No one said that Hope Solo and the Seattle Reign’s quest to return to the NWSL championship game was going to be an easy one.
After winning the season opener in resounding fashion, the Reign has lost back-to-back games, the first a last-second 3-2 heartbreaker to the Chicago Red Stars, the second a 1-0 defeat to FC Kansas City.
In both, Hope was plagued by her teammates on the national squad. Christen Press scored a goal in stoppage time to push Chicago past Seattle.
Days later, Amy Rodriguez tallied the lone score for KC.
Nonetheless, both games were also marked by some remarkable saves by Hope.
Press scored twice in Chicago contest, but she could have had more. Hope managed to thwart her not long after the start of the second half in this harried defensive sequence.
Roughly eight minutes later, it was more of the same.
Against Kansas City, Hope kept the game close in the second half, shutting Rodriguez down on a one-on-one:
Hope found herself one-on-one against Rodriguez minutes later, but again rushed out of the goal to swallow the ball up.
After each hard fought game, Hope spent time interacting with the home fans in Chicago and Kansas City, as has become tradition for her at the conclusion of road matches.
In Chicago, the raucous Red Stars supporters let Hope hear it for 90 minutes, but afterward, she made sure to meet and greet with them to thank them for their support of the NWSL.
https://twitter.com/justquacked/status/589612470567903232
Ok @hopesolo is the real MVP and shook my hand and others after the game #nohardfeelings @ussoccer
— moot (@94_MRD) April 19, 2015
@hopesolo thank you for staying so long to sign for the fans afterwards and being so classy with the SG. Ignore the haters 🙂
— Ruby (@RubyR_3) April 19, 2015
Hope also made the evening of several fans who’d traveled to see her in action.
Lea gets to escort her soccer idol, Hope Solo. She couldn't wait!!!#USWNT#CRS#ECLIPSE pic.twitter.com/HY2ndElYCu
— Dimitri Pagonis (@DimitriPagonis) April 19, 2015
https://twitter.com/colleenleeryan/status/589573584235802624
My Life is made I just met hope solo and she gave me her gloves!!! I love you so much!!! @hopesolo #ShesAKeeper #Solo pic.twitter.com/fe3zQCtzHh
— Rory (21-4)☘️ (@TheTruth021) April 19, 2015
I MET HOPE FREAKING SOLO @hopesolo
— mara (@Ramirezmara21Mr) April 19, 2015
https://twitter.com/BriannaRiscossa/status/589617425550716931
@Ingridium @nikhak hanging with @hopesolo #NBD pic.twitter.com/XmpXnUTxak
— Pott Rodriguez (@Pott_Rodriguez) April 19, 2015
https://twitter.com/MelissaPerez_10/status/589624149200470016
The same was true for Kansas City, where Hope stayed long after the heartbreaking 1-0 loss to spend time with the fans to came out to support her, the Reign and the league.
When Wendy saw Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe #sorrynotsorry pic.twitter.com/uAauNkpst2
— Emily Madden (@TheLittleMadden) April 24, 2015
@hopesolo we drove from Arkansas (7 hrs total) to see you play. Thank you for the autographs. #grateful #teamsolo pic.twitter.com/oEI1YieyYZ
— EyeRhene (@iksanchezjuarez) April 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/KellyLemke11/status/591433615042445313
https://twitter.com/scharbydarb/status/591430447923617793
https://twitter.com/tamlynz0e/status/591425972425125888
@hopesolo you are so awesome!! You just made this birthday girl's (and sister keeper) year!! Thank you so much!! pic.twitter.com/ALxE5M37Cv
— Marcus Hicks (@foo_marcushicks) April 24, 2015
Tough loss for @SeattleReignFC last night to @FCKansasCity but really enjoyed the fans after the game. Thanks for supporting the @NWSL!
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) April 24, 2015
NEXT UP
The Reign will be back in action on Saturday, May 2nd when they return to Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium to host the Washington Spirit.
RELATED LINKS
- Reign Recap: Still can’t solve Chicago (Sounder At Heart, April 18, 2015)
- Press outduels Solo in Red Stars win (SoccerAmerica, April 19, 2015)
- Reign FC Fall to Chicago on the road (Medium.com, April 20, 2015)
- Notes from the road: Chicago (Medium.com, April 20, 2015)
- Red Stars defeat Reign FC in dramatic style (Playing for 90, April 21, 2015)
- Seattle Reign Falls 1-0 at FC Kansas City, April 23, 2015)
- Reign Finish Road Trip with 1-0 Loss in Kansas City (Medium.com, April 23, 2015)
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