SEATTLE REIGN FC vs. BAY FC POSTGAME QUOTES
Sunday, September 29, 2024 • Lumen Field • Seattle, WA
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On her initial thoughts from the match:
“I mean, I’m a broken record, but I think the quality on the ball, our decision-making in moments on the ball and then our ability in and around the goal to create things just wasn’t good enough today.”
On what worked for the team to have more possession than Bay FC:
“Well, we changed it up. We changed shape a little bit in how we build, got an extra player into the midfield by keeping Quinn higher and obviously playing Veronica in that sort of wide right position that Sofia would have played, keeping her a little bit higher, I think, was successful. I think we spoke about it at halftime, how we’d got opportunities out there numerous times in the first half, but we hadn’t punished them by putting balls in the box because I think there was a lot of opportunities in both halves, really, where Ana and Jordyn were 2-v-2 in the box and we gave up the chance to serve it. So, I think that was what was working for us. But they are dangerous on the transition. So, I think they don’t need to high pressure, they can sit in and let you have it a little bit, knowing that when they win it they’re just going to go at you. So, I think we dealt with that OK, there were obviously a couple of times where they broke us down from that. But overall, their chances come from us, giving the ball away in those moments, which we have to be better at. But yeah, I mean, it doesn’t surprise me that we controlled the game because we’ve been doing that a lot lately and been doing it well.”
Midfielder Olivia Athens and Forward Veronica Latsko
On their initial thoughts on the team’s performance:
Olivia Athens: “I think it was tough to concede early, especially on a PK, but I felt like we got ourselves back in the game. We just kind of lacked a bit in the final third, and I think that’s something we’re going to look at moving forward and hopefully improve on.”
On the timing of the penalty:
Olivia Athens: “Yeah, I think it was a weird situation because I think Lu (Lauren Barnes) had gone off, so at that point we had 10 men on the field. So yeah, I think just organizing around that better. I think that caught us off guard a bit. So, I think managing the game better when we know we have a player off. But yeah, like you said, I think we did have a little momentum and that kind of killed it a bit, but I felt like we built back into the game. We just didn’t really create too many chances. So yeah, something to work on.”
On if Barnes being sidelined impacted the result of drawing a penalty:
Olivia Athens: “I think that’s just on us as players to communicate to each other. Yeah, I can’t remember in the moment what I was thinking. But yeah, I think just communicate to each other, whether that’s the coaching staff or just amongst us, like, ‘Hey, guys, we have 10, let’s just keep everything in front of us.’ So yeah, I think we lost the plot a bit right there. Unfortunately, we were punished for it.”
On how much they are thinking about the push for the playoffs:
Olivia Athens: “I think, going into this game, we knew we needed to win. I think mathematically, we’re not out yet, so we’re going to do everything we can next week to get three points and keep pushing because, yeah, we have to at this point.”
On playing as a right back:
Veronica Latsko: “I mean, Sof (Sofia Huerta) definitely has huge shoes to fill. I don’t think I come even close to how much she impacts this team, but I just tried to learn from her while she was here last year and the year before and this year now before she left. I’m a person that wants to do anything for the team. If you need me at right back, right forward, hopefully not center back, but I’ll play anywhere, I’ll do anything.”
On what was missing in the final third:
Veronica Latsko: “I mean, I’m going to sound like a broken record, and I say this because I put this on myself – quality. I think I had a ton of crosses and I didn’t connect nearly as many as I needed to and that’s on me. Yeah, quality and creativity, so not just being a crossing team, but being a team that can play around the final third, break the team down and go through the middle of them, not just from the wide in, but just working from the inside out, too.”
On not having Jess Fishlock and how it impacted the team throughout the midfield:
Veronica Latsko: “I think Jess is a huge character in our team. I also think we have incredible midfielders that fill the presence and can make a huge impact. I mean, I think that our midfield is solid and great and when Jess is in it, it’s also solid and great. So, I think there might be a little – we’re missing her leadership on the field, but in terms of our midfield, I back them any day of the week. We’re just so deep that I appreciate them. They rock.”
On Jordyn Bugg’s impact:
Olivia Athens: “I mean, you wouldn’t know she’s 18. I think she’s come in, she’s fit so well and she shows it on the field. She’s a top player already being so young. So, I think the sky’s the limit for her and it’s exciting that we have such a young talent on our side and just to keep seeing her improve and get better because she’s only going to get better, so that’s really exciting.”