SEATTLE — Bethany Balcer and Jess Fishlock each scored a pair of goals to lead OL Reign to a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday.
The win at Seattle’s Lumen Field gave the Reign (3-1-0) its best start since 2014.
Balcer scored the first two goals in the 15th and 20th minutes, with Veronica Latsko and Lauren Barnes assisting. No player has scored more goals at home since 2019 than Balcer, who has 20 goals in Reign home matches.
Arin Wright got a goal back for the Red Stars (1-3-0) in the 32nd minute, pouncing on a ball in the box that the Reign couldn’t clear.
In the final minutes of the first half, Fishlock scored her first goal. Emily Sonnett won a ball that was bouncing around after a Reign corner and passed it to Fishlock for the assist.
Red Stars rookie Ally Schlegel scored her first NWSL goal early in the second half, winning a challenge in the box and sliding her shot into the lower-right corner.
Megan Rapinoe scored on a free kick in the 75th minute, splitting her shot between two Red Stars players before it deflected off another defender and slipped into the near post.
Fishlock scored the Reign’s final goal in the 76th minute, finishing with one touch on a Balcer assist.
