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Mallory Swanson had a goal and an assist as the Chicago Red Stars defeated the host Seattle Reign 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Allison Schlegel also tallied for the Red Stars (3-1-1, 10 points), who snapped a two-match winless streak, while goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made one save.
– Stream on ESPN+: NWSL regular season games (U.S.)
Substitute Tziarra King scored and goalie Laurel Ivory, making her first career NWSL regular-season start, stopped six shots for Seattle (1-4-0, three points), which suffered its fourth consecutive defeat. That skid started with a 2-1 loss at Chicago on March 23.
Swanson is continuing to round into form after returning this year from a patella tendon injury sustained last April that caused her to miss the entire 2023 NWSL season and the Women’s World Cup last summer.
The Red Stars opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Swanson picked up a loose ball just outside her own penalty area and dribbled over 50 yards down the middle of the pitch before passing to Schlegel on her right.
Schlegel then moved into the attacking penalty area before putting a 15-yard shot into the lower left corner of the net.
Swanson made it 2-0 in the 31st minute after Jenna Bike drove the ball down the right wing. Swanson took a pass just inside the top right side of the penalty area, eluded one defender and put a left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net from 12 yards out.
Swanson appeared to score again in the 41st, as she tapped a rebound into an open net after Penelope Hocking’s shot went off the right post. The goal was disallowed because Swanson was offside on the initial shot.
King got the Reign on the scoreboard in the 79th minute on a 20-yarder into the upper right corner of the goal off a pass from Jess Fishlock.
Seattle dominated play the rest of the way, but was unable to come up with the equalizer.