Rose Lavelle dropped another absolute banger on the Seattle Reign this weekend, sealing an incredible comeback win for NJ/NY Gotham FC with a shot that registered a massive 0.71 post-shot expected goals on a mere 0.09 expected goals. Yeah, you read that right. This wasn’t just a goal; it was a pure moment of individual brilliance, a second one in three days for her, and it definitely left a mark on our Emerald City squad.
That Lavelle Shot Was a Gut Punch for the Reign
These numbers, 0.71 PSxG on 0.09 xG, tell you everything. It means Lavelle didn’t just get lucky with an easy chance; she *created* a near-certain goal out of almost nothing through pure shot quality. Her pace, her accuracy, whatever magic she conjured up, turned a low-probability chance into a sure thing to hand the Bats that comeback win. For the Reign, it’s a tough lesson learned about letting top-tier talent have even a sliver of space. We’ve gotta tighten up, folks, especially when facing players who can do that kind of damage.
Beyond Seattle’s Sting: Pure Magic Across the League
While that Lavelle strike still stings a bit, Matchweek 13 wasn’t just about us taking a hit. The NWSL was absolutely buzzing with some unreal finishes. Karlie Lema for North Carolina Courage showed off her insane pace and accuracy, getting on the end of a long ball and slotting it home from a super tight angle. Her 0.95 PSxG on 0.40 xG tells you she made a tough shot look easy, pure class. Then there was Sammy Smith for Washington Spirit, who made a perfectly timed run, blew past the back line, and just reaped the rewards with a 0.60 PSxG on 0.21 xG finish. These are the kinds of individual efforts that make this league must-watch every single weekend.
Goalkeepers Put On a Clinic Too
It wasn’t all about the goals, though; the keepers were absolutely showing out! Mackenzie Arnold for Denver Summit pulled off an absolutely incredible save, shutting down a shot that had a ridiculous 0.87 PSxG on just 0.09 xG. That’s the kind of save that keeps your team in the game, a true game-changer. Marisa Jordan from San Diego Wave also made it look easy, collecting an outside-the-box shot with a 0.77 PSxG on 0.05 xG, taking advantage of its relative lack of pace. And let’s not forget Katie Atkinson for Angel City, whose great positioning at the near post denied Emily Sams a sneaky goal on an 0.80 PSxG on 0.11 xG effort. Talk about being locked in!
So yeah, a tough one to swallow for the Reign with that Lavelle banger, but what a display of talent across the NWSL this weekend. The individual brilliance, both in scoring and denying goals, was off the charts. For our Seattle squad, it’s a moment to refocus, learn from those high-quality shots, and ensure our defense is always ready for that unexpected extra shot quality. We know the Reign have what it takes; they just need to bring that Emerald City grit even harder next time out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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