Jess Fishlock Scores Stellar Brace, Passes Rapinoe for Reign Scoring Record in Key Win

SEATTLE, Wash. — It was the grit-fest Laura Harvey thought it would be.

The Seattle Reign coach watched as her squad battled the expansion Boston Legacy at Lumen Field on Saturday, just a few precious points out of the NWSL Playoffs with five games remaining, as each confrontation was loaded with physicality.

The Legacy, third-to-last in the table, had notched a 3-0 win over the high-flying Washington Spirit just 12 days prior, punching above their weight by imposing their physical will on teams that appeared to overlook them.

But the Reign were ready. Headlined by the decision to start 39-year-old club legend Jess Fishlock in her final season, the Reign dished back the physicality by using a controlled press to dominate Boston all night, allowing the Legacy to have the ball around 60% of the time.

Then came the issue of scoring.

Fishlock, not as spry as she once was, has been a scorer before anything at this advanced stage of her career. Harvey was set to start the usual central attacking midfielder, a younger Sally Menti in her first season playing the position, but Fishlock wowed all week at training, by Harvey's account. She eschewed her usual super-sub position to play a starting role.

And in the 23rd minute, the Reign faithful got to see what had given Harvey the confidence to start the veteran.