It was a thrilling weekend in the NWSL as Cloe Lacasse made history for the Utah Royals, while the Washington Spirit and Houston Dash earned crucial victories. Here’s a breakdown of all the action from Sunday’s matches:
Utah Royals 3, Seattle Reign 0
Lacasse Makes History with Hat Trick
Cloe Lacasse scored three goals in the first half to lead the Utah Royals (7-14-3, 24 points) to a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Reign in Sandy, Utah. Lacasse’s hat trick was the first in Royals franchise history, helping the team extend their winning streak to three matches.
Lacasse opened the scoring in the third minute, converting off a corner kick. She added her second goal in the 20th minute by following up her own blocked shot. In first-half extra time, Claudia Zornoza set up Lacasse for her third goal, sending the ball just inside the box for Lacasse to finish. Before Sunday, Lacasse had scored just once in her previous seven matches.
Seattle’s Struggles Continue
Seattle (5-14-5, 20 points) has now lost five consecutive matches and failed to score in any of those games. Their struggles were compounded when Angharad James-Turner received a red card in the 16th minute, leaving Seattle a player down for most of the match.
Key Stats:
- Cloe Lacasse: 3 goals (first NWSL hat trick this season).
- Mandy Haught: 1 save, clean sheet for Utah.
- Seattle: 5-game goalless streak.
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Washington Spirit 4, Racing Louisville 1
Morris Leads Spirit with First-Half Brace
Makenna Morris scored two goals in the first half to propel the Washington Spirit (16-6-2, 50 points) to a 4-1 win over Racing Louisville. Morris found the back of the net twice in seven minutes, marking her third and fourth goals of the season.
Ashley Hatch added a penalty kick in the 56th minute, and Lena Silano capped off the scoring in second-half stoppage time. The Spirit bounced back from a loss to regular-season champions Orlando last week and maintained their strong form heading into the playoffs.
Louisville’s Lone Highlight
Racing Louisville (6-11-7, 25 points) managed a consolation goal in the 72nd minute through Emma Sears, but it wasn’t enough to stop Washington from securing a commanding victory.
Key Stats:
- Makenna Morris: 2 goals in the first half.
- Ashley Hatch: Penalty kick goal.
- Emma Sears: 1 goal for Racing Louisville.
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Houston Dash 2, San Diego Wave 0
Olivieri Shines as Dash Blank Wave
Barbara Olivieri played a pivotal role in Houston’s 2-0 victory over the San Diego Wave (5-12-7, 22 points). Olivieri converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute and later assisted on Ramona Bachmann’s 72nd-minute goal to help the Dash (5-14-5, 20 points) snap a two-match losing streak.
San Diego’s struggles continued, as they have now lost four of their last six matches. Naomi Girma was penalized for the foul that led to Olivieri’s penalty, and she received a yellow card for her challenge.
Key Stats:
- Barbara Olivieri: 1 goal (PK), 1 assist.
- Ramona Bachmann: 1 goal.
- Naomi Girma: Yellow card for foul leading to PK.
Postgame Reactions and Key Takeaways
Cloe Lacasse on Her Hat Trick:
“I’m just so happy to contribute and make history for the Royals. The team worked hard, and it feels amazing to get this win. We’re in a good place, and we want to keep the momentum going.”
Makenna Morris on Her Performance:
“It was a great team effort today. Getting those two early goals really gave us the confidence to control the match. We’re in a good spot heading into the playoffs, and we’re looking to keep improving.”
Barbara Olivieri on the Dash’s Win:
“We knew we had to bounce back, and everyone stepped up today. The PK and assist were great, but it was all about the team effort to get this result.”
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Looking Ahead: What’s Next for These Teams?
San Diego Wave: San Diego will aim to reverse their poor form as they prepare for their final few matches.
Utah Royals: With their season ending soon, Utah will aim to finish strong as they build for the future.
Seattle Reign: Seattle’s focus will be on breaking their goalless streak as they try to end the season on a positive note.
Washington Spirit: The Spirit are gearing up for the playoffs and will aim to keep their winning momentum.
Racing Louisville: Louisville will look to regroup and finish the season on a high after another disappointing loss.
Houston Dash: After snapping their losing streak, the Dash will seek to build consistency as they close out their season.
