claire Lavogez that was taken just a few yards from the goal.

The Reign had to have felt pretty fortunate to go into halftime in a scoreless tie after all of the stats greatly favored the Current.

Kansas City had 12 first-half shots to three for the Reign. Ivory was forced to make five saves on nine of the Current’s shots that were on goal (the other four were blocked by Reign defenders).

Ivory didn’t get credited for a save on what might have been her toughest stop of the night, staving off an own goal in the first half.

Nothing on this night was going to get past her.

“I just want to say I’m so proud of Laurel,” Huerta said. “It’s so good when we get a clean sheet, and Laurel really deserved that.”

Note

Defender Alana Cook was a late scratch for undisclosed reasons. Shae Holmes started in her place.