Postgame Press Conference (at SD) • Saturday, June 24, 2023
OL REIGN at SAN DIEGO WAVE FC
POSTGAME QUOTES
Saturday, June 24, 2023 • Snapdragon Stadium • San Diego, CA
OL Reign Head Coach Laura Harvey
On her thoughts on the match:
“A bit of a wild one. A bit of a feisty one. Actually, I think all our games with San Diego tend to be quite close. I thought we’ve played some tough games on the road, at home and we’ve always said that we have to show resilience and dig in in moments but then when we need show a little bit of quality, if we can show that quality, we’ll be able to score goals and we hadn’t quite done that in Houston and in other games – Portland at home – and I thought tonight both goals were exceptional goals, just two moments of real quality. And then we dug in deep, had to battle at times, had to win first and second balls, had to deal with them playing a little bit more direct at times and we were prepared for that, but I felt like we’ve said a lot that we need to pick up points on the road and this is a big three points.”
On holding San Diego to zero shots in the first half:
“I think a big thing when you play against these guys is, you know you have to give something up and you’re either going to press them really high and it will potentially give them opportunities to play in behind you or you’re a bit more patient, which means Kailen and (Wave defender) Naomi (Girma) and (Wave defender) Kaleigh (Riehl) can get a little more time on the ball, which gives them a chance to play longer and I felt we found a really good balance in the first half of when to drop, when to press, when to go after it and actually, their goal comes off that, where we get it wrong – where we step and we shouldn’t step. So, I think we did a really good job in the first half of that and yeah, I’m disappointed with their goal because it was something we spoke about at halftime, about making sure we didn’t do. But great response from the players.”
On forward Bethany Balcer’s versatility:
“We decided to play (forward Bethany Balcer) Boats in the nine tonight. We knew that defensively she was going to be really important and having (forward) Jordyn (Huitema) just on that right side to give us a different option in field, I thought all of the front line – I thought (midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt) Olo in the 10, I thought they did a great job. I think it’s hard work and legs are going to tire doing the amount of work that they have to do, but I thought Boats came up with two moments of quality. Both goals were – the ball from (midfielder) Quinn for the firs goal was exceptional, the cross from (defender) Sofia (Huerta) was great and Boats does what we all know Boats can do, she had the moneymaker on tonight. So, she was great positioned, willing to just put her head on a cross, wherever it will fall and that’s her special quality, she knows how to do that, she’ll run through brick walls for you. So, I thought she did a fantastic job tonight.”
On goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and stopping Wave forward Alex Morgan:
“I think she didn’t have to make a ton of saves, which was great, but I think this is a development path for (goalkeeper) Phallon (Tullis-Joyce) is, when she’s not having to make a ton of saves, but then she’s relied on for that moment, can she stand up big? And she did. I need to see it back, I don’t know how (Wave forward) Alex (Morgan) got in between us and maybe slightly offside, maybe. But that’s what top goalkeepers do, they play for top teams, they don’t have to do a lot and then when they have to do something, they pull out the big saves and I think she obviously did that when we needed it tonight.”
OL Reign Forward Bethany Balcer and Defender Sofia Huerta
On their overall thoughts on the match:
Sofia Huerta: “I mean, it’s a good team win. Getting points on the road is obviously really great, especially versus a team like San Diego, they’re obviously high up on the table and a team that we always have a good game with. It was really chaotic; it was chaotic the whole game and it got really chaotic once it was 1-1 and then obviously (Wave goalkeeper Kailen) Sheridan got a red. Once we even scored the second goal and they went down two, it was still so chaotic, so I’m proud of the team for getting three points on the road and being able to see that game out.”
Bethany Balcer: “It’s hard to play here, the atmosphere is incredible. And again, just proud of our group for coming on the road and doing what we just did, playing against a really good team. Yeah, they’re not all pretty, sometimes they are chaotic and messy and dirty and physical, but I think that’s when you just have to have the mentality that we’re coming away with three points and that’s what we did.”
On tying the all-time assist record in the NWSL:
Sofia Huerta: “It feels good. It’s not something I think about a ton. I think, if anything, when I hear that, it just makes me think about how I’ve been in the league for a long time and I’m proud of that, obviously, this is my ninth season. So, if anything, that’s what it tells me and obviously a lot of my assists are off crosses, so the forwards, like (forward Bethany Balcer) Boats, is doing the hard job, really. So, I’m obviously thankful for everyone who finishes my crosses, especially Bethany, today.”
Bethany Balcer: “Her crosses are easy to finish, let’s not forget that. Everyone knows (defender Sofia Huerta) Sof is the best at crossing in this league and probably in the world, right or left, as we found out today. Can’t defend it.”
On scoring two goals today:
Bethany Balcer: “I mean, a little different role tonight – was more forward in my positioning, so I’m just in the box more. So, I’m available to get on the end of crosses and the first one was kind of a second phase type of ball where (midfielder) Quinn just kind of laid it in and it was kind of lofted, so I think everyone just thought Kailen was going to get it, I ran straight through it and ended up in an open goal, so that was nice. Yeah, I feel like one of the things I’m good at is just my presence in the box. So, when I’m on the field, that’s what my teammates expect me to do and yeah, it feels good.”
On not allowing a shot in the first half:
Sofia Huerta: “Our backline is incredible and even the defenders who don’t see a lot of playing time are also really good, too. So, the backline, I think, is just full of players who obviously have a lot of experience, like (defender Lauren Barnes) Lu and then (defender) Sam (Hiatt) and (defender) Alana (Cook) have really made a name for themselves. They’re obviously a little younger than me and Lu, but we’ve been playing together for a couple years now, so I think we’re really understanding each other. I think everyone back there is just really, really good, knows their role and yeah, I mean our backline is solid.”
On how important it was to get the win before players depart for the World Cup:
Sofia Huerta: “It was huge. That was something that the team and (head coach) Laura (Harvey) talked about many times this week – wanting to end on a high note, sending the players off to the World Cup. So, that was something we brought up many, many times this week and it feels good obviously to go to the World Cup knowing that the team is in a good way and I have a lot of faith in our team. I mean so many of our players are so good, I have no concerns at all when the World Cup players are gone. Yeah, it was just such a good team win tonight. I’m so proud again.”
Bethany Balcer: “It’s good to go into this three-game week on a high, on a road win – road points are really important for us. So yeah, it’s going to be a long week but now we’re going to have to rely on our depth, which we have. So, it’ll be a great time for players to step up and yeah, like Sof said, I think we’re in a really good position and hopefully we can just keep growing as a team and continue to build off that depth.”
Download here: Postgame Press Conference (at SD) • Saturday, June 24, 2023