The Seattle Reign held onto their playoff spot Sunday evening, grinding out a 1-0 victory against a Houston Dash side that was breathing down their necks, just two points behind them in the standings. It was Maddie Dahlien in the 52nd minute, calmly chipping a shot into an open net with her first touch after a slick cross from Maddie Mercado, that secured the crucial three points at home.
Reign’s Domination Met With Frustration
Look, if you watched this game, you saw it. The Reign absolutely ran the show from the opening whistle. We’re talking 56.6% possession compared to Houston’s 43.4%. They racked up a massive 17 total shots while the Dash only managed four. Our expected goals, a whopping 1.84, versus a paltry 0.17 for Houston. We had 34 touches inside their box. Thirty-four! It wasn’t even close when you look at the numbers. But man, it was frustrating watching them struggle to put the ball in the back of the net. They had 11 shots from inside the box, five on target, and only one found twine. Head Coach Laura Harvey hit it right on the head after the game. She said they “controlled the game” but added, “I think we need to be more ruthless through the last couple of games.” She’s not wrong. We were just as dominant against Louisville, but that one hurt us because they converted their few chances. This time, it didn’t bite us.
Holding The Line: What This Win Means for the Playoff Race
That single goal, that 1-0 win, means everything right now. The Reign, sitting at 9-8-4, are holding firm in eighth place, which is that final playoff spot everyone’s scrapping for. What’s even better? They’ve got a game in hand over every single team above them on the league table. That’s a huge advantage as this tight playoff race heats up. It was a massive win to kick off this three-game homestand, especially against a Houston team that was right there with us. The 7,878 fans at the stadium definitely felt the tension and the relief when that final whistle blew.
Now, we’ve got to shift focus. Up next is another big one: fourth-place San Diego Wave. They’re sitting at 12-7-3, so it’s going to be a real test. That game is set for Sunday, September 6, at 6 p.m. PT, and you can catch it on ESPN2. Let’s keep that homestand energy going and show San Diego what the Emerald City is all about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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