> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Reign Steals a Draw with Houston After Resting Key Players - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-reign-steals-draw-houston-resting-key-players/ - Published: 2025-08-25T06:12:29.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:18:40.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: News, Reign, Sofia Huerta, Jordyn Huitema, Laura Harvey Seattle Reign FC picked up a point on the road on Sunday evening despite having multiple key starters watch much of the game from the bench. As a result of the altered lineup and a tough press from the Houston Dash (5-8-4 W-L-D, 11th in NWSL), the Reign was outplayed in practically every metric. But Sofia Huerta delivered a key assist to Jordyn Huitema, the 32nd of her career, to make her the NWSL’s all-time assists leader and draw Seattle (7-5-5, sixth) even with a feisty road opponent. So, how did Seattle escape with a much-needed result? ### Fixture Congestion Causes Issues Before we discuss a head-scratching match, the lineups deserve a quick look. Sally Menti, Emeri Adames, Lynn Biyendolo and Jess Fishlock all trotted on at varying points but saw considerably fewer minutes than usual in this match. Fishlock even came on at the 87th minute, while Chelsea transfer Mia Fishel didn’t see the field at all. With how aggressively the Dash defense played this game, the Reign had to find its way without some steadying presences. ### A Crucial Mistake With the Reign playing on the back foot early on, Houston's high press loomed for the entire first half. Keeper Claudia Dickey had to rush routine goal kicks, while simply switching sides of the field proved to be a challenge for the Reign. But head coach Laura Harvey's team kept danger at bay and went into the half at 0-0 despite 0.59 expected goals for the home side. Moments like a first-minute miss wide right of the goal with Dickey flat-footed and a 30th-minute Houston laser into the crossbar worked to Seattle's favor. The second half wasn't so forgiving. Just two minutes in, Phoebe McClernon looked to pass the ball back to a waiting Dickey. But the pass came out with measly force and barely made it halfway through to her keeper, as Houston winger Yazmeen Ryan continued her usual press near the ball. Ryan didn't blink at the opportunity to make all that running count, as she went the other way with the stolen ball. Ryan weaved through McClernon and Dickey for a wide-open goal, leaving the Reign scrambling for answers. The press continued through the rest of the contest, but Seattle would only need to find one key opening to get on the board. ### Huitema's Back in Form, Huerta Delivers Jordyn Huitema had been in a bit of a tough spot before last Monday's draw with Chicago, where the 23-year old Canadian forward found a goal and an assist. With difference-makers like Fishlock, Biyendolo and others watching the game from the sideline, Huitema had to make her presence felt if Seattle had a chance to leave the Space City with a result. And in the 65th minute, Huitema would get a chance to play the hero. At 5-11, Huitema hasn't been shy to admit her length plays a major role in her scoring ability. That was the case as Sofia Huerta found a rare break in the Houston press about 30 yards from the goal. With plenty of time to coordinate with Huitema, Huerta delivered a perfect ball to her forward, where only she could climb to get it, and Huitema buried the redirect to the top left bin of the goal to equalize. That moment not only equalized the game but also put Huerta on top of the NWSL’s assists leaderboard. But for a tough cross to Huitema in the 72nd minute that received a brittle touch, the Reign and Dash didn’t threaten each other nearly as hard for the duration of regulation and split the points. ### How the Heck Did Seattle Avoid a Loss? 1.90 to 0.36 on expected goals (per FotMob). 14 to five on shots. 58 percent possession. These were all advantages for the Dash on its home turf, and somehow, the Reign walked out of Shell Energy Stadium with split points against a team it lost to earlier in the season. So what gives? Both sides only managed two shots on goal despite the quality of Houston’s early looks far surpassing anything Seattle ever found. Despite the Reign’s massive mistake in the 47th involving Houston’s press, Seattle completed 78 percent of its passes to Houston’s 81 percent. Seattle was also far more aggressive with its clearance compared to the last game, in which Chicago took advantage of some sloppy defensive play in the Reign’s third to make a comeback. There was an element of luck to this one as well, no doubt about it. Multiple Houston looks rolled past the right post with Reign defenders out of position, but Seattle’s defense still looked more aggressive than it did in last Monday’s draw. ### Up Next The Reign will be right back at it on Friday night, hosting third-seeded San Diego as playoff implications grow more dire with each passing week. The urgency to try and go for three points may have been too little too late though, as game-changers like Fishlock didn’t get to see the field too much. At any rate, Seattle is just a point ahead of seventh-place Louisville and tied with fifth-place Portland with nine NWSL fixtures remaining.