WNY Flash Defeat Seattle Reign at Frontier Field
Western New York Flash won its third consecutive match against Seattle Reign FC as team captain Abby Erceg and Lynn Williams led the New York club to a 3-1 victory at Frontier Field. This upcoming weekend will see a rematch between the two sides as the Flash travel to take on Seattle at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
NWSL Soccer News: The Western New York Flash (8-4-0) once again continued their hot pace, defeating the Seattle Reign FC (4-4-4), at Frontier Field, by a 3-1 score. Team captain Abby Erceg led the Flash with a pair of goals and an assist in the victory for the Flash. Erceg’s pair of tallies were the first two of the season for the defender. Lynn Williams tallied her league leading seventh goal of the season as Western New York notched their sixth win in their last seven outings on Saturday night.
The Reign opened the night’s scoring in the 23’ when Seattle’s Naho Kawasumi finished off a low cross from about seven yards out, giving the visitors an early one goal advantage. The lead would not last long however for the road side.
Western New York responded, threatening to tie the score as Makenzy Doniak sent a pair of crosses into the box, both of which were cleared away. The Flash continued to press as Jessica McDonald snuck past the Seattle defense and just missed her opportunity wide of the net. Resembling the Flash squad that scored nine goals in its previous two matches, the home side finally put one away after McDonald’s throw-in into the box was redirected by Captain Abby Erceg’s header to even the score at one. The Flash broke the deadlock in stoppage time as another McDonald throw in managed to find its way to the goalmouth. This time, Erceg used her foot to tally her second goal of the game and of the season to make it 2-1 in favor of the Flash.
The Western New York Flash, as has become commonplace, began the second half continuing to apply the type of pressure that led to a one goal advantage after 45 minutes of play.
Two minutes into the the second frame, McDonald snuck behind the defense to label a shot on goal but Seattle netminder Andi Tostanoski was up to the challenge, keeping the score 2-1. Ten minutes later, Tostanoski again denied McDonald, this time from point blank range.
Seattle was able to momentarily counter with pressure of their own as Kendall Fletcher crossed a dangerous ball into the box, however McDonald cleared it away. The surge was short-lived, however, as Doniak had an opportunity that required a diving save from the Seattle backstop.
The Flash added a late insurance goal in the 83’ as Erceg chipped a ball to Lynn Williams who raced past a defender and past a hard-charging Tostanoski. Pushed out wide by the Seattle ‘keeper, Williams maintained her poise and sent a long, bad-angle shot into the side of the net for a two goal lead.
Seattle would get one back in stoppage time as Rumi Utusugi tallied cutting the deficit to 3-2 but, for Seattle, it was too late.
The match was a return of professional soccer to Rochester’s Frontier Field. The site was home to the Rochester Rhinos for ten seasons, where they captured three A-League Championships and the 1999 U.S. Open Cup title. The Flash will resume play next Saturday, July 16 when they travel to take on the same Seattle Reign FC club in a match at Memorial Stadium in Seattle, WA. The Flash will return home the following week when they host FC Kansas City at 7:00 p.m.
Source/Photo Credit: Western New York Flash
