SEATTLE REIGN FC at SAN DIEGO WAVE FC POSTGAME QUOTES
Friday, March 29, 2024 • Snapdragon Stadium • San Diego, CA
Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey
On her thoughts on the start of the season through three games:
“I think each game has been really different. I think the win we had, we weren’t really comfortable. I thought in Chicago we deserved more than what we got. I thought tonight we did OK, we didn’t do great, we definitely played into their hands a lot as the game wore on, we didn’t manage the game well enough, I didn’t think, but obviously to concede so late is super disappointing. If we would’ve come away with a point, I think it would’ve been fair. I think we reduced them to not too much around the goal, even though they had a lot of the ball. Something was always going to give tonight. We’ve never had a win when this ref reffed us and we’ve never lost to San Diego, so one thing was going to disappear and unfortunately, it went the other way. I think obviously Quinn and Jess (Fishlock) not being here is tough. I though Olo (Olivia Van der Jagt) and Haz (Angharad James-Turner) did really well in midfield. I thought we didn’t play enough balls that were threatening in behind them in the first half. We’ve got quite a few little niggles and knocks, we’ve had a virus go around the team, I thought you could see that late in the game, but no excuses. I thought they deserved at least a point out of the game, if not more.”
On if she felt like they were just trying to absorb the pressure as the match went on:
“Yeah, I think we did and I’m not sure that was the best strategy, I was trying to get us up the field, but like I said, I think the toll of the last couple of weeks has hit us late in the game. Like I said, we’ve had a virus go around the group and the staff, everybody has been sick. I think you could see that towards the end of the game. Obviously, a few injuries that have happened that we’ve had to bring people out, put people in. Obviously, getting Alana (Cook) back in was a positive, but Phoebe (McClernon) having to come off wasn’t. So yeah, I don’t think we were the aggressors late in the game, but games can be like that, you’ve got to find a way to make sure that you come away with something and that was something we said last week, so I think the locker room is very disappointed with the fact that we didn’t come away with something.”
On if she has any update on McClernon:
“Not yet. No.”
On if there is a shift in how she must coach with the trend of having more stoppage time:
“Yeah, a little bit. I think, again, do I think the stoppage time was tough for us? Not really, I just think the game as it wore on was challenging for us for all the reasons I’ve just said. But, I’m not taking anything away from San Diego. I thought they played well and we’ve had the better of them over [nine games] and those records are always there to be broken and tonight it was it. I’m glad it wasn’t the last time we played them. So, we’ll learn from tonight. It’s very early on in the season. But yeah, is it a challenge when you’re making subs in the 87th, 88th minute and you’re thinking they’re going to get 10 minutes max and they’ve got 15, 16 under their belt now, yeah, it definitely is challenging, for sure.”
On having a longer break before the next game and how the team will regroup:
“I mean, obviously a lot of our players go away on international duty. So, Ji (So-Yun), Haz, Lily (Woodham), Jess, Quinn, Jordyn (Huitema) will all be going away, so tough for them. But for us who stay back, yeah, I think a little bit of refresh, I think a little bit of refocus is needed for us of just reminding ourselves how challenging being on the road can be. I think three games on the road to start the season is really tough, so we’ve got to get back to finding a way where we can get points on the road because you’ve got to find a way to do that in this league.”
Seattle Reign FC Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and Midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt
On their thoughts from the match:
Van der Jagt: “Obviously, it’s just definitely disappointing to not get the result that we wanted and not come away with points. I thought that we did really well. We worked on the things that we prepared for the game for tactics, the gameplan, and I just think that it just comes down to those final moments and just those little details are all it takes.”
Dickey: “I think, for me, it’s like in a place where the momentum shifts a lot and I think we had bouts of it where we were on top of them for periods of the game and I think it’s just managing those moments, like how when they’re on top of us to get control of the game and kind of outsmart them in those moments. But I think throughout the game, obviously, we had our chances, they had theirs, it’s just about the little things at the end of the day. I think everybody is proud of what we did, everybody worked hard on the field. It wasn’t a lack of effort; I think it’s just final product and the little things.”
On not being able to create more opportunities against the Wave:
Dickey: “As a goalkeeper, the perspective of it, I think sometimes against other teams, a lot of teams put numbers in the box, which makes it very difficult – the ball bounces around, their goal is a perfect example, the goal last weekend was – the more numbers that we can get in the box, the more difficult it will be for teams to defend and I think that’s something that we need to work on more as a team, as a collective. We have great chances, we have great service, we have people that can head and finish the crazy chances, but we have to be able to get in those positions. Yeah, we’re tied and that parts exhausting, but those are the little things that help you win games.”
Van der Jagt: “I would just say, it’s definitely quality in the final third and I think that’s something that we’re definitely going to have to look at coming back from this trip and going into the other games. It’s just that quality in the final third and getting our services on target, not hitting it to the keeper, just picking out someone in the end. It’s just all kind of those little details that I think we’re really going to need to hone in on.”
On how they would rate this start to the season:
Van der Jagt: “It’s definitely not what we were hoping for. I think there is a lot that we can learn from these past two games and that’ll help us in our future and going into the season. I think we’re definitely going to have to re-evaluate, look at ourselves and just fix some problems, but I think it’s just a really, really good learning opportunity and will prepare us for what’s to come.”
Dickey: “One of our focuses is kind of getting points away from home in whatever way we need to do that. So, I think to last 95 minutes and then concede at that point, it is gut-wrenching, but it’s like those are the things that we work all week for, those are the things that we’ve worked all preseason for. I think it makes it harder in that way that it’s like, yes, Chicago was throughout the game and I think it’s little lapses and being able to pay attention for all 90 minutes, we’ve done this and we’re good enough to beat any team in this league, but I think sometimes we lose our – I think, as a team, we just lose focus at some points or we expect to win because we always have, we’ve always been successful and we can always score. But, I think when you play against teams in this league, especially like a San Diego, you’re not going to get a lot of chances and I think we need to capitalize on those moments and moving forward, we need to get points on the road in situations where we’ve made it 95 minutes. That needs to be a – we leave this place with one point and that’s all that matters.”
On what she saw on the goal:
Dickey: “I think it was a little bit of chaos. Similar to the Chicago one last week, it’s just like, clearing the ball or stepping up as a team. I think in those moments, that’s when it’s so hard to defend as a backline, as a midfield, to know where to go without fouling, basically, it’s like all these little moments lead up to that chance. All of us on the field could have done better in certain situations in that. But, I think it’s a moment of chaos and a moment of quality for (Emily) van Egmond to finish it, that’s what we need, basically, on the other side of the field. But honestly, I just remember it bouncing around a lot – good pressure for their cross, it just hit off Alex (Morgan) and then went straight to her feet. It’s like a moment of luck, but it’s a moment of they kept fighting and they wanted to score so they did. That’s all I remember from it.”
On it being their first win in 10 games against the Reign:
Van der Jagt: “I don’t really think we necessarily thought about it, so I don’t think we put pressure on ourselves. We weren’t like, we have to keep this streak going, but I think it does speak for the rivalry and how competitive, aggressive, these games are. I just feel like every time we play them, it’s a grind, it really does come down to those little things, it’s not just going to be given to anyone. I think going into a game against San Diego, we always say, we’ve got to win first and second [balls], we’ve got to compete and it’s going to take everything, we have to be ruthless and I think that’s really what this game was about.”
On if it was hard for her to see van Egmond’s shot on goal:
Dickey: “Yeah, it’s a quick moment reaction, but I think Sof (Sofia Huerta) went to step to the ball so I couldn’t really see. That’s what I’m saying, the chaos in the box, you have a split second to react and you can’t see a lot of the time. It’s a moment of quality from van Egmond, like I’ve said earlier, I can’t see where she’s going to go and by the time I can see the ball, it’s already passing me into the net. So, I think that’s frustrating. Obviously, I can look over film and figure out what I need to do to save that and put myself in a better position and honestly, probably organize the box better. But yeah, I couldn’t see.”