Week Two of the 2015 NWSL regular season came and went with a full slate of games on Saturday night, we take you around the league with news and notes from each match.
Sky Blue FC 1-1 Houston Dash
Katy Freels put Sky Blue on the board early in the match on a counterattacking goal, but Jessica McDonald leveled the match for the Dash in the second half after a Morgan Brian cross went over the fingertips of goalkeeper Brittany McDonald. Houston, though happy with the comeback, felt they should have left New Jersey with all three points as they outshot SBFC 19-8. The difference was that they were only able to put four of those attempts on goal as both teams stayed unbeaten in the early part of the season.
Washington Spirit 3-1 FC Kansas City
A week after a surprise defeat at home, reigning champions FC Kansas City collected their second loss on the road to the Washington Spirit. FCKC went up early in a back-and-forth first half with a goal from Heather O'Reilly six minutes in, but the Spirit came back less than three minutes later with a long-rage goal from Christine Nairn to tie it up. Kansas City looked like they would add to that lead throughout the first half, but goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris put in a spectacular performance recording nine saves on the night. Washington struck right off the bat in the second half as Crystal Dunn scored her first pro goal in the 46th minute, putting in the rebound from a Laura Del Rio shot off the post. Nairn struck again in the 65th minute with a perfect free kick after Dunn earned a foul right on the edge of the penalty area for the Spirit's first win of 2015.
Portland Thorns FC 1-0 Western New York Flash
Western New York wrapped up back-to-back visits to the Pacific Northwest with two losses after Saturday's defeat at Providence Park. Allie Long got her third goal of the young season as goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo wasn't able to punch away a ball into the box from Sinead Farrelly. The long ball deflected off Long's head and looped into the open net for the only goal of the night. The Thorns currently sit alone at the top of the NWSL standings after grabbing two wins at home in Portland.
Chicago Red Stars 3-2 Seattle Reign FC
The Chicago Red Stars pulled out a stoppage-time winner in their season opener against Seattle Reign FC. The teams combined for four goals in the span of eight minutes in the first half. Seattle cashed in on two corner kicks opportunities from Megan Rapinoe, the first scored by Beverly Yanez and the other by Kendall Fletcher on a goalmouth scramble. Christen Press countered for Chicago, scoring on a breakaway attempt then putting in a cross for Jen Hoy to finish. The teams looked headed for a draw until Press latched onto a bouncing ball and sped past the Seattle defense, slotting home the game-winner in the 91st minute of the match. Reign FC's first loss of 2014 also came at the hands of the Red Stars, though that 1-0 result came in July — breaking a 16-game unbeaten streak — instead of the second weekend of the season.
Week 3 Fixtures
Thursday, April 23
FC Kansas City vs. Seattle Reign FC (7 p.m. CT)
Saturday, April 25
Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC (7:30 p.m. CT)
Sunday, April 26
Boston Breakers vs. Houston Dash (4 p.m. CT)
Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Spirit (5 p.m. CT)
