

SEATTLE (August 6, 2014) — Seattle Reign FC (16-1-5, 53 pts) extended its unbeaten streak to five games with its 4-1 victory over the Houston Dash (5-13-3, 18 pts) on Wednesday, August 6 at the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium.

Japanese international Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi’s two goals and assist on a third led Seattle in the victory. Reign FC now has a league-record 53 points on the season.

PHOTOS! See plenty of shots from this match here!

Kawasumi notched her first goal of the evening in the 32nd minute, controlling a pass from behind the center line by midfielder and NWSL Player of the Month Kim Little and burying a shot past goalkeeper Bianca Henninger to give Seattle a lead they would hold the rest of the evening.

Just two minutes later, midfielder Jessica Fishlock floated a deep pass of her own to Kawasumi over the Houston defense, which Kawasumi chipped over the head of Henninger for her second goal of the night.

In the 40th minute, forward Beverly Goebel scored her fifth goal of the season, dribbing past Henninger off a pass from Kawasumi, and knocking in a shot on the near post to give Seattle a three goal lead heading into halftime.

Seattle extended its lead to four in the 63rd minute, with Little recording her league-leading 15th goal of the season on a breakaway, finding the back of the net on the near post past an outstretched Henninger.

Houston got one back in the 83rd minute, courtesy of a goal from forward Nina Burger off a cross into the box by defender Marissa Diggs to prevent the shutout.

With the win, Reign FC remains atop the league standings with 53 points, 12 points ahead of second-place FC Kansas City, and 19 points ahead of the third-place Washington Spirit. Seattle has already clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and will host a NWSL semifinal match at Memorial Stadium on either Saturday, August 23 at 10 a.m. (PT), or Sunday, August 24 at noon or 8 p.m. (PT).

Seattle is now 15 points ahead of the previous record for points in a season, with two regular season matches left to play.

Reign FC finishes its season series with Houston with a record of 3-0-0. Seattle beat the Dash 2-0 at Memorial Stadium on April 27, with a pair of first-half goals from Little leading Reign FC in the win.

On July 30, Seattle clinched the NWSL shield with a 4-1 victory over Houston, with two goals from Little, and one each from forwards Megan Rapinoe and Sydney Leroux giving Seattle the victory.

Seattle will play its final home game of the regular season this Saturday, August 9 against the Spirit at Memorial Stadium. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. (PT) with a live, high-definition webstream available at YouTube.com/NWSL.

Visit ReignFC.com or call (855) REIGN-FC for details on single-match tickets. Seats start at $19. Tickets are also on sale for Seattle’s NWSL semi-finals match, with seats for that match starting at $24.

Seattle Reign FC vs. Houston Dash August 6, 2014 — Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)

Scoring Summary

SEA – Nahomi Kawasumi, 31’ (Little)

SEA – Kawasumi, 34’ (Fishlock)

SEA – Beverly Goebel, 40’ (Kawasumi)

SEA – Kim Little, 63’

HOU – Nina Burger, 83’ (Diggs)

Misconduct Summary

HOU – Kyle (Caution) – 66’

Lineups & Stats

SEA: GK Haley Kopmeyer, D Stephanie Cox, D Lauren Barnes (Megan Brigman, 77’), D Elli Reed (Danielle Foxhoven, 67’), D Kendall Fletcher, M Keelin Winters, M Jessica Fishlock, M Kim Little (Megan Rapinoe, 67’), F Kiersten Dallstream, F Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi, F Beverly Goebel

HOU: GK Bianca Henninger, D Marissa Diggs, D Stephanie Ochs, D Kika Toulouse (Kelly McFarlane, 46’), D Whitney Engen, M Kaylyn Kyle, M Tiffany McCarty, M Becky Edwards, F Kealia Ohai (Nina Burger, 65’), D Arianna Romero, F Melissa Henderson (Jordan Jackson, 46’)

Referee: Michael Zapata

Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan; Apolinar Mariscal

Fourth Official: Chipalo Street

Attendance: 3,375

goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company.