TUKWILA, WA– Seattle Reign FC (17-3-6) suffered its third and final loss of the year on Sunday, August 31, falling 2-1 to FC Kansas City (14-7-5) in the NWSL Championship Match at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

Seattle finishes the 2014 campaign as the league runner-up, as well as the NWSL shield winners after posting a league-record 54 points during the regular season.

Reign React: Seattle knows it missed a chance at completing a great season

Despite pressuring the Kansas City defense and backline throughout the match, Seattle was unable to come back from its first 2-0 deficit of the season.

FC Kansas City got on the board first in the 22nd minute, when forward Lauren Holiday found forward Amy Rodriguez with a wide diagonal run into the box, with the latter lifting a shot over goalkeeper Hope Solo for the 1-0 lead.

In the 56th minute, FC Kansas City padded their lead with another connection between Holliday and Rodriguez, when Holiday pushed through a line of three Seattle defenders before finding Rodriguez at the top of the box, with the league’s second ranking goal scorer in the regular season burying a shot past Solo.

Seattle got one back in the 87th minute, when a header from midfielder Mariah Nogueira knocked off the post, and the ensuing scramble allowed forward Megan Rapinoe to blast a shot past goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.

Despite several chances late, including a shot wide of goal by Rapinoe in stoppage time, Reign FC was unable to notch the equalizer.

Seattle finishes the season series with FC Kansas City with a record of 1-1-2.

Seattle Reign FC vs. FC Kansas City August 31, 2014 — Starfire Sports Complex (Tukwila, Wash.)

Scoring Summary

KC– Amy Rodriguez, 22’ (Holiday)

KC– Rodriguez, 56’ (Holiday)

SEA – Megan Rapinoe, 87’

Misconduct Summary

KC – LePeilbet (Caution) — 79’

SEA – Solo (Caution) — 90’+

Lineups & Stats

SEA: GK Hope Solo, D Stephanie Cox, D Lauren Barnes, D Elli Reed (Mariah Nogueira, 83’), D Kendall Fletcher, M Keelin Winters, M Jessica Fishlock, M Kim Little, F Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi, F Sydney Leroux (Beverly Goebel, 67’), F Megan Rapinoe

KC: GK Nicole Barnhart, D Kassey Kallman, D Nikki Phillips, D Leigh Ann Robinson, D Becky Sauerbrunn, M Jen Buczkowski, M Jenna Richmond, M Lauren Holiday, M Merritt Mathias (Amy LePeilbet, 71’), M Erika Tymrak (Elizabeth Bogus, 76’), F Amy Rodriguez (Sarah Hagen, 64’)

Referee: Margaret Domka

Assistant Referees: Marlene Duff; Danielle Chesky

Fourth Official: Katia Koroleva

Attendance: 4,252

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.