The NWSL-best Orlando Pride finished the regular season with a strong performance, halting a two-match skid by achieving historical markers with Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the visiting Seattle Reign.
Ally Watt, Kerry Abella and Marta scored across the first 57 minutes for the Pride, who had tallied only three goals total in its previous three matches.
The Pride (18-2-6, 60 points) had already wrapped up the best record in the NWSL, but this result assured that they would at least share the mark for most victories. The 18 wins are tied for the most in league history, though the 60 points stand alone as the most.
Orlando went unbeaten at home at 10-0-3.
Jordyn Huitema and substitute Maddi Mercado scored for the Reign (6-15-5, 23 points), who didn’t reach the postseason.
Heitema’s goal came about a minute after Watt, who was facing her former team, opened the scoring.
Marta has nine goals, including three in the last five matches.
Washington 1, North Carolina 0
Washington’s Ashley Hatch scored in the first half as the visiting Spirit won 1-0 over the North Carolina Courage in Cary, NC.
The Spirit (18-6-2, 56 points), who avenged a loss from late June, won their third consecutive match and ended up with the second-best record in the NWSL’s regular season.
Hatch’s seventh goal of the season came in the 37th minute on an assist from Makenna Morris.
Aubry Kingsbury needed one save for the shutout.
The Courage (12-11-3, 39 points) lost their second match in a row and placed fifth in the standings. They’ve been blanked in consecutive matches four times this season, including one three-match scoreless stretch.
Bay FC 3, Houston 2
Racheal Kundananji scored two goals for visiting Bay FC (11-14-1, 34 points), which had been assured a playoff spot but was trying to improve its seed.
Bay FC also benefited from Paige Nielsen’s own goal in the 10th minute, one of three goals between the teams in the opening 21 minutes.
Kundananji’s fifth goal of the season came in the 54th minute to snap a 2-2 tie.
Barbara Olivieri and Avery Patterson scored for the last-place Dash (5-16-5, 20 points). Patterson’s tying tally came in the first minute of the second half, marking the forward’s first career goal in 25 matches.
The start of the match was delayed nearly an hour because of weather issues.
–Field Level Media
