Quarterfinal Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. ACFC) • Thursday, October 19, 2023
OL Reign Pre-Match Press Conference • Thursday, October 19, 2023
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Forward Megan Rapinoe
On hosting a playoff game for the third straight year and the advantage it gives the team:
Laura Harvey: “I think it’s great. Obviously, travel is difficult in this league and being back home is something that we always focus on to try and get, we didn’t think it was going to be quite possible this year, but thankfully, things worked out. So yeah, we’re looking forward to being back in front of our fans.”
On scoring in the same game as midfielder Jess Fishlock for the first time since 2017:
Megan Rapinoe: “It’s great for us, obviously. I think, definitely me, that’s my job being a forward is to create chances and score goals and give us a chance to win the game. So, hopefully, we can keep that going. I think when we scored the goals, it was such a team effort on the weekend – the team putting us in a great spot to just be able to finish that. So, like (head coach Laura Harvey) Harvs said, it’s great to be at home, not to have to travel again and hopefully keep that momentum going and looking forward to a great game tomorrow.”
On Angel City FC and what stands out:
Laura Harvey: “I think, obviously, since the coaching change, they’ve been on a roll. They like to play. They play very expansively and create opportunities a lot, which they obviously took their chances last week. We play them a lot because we play them in the Challenge Cup too, so they’re a familiar opponent to us and we know that they have threats everywhere, but we also know that if we can be disciplined in the things that we like to take care of, then we can also cause them a problem.”
On midfielder Rose Lavelle:
Laura Harvey: “She’s available. I think it will be how many minutes she can play, just depending on how she feels after today, but yeah, she’ll be available to play.”
On getting back in the win column in playoff games:
Megan Rapinoe: “It’s huge for us. Obviously, this is the most important game of the season, now. This is the only thing that we’re focused on. It’s obviously one of our goals every year just to get in the playoffs, so you always want to be in the hunt and have a chance in this part of the season. So, we feel really proud about that and really excited about that and then it’s just about putting a good performance out there and just kind of leaving everything out there. I think that would be my message to the team, just enjoy it. This is the best part of the season. This is the best part of even being a professional athlete is to play in meaningful games. So, just for us to enjoy it, hopefully have a great crowd tomorrow and a great atmosphere and looking forward to keeping the season going.”
On how different this week is for her now that she knows this will officially be her last game at Lumen Field:
Megan Rapinoe: “I mean, it could’ve been the last game in Chicago, too. I definitely have thought that, obviously – do or die, playoffs, the last game of my whole life, but the last game of people’s seasons and everything is on the line. Like I just said, I love these games, these are the games that you want to be in. To me, this is the whole point of being a professional athlete and of putting all the time and work in that you do is to be in these most meaningful games. So, I think for me, it’s mostly about performance and putting my best foot forward, team putting their best foot forward, going out and giving it all – whatever happens, happens. Obviously, I hope we win and I think we have a great chance at that and playing really well and a good vibe within the group, but if that’s the last one, then that’s the last one. I’m not really too stressed about that, I’m just more focused on enjoying the game, enjoying this part of the season. We’ve worked really hard and had to dig really deep this season to get to this point to host a playoff game – that’s why you say, you never know what’s going to happen. We didn’t think that this was even possible to host a playoff game, so just enjoying that and just going out there and putting in a good performance and I think just realizing how special it is and lucky I am to be in another meaningful game and not have the last time that I ever play just be a friendly or be in something that didn’t matter.”
On Angel City’s midfield:
Laura Harvey: “I think most games in this league, midfield battles win the game. I think being able to stop them, being able to force them to do things they don’t want to do and our midfield being able to get on the ball and dominate – when we can do that, we always feel like we can dominate games. So yeah, I think obviously the introduction of (Angel City midfielder) Amandine (Henry) coming back to the league and Angel City definitely gives them experience, definitely gives them a high-level player, for sure. But, I actually think that they’ve been that way the whole time, to be honest. I think that they’ve always sort of been very fluid, they’ve tried to move the ball around, they always want to get on the ball. Obviously, we’ve had (Angel City defender) Madison (Hammond) and (Angel City midfielder) Dani (Weatherholt) here at the Reign, so we know them pretty well. Yeah, I just think in any game in this league, you’ve got to be able to win the midfield battle and if you do, then you tend to get the result that you want.”
On how much it would mean to her and the team to win the championship:
Megan Rapinoe: “I mean, I’ve been really open, it’s a huge hole, I feel like, in my career and just like what means most to me throughout my entire career. Obviously, we’ve had great teams here, some of the best ever teams here with the Reign and haven’t been able to get that one elusive piece of silverware, so that would mean the world to me. I would absolutely love that. I’ll put every single thing into it to just try to get that, as we do every year. That would, of course, be a perfect scripted ending. But, again, you’ve got to play one game at a time. It’s like, of course I want to win the championship and of course that would mean so much for the entirety of my career, but I try not to think about it like that all at one time, that’s never really been kind of how I focus and sort of what my priorities are, just try to do things day by day and I think it’s gotten a little bit easier. I think coming back from the World Cup, it was a little tough, I think, to hold it all because it’s like, I’m holding that career, I’m holding this career, trying to enjoy the celebration games, everything, which was amazing, but sort of overwhelming in a lot of ways. So, I think it’s gotten easier as I have those games behind me to just kind of focus on the day to day, which I’m really enjoying – I just like coming in to work and doing the practice in the day and not really having to do much else, so that’s what I’m focused on and I think that’s what’s going to be required of me to play well tomorrow. I think that showed in Chicago, just not having a ton of other stuff going on. So, of course I’ve thought about it and of course that would mean everything, but just trying to focus on this game and put a good performance out tomorrow so we can continue the season.”
On veteran players stepping up around the league on Decision Day:
Megan Rapinoe: “I think it’s a real testament to how much the game has progressed and how much the sort of resourcing of teams and players has progressed. Like, of course experience is king, if you can get it, but you have to have the physicality enough to be able to be out there, there’s a certain load that you have to carry, a certain amount of running, a certain amount of physical fitness and ability that you have to have to be out there. There are plenty of amazing soccer players who can do that right now, who are just past their day. So, when you can couple that both, it’s just invaluable, it’s like having another coach on the field – having (Gotham defender) Ali Krieger be a center back is having another coach on the field, having (midfielder) Jess (Fishlock) and I on the field, just we’ve seen so much, you’ve been through so many of those moments. It’s not like we don’t get nervous or don’t ever get rattled, but we just have so much experience and we just have so much confidence in ourselves and understand the game so well. So, I think you’re going to see more of it, I think you’re seeing more of it in men’s sports because they have way more resources than we do, both individually as players and obviously in their clubs. But I think you’re seeing the life of athletes extend further than what it has been in the past and that’s the medical department and players having more money themselves to get the treatment that they need and take care of their bodies and be able to extend their career. So, I think that’s a big part of it. I know I spend a lot of money on my body – it’s not quite pay for play, but almost [laughs]. So, when I can couple that with the experience that I have, both in this league and internationally, it’s going to be a huge benefit for the team and I think you’re seeing that all over. So, there’s a kind of sweet spot when the experience and the physicality are still there and it’s just invaluable to have those kinds of players on the field that can push on and of course it’s certainly a young person’s game and you need that youth around you, but when you can find that balance, it can be pretty dangerous and really difficult to stop.”
On Angel City interim head coach Becki Tweed:
Laura Harvey: “I don’t actually think that Angel City has changed too much. I just think that (Angel City interim head coach) Becki (Tweed) organized them – I think their midfield is slightly different. But I think sports a momentum game and they got momentum, they got on a roll, they started to believe maybe more, she, I’m guessing, helped with that and I think sometimes that sort of just shift of a different voice, someone walking in the room that’s just different and has a different way, can be really impactful. But, there’s not too much changed in how they play, I just think that they’ve got belief – I think they’ve got belief in what they do and results can help with that. So, I think she’s obviously done a fantastic job.”
On her message to the younger players on the team as they prepare for the playoffs:
Megan Rapinoe: “I think my message for players is just really honestly to enjoy it. Like I said, this is the best part of the season, this is what you do all the work and the preparation for. If you’re not prepared at this point, you’re not going to be prepared. We’re not doing rocket science, obviously [our coaches] are working hard to put an amazing game plan for us together, but at this point, you’re kind of baked as what it is and it’s just about the little tweaks and locking in and being focused and not letting all the noise kind of come in. It’s hard sometimes to manage stress, but I think just telling players like, ‘Listen, you’re prepared, you’re good, the team is good, the game plan – the coaches will put that together. It’s just about understanding your role, being really clear about what your role is, ask questions if you need to, but to really enjoy it.’ There are a lot of things that are really not that fun about being a professional athlete and this is not one of them, this is what you do all the not fun stuff for is to get to these moments where everything is on the line and you have to win and you have to put it all out there and you really get to be the woman in the arena. I just think there’s nothing better, so I think that’s always my message – just got out and be yourself and try as much as you can to enjoy it and not have any regrets – you don’t get to go back in time, you don’t get to re-do things. I have enough seasons under my belt, you don’t get to go back and re-do them, you don’t get to have that second chance. So, enjoy it and realize this is just one little moment in and of itself and just to make the most of it.”
On if this is the lightest her schedule has been off the field:
Megan Rapinoe: “Yeah, this is the lightest – I’ve basically said no to everything except massages and spa appointments and naps, so I’ve just been relaxing – and going to Krieger’s party, that was just a tiny one [laughs]. It’s honestly really nice. It was wonderful, I wouldn’t change anything, but you only have so much bandwidth and it definitely was taxing to sort of do all that, but amazing at the same time. So yeah, it’s been nice to have a much lighter schedule and just be able to just focus on this and rest and be able to prepare for the games that we had.
On increasing attendance numbers for tomorrow:
Megan Rapinoe: “I think our participation in getting people back was playing in the game and winning the game and taking care of business. People know where we play and what time the game is, so obviously we want people to come and we feel like we put on a great show in the last one and I hope people saw what an incredible atmosphere it was and want to be a part of that again. I always struggle with this question because it is kind of frustrating, I think this has been the case for 10 years here. We’re giving everything. It’s not always up to us how many people come to the game. So, I would push that back on the fans and the people out there and I hope people come and I hope people want to enjoy and watch the game, it’s going to be an incredible game – both teams in really good form and all the things that you want, you’ve got all the superstars and all the drama and all the everything. So, I feel like we’ve done our job in securing a home game and hopefully a bunch of people come and watch.”
On how the team brings levity in a series of high-pressure games:
Laura Harvey: “I think we’ve just been grinding. I think we’ve just known every game has something on the line and like (forward Megan Rapinoe) Pinoe said, I think we’ve been doing that to get to this stage and now if we don’t try and have that mentality going into tomorrow, we’ll be letting ourselves down. So, I think that because of the situation we were in in the league, we’ve sort of known every game has had weight on it and then tomorrow, this is what we’ve been grinding it for – to get to this stage and now, let’s go out and perform at the level that we know we can. We showed that last week. Let’s use that, let’s use that momentum, that vibe to keep pushing so that all the stuff that we put on ourselves over this past month or so, we get the reward of that tomorrow by putting on a performance that we know we can do.”
On Angel City crossing the ball a lot and what makes that hard to defend:
Laura Harvey: “I think, for them to put crosses in the box, they’ve got to be in an area of the field where they’re able to do that, first and foremost. So, I think with us, prevention is always better than cure for us, so we always try and prevent that as much as possible, but I think the hard part of crossing and dealing with that is, they’re putting it in an area of the field where it’s dangerous and dominant and I think that we work a lot on and talk a lot about how we structure ourselves to defend those moments because we know when we’re on the offensive side of that, if anyone gives us sort of areas of the goal or the 18-yard box, we’re going to try and exploit it. So, I think first and foremost, try and prevent them from being in those areas as much as possible. I think they have definitely become a crossing team over this season for sure and I think that’s just down to the fact that they have such an expansive shape, I think.”
On what she has noticed over the seasons that will make a difference in winning playoff games:
“I think it’s been an interesting journey since even when I’ve come back in the last two. I think in the first one, we actually performed like crazily well and all the stats said that if you didn’t watch the game, you would’ve been like, there’s no way they’ve lost that game. Then, in the last one, we didn’t perform very well, so I just think that if you can take care of your performance and then in the critical moments show a little bit of quality, that can be the difference between winning or losing games and that’s not different in a playoff game than it is – last week, we dominated Chicago and in the first half, had multiple chances but didn’t take them and then in the second half, came out pretty quick and scored and I just think in these moments, if you can set the tone early in the game, you give yourself a chance of really trying to get the momentum early, especially when you’re at home that can be a big game changer. When we played Kansas last time out, we conceded pretty early in the game and got put on the back foot and we didn’t really recover from that, which wasn’t quite like us. So, I think we sort of felt both ways – we had one game against Washington, we were excellent, we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net and we gave two goals up and then against Kansas, we didn’t get going, really, and our performance, we came away being really disappointed. So, I think that we felt it both ways, so tomorrow’s the one where we put it all right together and get a great performance and take our chances when we have them.”
Download here: Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. ACFC) • Thursday, October 19, 2023