Never underestimate how much can change in a week.
After destroying the Western New York flash 5 to 1 last Sunday, the Seattle Reign looked like one of the best teams in the league. Reign attacker Megan Rapinoe looked like one of, if not the best player in the league as she scored one of the classiest hat tricks you’ll see this year, and her Player of the Week award was the cherry on top of an opening match day that went just about as swimmingly as possible.
Then Saturday happened and the club came crashing back to earth.
The scoreline may not have been reversed, but the feeling of complete and utter dominance most definitely was. They lost to the Chicago Red Stars 3-2, conceding the game winner in extra time. Reign’s back line left a lot for wanting on all three goals, getting beat for pace, desire and failing to deal with a simple cross. Their defensive ineptitude was exacerbated by the struggles of keeper Hope Solo on the day, who was left out to dry on the first and third goals, and made a mess of the cross on the second.
The Reign’s loss was the gain of more than just the Red Stars. Former Reign Forward Sydney Leroux was more than happy to see the team that traded her last season go down in flames.
Yesssssss Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) April 19, 2015
Leroux was on the receiving end of the aforementioned 5-1 thrashing the Reign put on the Flash last week, and has to wait until Julr 3rd until she gets another crack at revenge. Seeing the Red Stars knock the Reign off their high horse will hopefully make that wait a little more manageable.
