SEATTLE (April 14, 2015) – (club release) Behind a hat-trick from forward Megan Rapinoe and goals from midfielder Jess Fishlock and forward Beverly Yanez, Seattle Reign FC opened the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League home opener with a 5-1 victory over the Western New York Flash on Sunday evening on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium.

Match Photos: 256 shots by Wilson Tsoi / Coverage from Francine Scott

The hat-trick was Rapinoe’s first of her NWSL career and first ever hat-trick in Reign FC history. Fishlock tallied the opening goal of the match, her fourth total goal against the Flash, and ninth of her NWSL career, while Yanez registered her fifth career goal with Reign FC.

Seattle (1-0-0, 3pts) took the lead early in the 24th minute when Rapinoe sent a long cross into the box that found Fishlock who one-touched the ball into the lower left hand corner and past Flash goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.

Fan Video: Rapinoe sticks home the header

It looked as if Reign FC were going to double their lead in the 37th minute when defender Kendall Fletcher was fouled in the box during a free-kick. Scottish international and 2014 League MVP Kim Little stepped up to the spot but fired her shot just wide of goal.

Eight minutes into the second half, Reign FC found their second goal of the night when Little dribbled the ball toward the top of the box before laying it out wide for Yanez who settled and fired a hard shot just past D’Angelo.

The visitors cut the lead in half in the 68th minute when a combination play between forward Sydney Leroux and midfielder Samantha Mewis freed Mewis into space. Her cross found forward Jordan Angeli at the top of the box who fired her shot past Solo to cut the lead in half.

Three minutes later, Rapinoe would tally her first goal on the night after she rose above her defender to head in cross from forward Merritt Mathias. After a hard shot from Fishlock was saved, Rapinoe was there to head in the rebound and tally her second goal in the 74th minute.

Rapinoe’s hat-trick would be completed in the 86th minute after a give and go with Fishlock put her in behind the Flash defense and she fired her shot past D’Angelo.

“I thought the game started with both teams playing quite frantic but I thought once we scored we settled down a little bit and started to play the game that we want to play,” said head coach and general manager Laura Harvey during Reign FC’s post match press conference. “Goals change games and we pride ourselves on creating opportunities. Overall, I am happy with the result but I think we can get better performance-wise but overall, we’re please with the result.”

Reign FC will now play a two-game road stand beginning on Saturday, April 18 against the Chicago Red Stars. Kick-off is set for 5:00 p.m. PT. The match will be available via a live, high-definition webstream at YouTube.com/NWSL.

Visit ReignFC.com or call (855) REIGN-FC for details on single match tickets.

Video: Entire Match Replay

NWSL Match Report

Match: Seattle Reign FC vs. Western New York Flash

Date: April 12, 2015

Venue: Moda Health Pitch at Memorial Stadium

Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET

Weather: 57 degrees, partly sunny

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

SEA 1 4 1

WNY 0 1 5

SEA: Jessica Fishlock (Megan Rapinoe) 25

SEA: Beverly Yanez (Kim Little) 53

WNY: Jordan Angeli (Samantha Mewis) 68

SEA: Megan Rapinoe (Merritt Mathias) 71

SEA: Megan Rapinoe 74

SEA Megan Rapinoe (Fishlock) 86

Lineups

SEA: Hope Solo, Kendall Fletcher, Lauren Barnes, Stephanie Cox, Elli Reed, Keelin Winters, Jessica Fishlock, Kim Little (Danielle Foxhoven, 77), Beverly Yanez (Kiersten Dallstream, 83), Megan Rapinoe, Merritt Mathias (Amber Brooks, 72)

Subs not used: Haley Kopmeyer, Rachel Corsie, Michelle Cruz, Mariah Nogueira

WNY: Sabrina D’Angelo, Whitney Engen, Abby Dahlkemper, Brittany Taylor, Jaelene Hinkle, Toni Pressley, Samantha Mewis, Becky Edwards, Sydney Leroux, Camilla Kur Larsen (Jordan Angeli, 46), Jasmyne Spencer (Lynn, Williams, 59)

Subs not used: Amanda Frisbie, Kristen Edmonds, Kristen Hamilton, Chantel Jones

Stats Summary

Shots: Seattle 16 / 9

Shots on goal: Seattle 12 / 6

Saves: Western New York (D’Angelo) 7 / Seattle (Solo) 5

Corner kicks: Seattle 5 / 3

Fouls: Western New York 10 / 4

Offside: Seattle 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary?

WNY – Jordan Angeli (caution) 57

Officials?

Referee: Christina Unkel

Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Joshua Haimes

Fourth Official: Chpalo Street

Attendance: 2642

About Seattle Reign FC:

Seattle Reign FC is one of nine teams in the National Women’s Soccer League. The NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association, Federation of Mexican Football and the United States Soccer Federation. The NWSL is the premier women’s professional soccer league in North America, featuring many of the top players from the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as talent from around the world. Seattle Reign FC train and host home matches at Memorial Stadium, located in the shadow of the Space Needle next to the Seattle Center. For more information on the club visit http://www.ReignFC.com or call 855-REIGNFC.

#LetItReign

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