Bethany Balcer scored in stoppage time and OL Reign defeated the Utah Royals 1-0 on Wednesday in the National Women's Soccer League's Challenge Cup tournament.
It was the Reign's first victory in three group-stage Challenge Cup matches played without fans at Zions Bank Stadium.
Balcer's header came off Nicole Momiki's well-placed cross in the 91st minute. Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart appeared to get a hand on the ball, but she couldn't keep it out of the net. Barnhart was starting for Utah after Abby Smith started in the team's first two games.
Utah Royals FC defender Madeline Nolf, left, battles with OL Reign midfielder Shirley Cruz, rear, during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)
The Reign had Michelle Betos in goal for the first time in the tournament. It was her first game since injuring her Achilles tendon last season. She was tested early, fending off two good Utah chances in the first 12 minutes.
The Royals are playing without forward Christen Press, who opted out of the tournament.
Balcer, last season's NWSL Rookie of the Year, had a good chance from distance in the 71st minute after coming off the bench, but Barnhart dove to push it aside.
OL Reign midfielder Shirley Cruz, right, kicks the ball as Utah Royals FC defender Rachel Corsie (2) looks on during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP PhotoRick Bowmer)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Sophia Smith had options but in the end felt like she “wasn't done” in Portland.
The Thorns announced Wednesday that they signed Smith to a contract extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026. Portland says the deal gives the 23-year-old forward the highest annual salary in the National Women's Soccer League but would not disclose terms.
"I’ve felt so welcomed and so loved and so believed in, and I just felt like I wasn’t done here. And there’s still things that I want to do with this team and this club and trophies I want to win," she said. "And just with new ownership coming in, I have already felt that this club is just going in the right direction.”
The Thorns were sold in January to the Bhathal family, which is also part of the ownership group of the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
FILE - Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith (9) controls the ball during an NWSL soccer match against NJ/NY Gotham FC, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Portland, Ore. Sophia Smith had options but in the end felt like she “wasn't done” in Portland. The Thorns announced Wednesday, March 27, that they have signed Smith to a contract extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, FIle)
Smith is embarking on her fifth season with the Thorns. She was the NWSL's most valuable player and the U.S. Soccer player of the year in 2022. She was also the NWSL championship game MVP that year. She was set to become a free agent after this season and had some interest from European clubs.
“It’s a new era for us and the Bhathal family have been very clear of the vision that they have for this club. And we’re all aligned in that vision. And one of the key ingredients was to make sure that Sophia Smith was here,” general manager Karina LeBlanc said. “For her, this is a place she always wanted to be. For her to sign this contract, I think we’re eight months ahead of when she actually could have made it play out. She’s like, ‘I just wanted to get the season going and I just wanted this to be done.’”
Smith was the top pick in the NWSL draft in 2020 after helping Stanford to a victory over North Carolina in the 2019 NCAA College Cup championship. She scored three goals in the Cardinal's semifinal victory over UCLA and was named the College Cup's most valuable player.
She has scored 40 goals across all competitions with the Thorns, and her 11 goals last season — in 17 matches — earned her the league's Golden Boot award.
A regular on the U.S. national team, Smith played in last summer's Women's World Cup. She has scored 16 goals in 44 appearances since her U.S. debut in 2020.
Speaking to a small group of reporters on the eve of the team's announcement, Smith said she wants to take a greater leadership role on the Thorns.
“I don’t believe anyone is perfect or any player has hit their full potential ever. So I think for me, I want to grow into more of a leadership role on this team. I want to be a player that kind of brings everyone around me into games,” she said. “I think that’s a big thing for me, is being less individual and bringing my teammates into games, whatever that looks like, and just kind of making this team something really special and contributing to that in any way that I can.”
Smith credited the new ownership with making her more comfortable. The team had been put up for sale in late 2022 after a misconduct scandal involving a former Thorns coach shook the league.
"I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” she said. “Their vision for this club is so exciting. You can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be, and continuing to push the standard in women’s soccer globally, and making the Portland Thorns a center of that and in any way that they can.”
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