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The Cooler Guild: Captain Lu's farewell win - Ep. 52
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A dub, a legacy, and a bright future on the horizon. The Reign secured a playoff spot after beating Utah 2-1 at home. We discuss the match, rave about the team’s youth talent, and reflect on the legacy of retiring captain Lu Barnes. We also go over results from the weekend’s matches around the league and preview the Reign’s final regular season game in Orlando.
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Transcript
Introduction & Recent Wins
00:00:21
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to episode 52 of the Cooler Guild. I am Coop Cooper, and joined with me as always is my co-host, Van Crisp. Hello. We are recording on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. On today's episode, we'll get into the reigns win from Friday night that finally punched their ticket into the postseason. And then we'll be doing a look at other results in the league and then wrapping everything up with our usual match preview.
00:00:43
Speaker
But for for the next next one, obviously. But first, some housekeeping. The Cooler Guild is part of the Sounder at Heart podcast network. You can either listen to us on our public feed or if you're a Sounder at Heart subscriber on the private unified feed with the other podcasts on the network. If you'd like to become a subscriber, just visit our page at sounderatheart.com forward slash the Cooler Guild.
00:01:08
Speaker
New subscribers get 10% off the normal rate and you'll help support everything we're doing. um how How is it? In my life. Sure. well i'm pretty depressed after the mariners lost yesterday that's what i was asking basically how is it it's shit um but i am going to did make a post blue sky saying like hey seattle people there's still a team in the playoffs it's the rain and the sounders and the sounders but whatever we talk about this and i wanted to push the podcast yeah good call
00:01:42
Speaker
um yeah so i'm you know getting back in and getting this episode set up i was like all right i'm all right this was this was a fun game it was i'm still depressed but yeah it was a good game can't say that for the mariners no or at least the choice made yeah i don't know i don't watch enough baseball to critique it but it seemed like not great No, and say I would say same and like shame on me for believing in the Mariners again.
00:02:14
Speaker
I know. That's my bad. I've done it for what, 36 going on 37 years. So yeah, um I should know better. I know, but I do like kind of, I don't know.
00:02:25
Speaker
Sometimes they just got a lot of picture work themselves out of out of the situation they created. And then you bring them. But then if they get into a deeper hole, then you're like, oh, well, they should have subbed them. I mean, it was. a But the guy they brought on made it about as bad as it could possibly fucking been. I'm aware.
Game Day Experience & Milestones
00:02:43
Speaker
Anyways, let's let's talk about something, something better, which is ah the rain win. Pretty sweet. Amazing. I mean, could we have scored like a more fun goal for the second one? Sure. But yeah ah a win is a win.
00:02:58
Speaker
um We went to the game. We did. It started off. We went to. So we had tickets. And then i we also got like I got my press pass or whatever. So we showed up to like drop off our computers or whatever. um Did the first half in the stands. But we're up there early. Like, i don't know.
00:03:14
Speaker
were there two hours before the match yeah two hours before the match and we're sitting sitting watching in the field for a bit and you see this fucking um mascot on the field i i couldn't initially tell what it was but then you were like oh i think it's the paula's choice thing because that's the new sleeve sponsor for the rain is paula's choice which is a skincare company So they've got this bottle of ex like BHA exfoliant as like a mascot costume, but it has these giant Mickey Mouse glut white glove things and they've got it out there trying to kick a soccer ball, but it can't see it.
00:03:51
Speaker
Yeah, the sight line of sight's not very good on that thing. And then it also like the hand waves, the arms can't fully like extend out, which is makes it makes it kind of shake its hands weird. It's pretty funny.
00:04:04
Speaker
it's like We were dying. Yeah, because it just like they kept having to like move the ball closer so that they could see, i think, to kick it into the goal for like this video that they were making for it or whatever. Because no this was like before anyone's on the field. But it was like, I don't know.
00:04:18
Speaker
It's just a skincare tube bottle. It's like the most random fucking mascot I've ever seen. And ah anyways, ah Paul is not paying me. So I'm too too much for him. But it is. It was pretty fucking funny. It was fucking funny. We were laughing our asses off in the press box.
00:04:35
Speaker
Yeah. Do you want to add anything to our match day experience? It was really nice for me. I mean, I've been to every home game this season. um All but three of them in the press box where you don't really celebrate. Yeah. And, you know, get to like turn around and high five people and whatnot.
00:04:53
Speaker
ah So it was really cool to be in the stands and be able to celebrate that Ainsley McCammon goal. Yeah. um So that was fun. Yeah, we are fans first. Yeah. that's all this all started right yeah i love this team so that that was really nice you know for the final regular season home game of the of the year yeah to get to celebrate a goal in the run of play who so that was that was neat what about you anything else you wanted add um i mean don't want to like reminisce too much about the mariners but it was kind of cool to hear the grand slam from inside of the press
00:05:30
Speaker
Because they were they were showing the Mariners game, but it was definitely delayed by like, what, maybe 30 seconds? Yeah, it was a lot. Yeah, it was 20 to 30 seconds. Yeah. So we like watching the TV inside before the game. And i mean, this huge roars are happening um kind of because I mean, we all know it was a grand slam. So we hear the bases getting loaded just from the roars and then.
00:05:52
Speaker
Well, we can also see it the TV. Yeah. and And the press box is on the west side of Lumen Field. So all that noise coming from T-Mobile Park is kind of bouncing off that big glass window in the press box.
00:06:07
Speaker
um But yeah, we were like listening for roars. Yeah. Yeah, Vanna was just like, oh, something good happened because it was like the loudest roar we had heard. And then we're sitting next to Jada jada Evans and she's just like, oh, that's a grand slam roar. And then sure enough, the TV, like we see it several seconds later um and the man with the nicest hair on the team fucking became the hero for for one one postseason appearance.
00:06:33
Speaker
Yeah. ah But yeah, I don't know. That was just cool. i I think that's why, like, I love having our stadiums next to each other when shit like that's going on. It's like the one good thing about it.
00:06:44
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, um that's kind of all I just wanted to mention. But a general note that we had ah besides the Apollo's Choice mascot was ah Jordan Hidem was unavailable because she what had some sort of illness.
00:06:58
Speaker
I'm not sure exactly what it was. She must have gotten better because I saw yesterday on Instagram that she's in Switzerland. Okay. so Great. Well, I'm glad it's not serious. But that definitely meant that we had a bit of a change in the lineup up top.
00:07:12
Speaker
Mia Fischl got the start, which is kind of fun. She's doing a lot of creative stuff. I don't know if everyone was totally... People are going to have to guess they're getting ready for the kind of shit that she pulls off. Mm-hmm. We haven't seen her maybe doing these kinds of things consistently on the field with her little tricks and whatever different finesse thing she has in her bag.
00:07:28
Speaker
um And she got the ball in some very good places that we got to see some of the reason why we signed her for so much money with the transfer and everything. So anyways, ah notable stats.
00:07:39
Speaker
We got some cool ones, actually. I'm a big fan that we are unbeaten. ah The unbeaten streak is now at seven game at Lumenfield. It's pretty good. There's not many games in an NWSL season.
00:07:50
Speaker
And it's kind of a flip from the first part of the season. Yeah. Where we were having a hard time winning at home. And so it's nice coming back from the break, able to flip, kind of flip that switch. Yeah. The other two notable stats, the 100th NWC regular season win for Jess Fishlock. She's the second player to do that in the league history. The other person everyone should know is Lou Barnes.
00:08:12
Speaker
So we we hold both of those players. And then the other one is it was the 200th NWC appearance for Sofia Huerta. Yeah, what a stat. 50 extra games is a lot of games. Because I'm just trying to think of, like, will she be able to do what Lou Barnes did? And and then I think about, like, how many games it has to be. And it's kind of ah shit ton.
00:08:30
Speaker
But i don't know. I think she could be the other person that might do it. Yeah, we'll see.
Player Analysis & Strategies
00:08:35
Speaker
We'll see. I will say as part of the game day experience that I forgot to mention with Lou Barnes, they did her retirement celebration after the match.
00:08:43
Speaker
Yeah, they had a little ceremony beforehand too. Yeah, but after the match, they did a tribute thing and ah played a video and they actually, ah the comms people for the rain took us down from the press box onto the field to watch it. Yeah, that was nice. That was pretty neat.
00:08:59
Speaker
Adrian Hanauer came out and was kind of basking in his new favorite team. Yeah, it was a good video tribute that they had too. And then they also showed like they made like a video with Lou of like reading a letter off to to everybody posted those on the socials. Yeah, it's pretty. ah I don't know.
00:09:18
Speaker
It's pretty weird that she's actually not going to be taking taking the field anymore after this. Yeah, it hasn't really hit me yet. No, definitely was starting me there. But, you know, We made the playoffs too, so I was kind of pumped about that, which is, I guess we should just roll into it for positives. Yeah, I mean, we we won two to one against Utah.
00:09:37
Speaker
To me, should have been an expected win, but you know, this league, you never know. We clinched the playoffs. did Was i hoping for that at the beginning of the season? Yes. Was I skeptical? Also, yes.
00:09:49
Speaker
um For me, just like as the the whole of it, if you were to tell me we were going into the last game of the regular season sitting in fourth place with the extreme possibility of hosting yeah home playoff match, wouldn't have believed you. Yeah, wouldn't have believed you either. i would have said absolute dog shit bullshit. Yeah.
00:10:10
Speaker
But here we are. Here we are. Somehow they have scraped through this season in what is a coaching masterclass from Laura Harvey. Truly. People don't like to maybe give her her credit for how scrappy she's made this team and the way they get some results, but ah it's effective.
00:10:29
Speaker
Obviously. You know, and this is a year that people didn't really think this team was going to have something to put together. They thought maybe we would sneak into the playoffs. Fourth place, though. Yeah.
00:10:41
Speaker
I mean, it we'll see. We'll see where we land after ah next week. I mean, it's ah next week, but a couple weeks from now. but Yeah, it's a super tight standing. So who knows? Well, yeah, where things will go. I think we can end as low as seventh. Which would not be good, but certainly better than last year.
00:10:56
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. Other positive is we scored multiple goals, starting to get little, i don't know, sometimes I'm like, can we? Is that possible? is it against the law? And, you know, even though one was a PK, it was a legitimate penalty kick. Sure.
00:11:09
Speaker
Nobody's arguing against that. No, they put themselves in a dangerous area to get that, so. Exactly. Yeah. And there were a couple other opportunities. There were. That's, I guess, why I'm frustrated because that's kind of a trend we've had a little bit lately.
00:11:22
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, we talked about it last match where we were getting opportunities. They just need to finish them. Yeah. And if, hey, and maybe we just need these couple games to kind of work it out and then we'll start hitting them in the postseason. We got a goal before the half.
00:11:35
Speaker
Right. Which wasn't necessarily expecting. and utah Utah had the momentum for sure. Yeah. And had a couple of really good opportunities. But in the end, I mean, getting a goal before halftime is an extra time of the first half yeah added time. So I think that that really set the tone to go into the second half a little bit harder.
00:11:57
Speaker
Sure. And we were never behind the entire game. It's nice. It feels nice when that happens. I don't like being stressed about having to come back. I hate it. It's terrifying.
00:12:09
Speaker
And it's not something that I think they can afford to do ah in a postseason run either. No. ah Have they come back? Yes. um It's not as easy to do, though, when when teams are, you know, like these single game eliminations or whatever.
00:12:23
Speaker
ah Because then people will just fucking park the bus. Yeah. Let's talk about Ainsley McCammon. Oof. oof She's on fire. Where has she been all season? That kid is good. She's so fucking good.
00:12:37
Speaker
She is so good at passing. The thing that we've been bitching about for the last several weeks about not having that the right weight with passes that she made in this game. Her vision just to kind of know where players are on the field and where the space is is incredible. Yeah.
00:12:56
Speaker
And you could see when she picks her head up, she's not just looking to go back. Mm-hmm. She's seeing past players. Mm-hmm. And she has the strength to hit those balls. Mm-hmm. With accuracy.
00:13:09
Speaker
That ball ah that kind of set us up into the final third that she hit the official... And this is what we talking about with me official. And like, yeah, the kind of what we have to look forward to there. She does this like picks her foot up and tries to flick it over.
00:13:25
Speaker
Doesn't quite make it there. But that would have been. Yeah. yeah And then Ainsley had the like speed to get back up there to get in the play shortly after that, that passed from her. So that she gets the fucking header for her own goal. Yeah. Like, yeah, she seems like a like all around just incredibly talented player. Yeah. She has like all the pieces that you could ever, ever hope for. Yeah. And she got called into the U-20 team.
00:13:52
Speaker
Yeah. So and then on top of that, to have to have this huge crashing header. So good. And just place it perfectly. Yeah. Yeah. Hell yeah.
00:14:02
Speaker
Get it, kid. Yeah. First first goal, too, for her. So first of money. I like that she had her little celebration. yeah she did the correct heart, too. Yeah. But yeah, super cool. I loved watching her play this game. And I and i think she deserves to be in that midfield.
00:14:19
Speaker
Yeah. That's funny. i just I mean, we talked about this before, about how we when we signed her last year, we were all just like, I guess we're signing children now. We did say that.
00:14:29
Speaker
Yeah. multiple times and like i really had my doubts but they they kind of fuck they i don't i think all of these young players that they fucking signed from last season that we got have all been they've all hit there hasn't been a miss oh well imagine what's gonna be like in like two three years oh yeah it's exciting It's very exciting.
00:14:55
Speaker
It's i I don't want to think about it because I don't want to hype it up too much. Sure. Shit happens. But there's a reason that I'm so hyped about it. Yeah. You can see
Lou Barnes' Retirement & Legacy
00:15:06
Speaker
why they were signed at their the age they were signed. up And we can see why they were signed and how they're able to contribute in this league at you at such young ages, yeah which is incredibly hard to do. You have world class players come from other leagues around the world who take time to adjust to this league. And you're throwing 18 year old kids in here scoring goals.
00:15:29
Speaker
Yeah, it's awesome. OK, I'm having fun. I'm having a great time with this. Yeah. She seems like a nice kid, too. Like, yeah, those genes are strong, too. So like her sister looks exactly like her and she's like super small, but looks exactly like her.
00:15:42
Speaker
ah on the On the young kid note, Maddie Darlene. She's 21. I mean, we're old now, I guess. So, yeah. yeah Anyone who's like under like 22 as a kid. No.
00:15:54
Speaker
Oh, gosh. I just really enjoy watching your play. And i it frustrates me sometimes that the team takes so long to figure out how to get her the ball. Sure. Sure. And I don't know if it's because of the five back. I don't know if it's just the positioning sometimes.
00:16:10
Speaker
But when she gets the ball, she is dangerous every single time. Like this is the kind of player that you talk about when you're coaching that you can't teach the hunger that players like her have that they just want to go to goal and score. Mm-hmm. They want to get in. They want to put it in the mixer. Make something happen.
00:16:32
Speaker
And we haven't had a player like that for a couple years. i was going to say the last time it felt like that was when we had Pinot. Mm-hmm. And now we've got someone on the like same side doing similar stuff. It's awesome. Yeah.
00:16:44
Speaker
Although she's obviously more she's got more defensive prowess and um kind of doesn't allow her maybe to explore more of her like offensive capabilities and like getting up top as much.
00:16:56
Speaker
Yeah, but that's fine. But that's just like how this team's kind of set up right now. Exactly. And we've seen, you know, when that's not super beneficial to us and we switch to the four back. Yeah. Really just unleashing her. Yeah.
00:17:08
Speaker
Yeah. I was just going to say, ah there's just for some stats fun with with her, she led the team in this match or for tackles one in recoveries, and then she was third in touches.
00:17:21
Speaker
ah So, yeah, I mean, get her involved as much as you can, and and good things will happen. Mm-hmm. And big I mean, her ability to beat players one on one. And now she's really dialed in her crosses.
00:17:34
Speaker
Yeah, the assist was good. Really good weight on that touch and everything. And she was back to goal. Yeah. And then just absolutely roasted the defender to get around her. Yeah, it was fun. that She did make a mistake in the back.
00:17:47
Speaker
Yeah. Just I don't think she realized how close the attacking player was. She'll get better at that. But honestly, give it to Paige Monahan. Like it was a really good goal.
00:17:58
Speaker
and Well, and Maddie Darlene got back to defend. She did. And I was even in the sitting up there like, oh don't worry, she'll get back. she Yeah, she has the speed. were not Not a big deal. I think I said, watch her cook. then and then she got cooked and then and then monahan cooked yeah the monahan cooked but i mean ah shot at the top of the box defended that was an incredible goal i like i give it to her she's she deserved that that was well worked and you know laura said in the uh post-game presser that maddie dole was just kicking herself for that and
00:18:30
Speaker
Didn't phase her, though, in the game, really. no So that was at least nice to know, I guess. That's not going to make her crash out. Not that I see her doing that anyways, but... Somebody needs to teach her how to fall still.
00:18:44
Speaker
I know. Listen, she'll get there. But, yeah, they are... I do think the arm's out... and Maybe I need to do like my own study on players that get fouls called and like what positions they're in that get more fouls called. And then I can give some scientific research answers.
00:19:01
Speaker
And I will say she does get taken out a lot. She does. And that's what defenders have to do when you're quicker than them. Like that's what you do. You take them out and she doesn't get the calls. No. But NWSL refereeing is not good.
00:19:14
Speaker
Terrible. So you're not always going to get that call. You shouldn't expect to get that call. But no, I mean, Maddie Darlene is a rising star.
00:19:25
Speaker
And I hope that she gets some sort of recognition after this this season is over because she deserves it. What other positives did you want to hit on? I just wanted to give a shout out to Claudia Dickey.
00:19:37
Speaker
Yeah, we have to every every game. but mean, she's just such a constant. And, you know, watching watching back the highlights of the match earlier today, she made every save she needed to make in the first one in ah early, early one. Yeah. One thing that i love about her is she will catch the ball anytime she can.
00:19:59
Speaker
She's not a goalkeeper that likes to give a second opportunity or fumble the ball. Like the first shot of the game, boom, catch, down, up, we got possession. She did kind of bumble one that came into the near post, but it was right kind of next to her, and those are just hard to save.
00:20:15
Speaker
and The defense was there to clear the ball. It was great. So i this game could have gone a lot differently if we had a less reliable goalkeeper. Imagine what Bovati would have done. Yeah. not to just car yeah like not to like you know bring up the body era but like man that was a that was a ride that was a ride that was an absolute crap shoot of what you were going to get every game it was like watching fernando rodney right deep All think the last pause that we have to just at least quickly mention it, but they got the win for Lou. i Yeah. I mean, I would have liked for them to get three goals. That would have been, but I mean, there was three goals in the match.
00:20:55
Speaker
Yeah. So I guess there's that, but Lou also played the whole game. She didn't sub out. I thought they would sub her out to at least give her a moment, but nah, she's just racking up these minutes. Yeah. Fuck it.
00:21:05
Speaker
Why not? And I don't think it was necessarily planned. ah No. Curry had a little knock. So McLaren had to go in for her in the 68th minute. And McLaren had a little bit of something, too. Yeah.
00:21:18
Speaker
And Harvey talked about that in the presser afterwards about how, you know, if this is a playoff match, McLaren probably would have started. um But I think Lou did a did a did a decent enough job back there. And besides the one goal, there wasn't any real situations. ah Super, super threatening situations. Maybe we don't want to talk about XG too much, but the XG wasn't for Utah was super great. So that's credit to the defense back there.
00:21:44
Speaker
And yeah, i don't know. We did our part. ah Yeah, I think that there's that, you know, kind of unspoken leadership that she brings that we, at least I, don't shut up about. Where the defense just looks more organized when she's on the field.
00:21:55
Speaker
Yeah. So. It's a win. I love it. We do have some negatives, as always. Unless maybe someday we win 5-0 or 4-0, then maybe there will be no negatives that day. um But that's not that day. So. Today is not that day.
00:22:10
Speaker
ah top Top negative I had is we only had one goal in the run of play. It would be nice to, I mean, I think, i how would I be feeling though if that was our only goal and we didn't give up that se that other goal and then that was just the scoreline was just 1-0, what would I be complaining about?
00:22:24
Speaker
I guess I'm just getting greedy. Well, yeah, it's easy to do. You good? Yeah. Okay, just saw you make a face. Oh, I'm just clicking around because I i was going to add a negative here. Well, the one other one I put down was good chunks of the first half didn't look great, but I guess that's fine because we ah we and ended the half up 1-0. So, yeah, I'm just trying to be, I guess, nitpicky at this point. But, I mean, the the first half did not look good, and I would say the players came out in the second half looking better like you were getting super frustrated with uh mondesier for a while in the first half especially and then the second half i just like a ah flip switch did seem like with her ah switch flipped a flip switched a switch a flip a switch flip that's the one but because she was just like cooking everywhere i mean she's dribbling around players her passes were looking right and that was not happening in the first half i don't know what happened but if we could get that for a whole game i'd be really happy
00:23:24
Speaker
Yeah, it was definitely I was like, oh, I'm going eat my words. Yeah, I'm fine with that. I like when you say something to me often. I'll start talking shit and then somebody will play better. Great. who else Who else do you to talk shit about?
00:23:36
Speaker
ah Just kidding. Nobody in particular. um The rain had nine corner kicks in this match. and you And you thought you would bring that up. And we didn't really, we had one opportunity off a corner and that was um me officials header that went over, not terribly over, but I want to see more of that.
00:23:56
Speaker
Like you need to be creating chances when you've got corner kicks. Yeah. A lot of teams punish you on that kind of stuff. So why can't we? And as as a team that struggles to score goals in the run of play four score goals in general, we like These are like nine corner kicks. That's a prime opportunity to make something happen.
00:24:15
Speaker
Yeah. And I just like them to maybe score on a corner. Do you think that if Haidem was in this game, that would be looking a little bit better, though, with all these chances that we had for corners and stuff? Oh, it hasn't really helped the rest the season. No, I guess not. No.
00:24:32
Speaker
But in theory, honestly she's been more impactful defensively on corners sure in the match. So, yeah. Well, that's the other thing. Like, why can't we find Jordan Heidemann when she's playing? Like, why can't? Million dollar question. It just seems like a lost opportunity for me.
00:24:45
Speaker
Yeah, think that's fair. Other than that. Nope. That's it. Yeah. Post-match presser. Laura Harvey pointed out in the presser that they've played 12 games in 12 weeks and they've never had to do that before.
00:24:59
Speaker
they did They did pretty well with it. Mm-hmm. Not any real big long-term injuries that weren't always already a problem. Sure. um So, but i once I heard that, I was like, oh God, yeah, that's exhausting. I do feel like, I mean, not that we, I mean, we we do an episode for every match, but I feel like we have, I feel like we've just been going and going and going and going. Yeah.
00:25:22
Speaker
And I've kind of been like, fuck, when we get a break? Because it has just felt like nonstop. Imagine being a player on the team right now. Yeah. So i end you ending that 12 weeks of 12 games on a win, that's nice. Fine with that. she Laura ah Harvey also talked about Ainsley McCammon. um find about She's already a leader on the team.
00:25:43
Speaker
And kind of mentioned there was a little bit of, a like I think, an injury break right before they actually went scored. right Ainsley went and scored. And they were like in the team huddle, and she was egging everybody on. You know, we need to get a goal. We need to get a goal. We need to get a goal.
00:25:56
Speaker
Before half. Yeah, and then before half. And then she goes and scores. A visionary. I just think it's great that like your coach as the youngest player on the team, your coach is pointing out things about you that you wouldn't really maybe say so much about an 18 year old Yeah. Right.
00:26:17
Speaker
Yeah. And also for her to have the confidence to feel like a leader on the team. I feel like that speaks a lot to the the environment that Laura Harvey and and the team and the staff have created. Absolutely. Where that that player doesn't feel because you've got fucking legends.
00:26:34
Speaker
Right. You've got Lynn Biendolo. Yeah. In their greatest scorer the league's ever seen. Uh-huh. Jess Fishlock. Uh-huh. International legend. Uh-huh. Lou Barnes, you're sitting there in this group of players that have accolades that we may never see again in this league. And you feel comfortable in your first, second year coming in and being outright and being that kind of leadership person.
00:27:01
Speaker
That's incredible to me. Yeah, I think credit to, especially in this game, I feel like people like McCammon are channeling their inner Lou Barnes. um So that's just, I don't know. It's cool. That's something you get to see with every team too. so Yeah.
00:27:15
Speaker
And then McLaren and Curry both had knocks they picked up, so they weren't at 100%. And then somebody asked a question to the effect of, would we have would the Reign have won this game last year? And what's the difference?
00:27:26
Speaker
And Laura Harvey just quote said belief. And I think that's something that's earned. They are better than last year. Yeah, I mean, there's been a lot of changes. um But then she went in to talk about Lin Biondolo. Yeah, this part kind of caught me a little off guard. I mean, we've heard about it a little bit, but like she really, really was a hitting on how much of a effect that Lin has on the rest of the team. Yeah, which she hasn't played in months.
00:27:55
Speaker
Yeah. Because of injury. But she's at every match. She's at training. Like, this is an involved player trying to get back on the field who's using whatever effect they can have to better the team.
00:28:08
Speaker
Laura said Lynn is a glue that keeps everyone together and that she's filled Pino's leadership hole that was left making her Pino retired. Yeah. Yeah. which is a gaping hole.
00:28:19
Speaker
And it takes an incredible person to be able to fill that. Yeah. I mean, Lynn's a winner, right? So anything she can do to help this team that she's on, even if she's on the field, she do whatever she can do get that mindset right with everybody.
00:28:32
Speaker
Seems to working. um Maybe that's the secret sauce. Yeah. stuff that we don't we don't see as fans. Yeah. I'm kind of like if I wouldn't know. I mean, like, obviously, you know how great of a player Lynn Beandall is. ah The stats speak for themselves and everything. But I don't know.
00:28:48
Speaker
I guess I never heard this kind of side of of it that I wish. Like, imagine what this team would have been like if we brought her in like a couple of years ago or something. Mm hmm. You know, I guess I just didn't recognize that maybe at the time, but I know that also comes with years of experience that she has, but she's been doing this for so long too. Yeah. And winning trophies for so long. So I guess it's not surprising when we hear these things about her.
00:29:13
Speaker
Yeah, it just never was something that I thought was a huge part of her game. And maybe that's my own issue. Yeah, i feel like we've just never, I feel like having her on our team opens our eyes to more of it. so Yeah, but that was nice to hear. It seems like the team is kunky dory.
00:29:32
Speaker
in the locker room which you know we love to see yeah uh for the presser with the players we had uh lou barnes and ainsley obviously had to be them it was so warm in that
Recognition & Community Engagement
00:29:42
Speaker
room was nice being cold yeah it was really cold when we were out on the field yeah um it winter is coming um Anyways, everyone loves my quotes. I they i mean, we talked like I feel like the press with Lou and Ainsley kind of just became in came into talking about Lou and her legacy. and Obviously, um it's her last regular season home game.
00:30:05
Speaker
And i I mean, I feel like I was getting a little emotional just kind of like hearing her talk about it in front of us and seeing her there and just kind of knowing the back of my mind, like, damn, this is like really kind of it.
00:30:17
Speaker
Like, we're not going to be able to see her for these post-match pressers ever again. Like after, unless she takes over her head coaching job one day. But i don't know. She was gassing up the rookies a lot.
00:30:28
Speaker
And I think the dichotomy was really interesting. And just having, you know, the longest running player the game, in the league. And then this young up and coming talent. Who scored her first goal that night. Who first goal that night.
00:30:47
Speaker
Yeah. And said they won for for Lou. Yeah. That's a cool moment. It was a really cool moment. And... Yeah, I it made me emotional, like just kind of there is a sense of loss as a fan um when change happens.
00:31:05
Speaker
And for somebody that's played so many minutes, right? It's not that she's been around and been with the team her entire career. It's that she's played her entire career. She's been on the field.
00:31:16
Speaker
And we've gotten a little bit of a light introduction to that with, you know, some of the injuries that she's had this season. But yeah, it's going to be next season is going to be whole, whole new, new world. It's weird.
00:31:30
Speaker
um Yeah. um I feel like we can just kind of move on, move on, move on for now, at least. We got another game left to talk about. And we've also got next up cooler player of the match. Any final thoughts, I guess, on the game?
00:31:45
Speaker
Okay, great. Cooler player the match. The Cooler Player of the Match is brought to you by the doctor's office, a great little 12-seat bar on Capitol Hill. The owner is a big fan of the rain and is proud to be our first sponsor.
00:31:57
Speaker
ah We had a little bit of a discussion about it, but ultimately, I mean, I feel like I sound like ah I say the same thing every single fucking week. um Guess what? We have a discussion every single week. We have this. Given the win, given the legacy, given the events of this match and kind of the circumstances, think there was really only one choice.
00:32:18
Speaker
And it's going to... Lou Barnes. Bam, bam, bam.
00:32:23
Speaker
It's an extra loud one for her. Yeah, I mean, I think this just goes to both her leadership um on and off the field, on the field especially. that i don't think they, I don't know. I don't think they get this win without her, this kind of like looming thing of this being her final regular season home match, perhaps.
00:32:39
Speaker
You know, they got that gritty second goal, buried it. Wanda buried that thing. But yeah. Shout out Lou. I do want to um say I i had an initial thought before I took in the entire match and the weight of all of it yeah um maddie mercado yeah she was great we haven't even talked about that but she was great yeah she earned penalty earned the penalty she just she's fast she's a baller she's a baller and i'm sure we'll talk more about her after next match
00:33:11
Speaker
Yeah. I'm kind of getting, I know we've talked about maybe Adamus having Latsko vibes, but I'm starting to think Maddie Mercado. couldn't say it on the broadcast either. Mercado. That's probably why I'm fun with her, because just watched the stuff over again. Yeah. But yeah, she's a she's a dog out there. She really is. For sure. Anyway, ah congratulations, Lou Barnes.
00:33:30
Speaker
And thanks again to our sponsor, of The Doctor's Office. The Doctor's Office is the best place to grab drink before or after a rain match or any other day that you're in Seattle on Capitol Hill. ah Check out their Instagram at TDO Seattle or better yet, go drink there in person.
00:33:42
Speaker
Cheers.
00:33:45
Speaker
Thank you for listening to the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network, which now includes Nos Anietes, Lobbing Scorchers, and The Cooler Guild. We've been independent since August of 2023, and we've been but need your support to make sure it continues.
00:33:58
Speaker
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00:34:11
Speaker
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00:34:27
Speaker
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00:34:38
Speaker
All right, other, we're going to quickly go over things. We've been kind of going in a little long. ah There's a few rain notes to hit on that are unrelated to the match we just played. Meza is no longer going to the U.S. Women's National Team cap. I think there is a minor injury listed.
00:34:52
Speaker
um She's getting replaced by Lola Bonta. I think she's just saving herself for the Reigns playoff chances, personally. Just a conspiracy that I have on my own that I think other people also believe in. there That's what's happening.
00:35:04
Speaker
I could see that. I also think that that's, I mean, that's the reason because you don't want to go into a u s national team camp with a nagging injury when you've got playoffs on the horizon.
00:35:15
Speaker
Sure. ah But good for her. Yep. Glad she's going to recover and be ready to go when they come back. Yep. ah Jess Fishlock is retiring from the Welsh national team.
00:35:26
Speaker
That's pretty big. Pretty big. ah Though she's in talks to extend to play another year with the rain. Yeah, I think... but think i can't I can't take two retirements, and also, she's still good. Yeah, that's what was saying. She's still good, I'm fine with it. She's still really good, so fuck yeah. Bring her back another year. Yeah. ah We haven't seen much of the other last note on the rain. we haven't seen much of her this season.
00:35:47
Speaker
Maybe once I think we've seen her this season, but Hannah Glass is retiring after this season. um Just want to make sure we you know say that because she is a rain player.
00:35:59
Speaker
Don't think maybe the story. run went as well as it could have but um you know she's coming back from acl it's just rough yeah it's not easy so um but i don't know she seems well liked by the team so uh congrats on your retirement i hope you enjoy your life she i mean she's she is very she's had a successful career so um yeah All right.
NWSL Updates & Match Preview
00:36:21
Speaker
NWSL results. let's ah Let's kind of get through them. um did you we guess you didn't We didn't watch the Bay at North Carolina game because we were there at the rain game. But fucking North Carolina stomped Bay when they needed to the most.
00:36:35
Speaker
North Carolina is just on this last ditch effort to try to get into the playoffs. But they beat Bay four to one ah Did we see any of those goals? I think like we saw one of the goals. was that Wasn't there disaster goal? I feel like we saw like a really bad like goalkeeping situation.
00:36:50
Speaker
Oh, the one that went right under her? Yeah. Right? Yeah. that was the That was for Bay. right That was against Bay. Yeah. Because I remember thinking in this game, like, that goalkeeper is maybe not going to get pinched. Yeah. Because she kind of got her time and chance. She was doing okay with it, but not in this game. Nope.
00:37:07
Speaker
Orlando beat Washington 3-2. Orlando seems to be on a bit of a... They seem to get some have some good momentum that does scare me. Yeah. Mostly because we're playing them last.
00:37:20
Speaker
Otherwise, I probably wouldn't care that much. ah But given that we play them next, I don't want this moment to be happening. I watched this game. You did? hmm. Trini Robbin was out in this game because she got injured ah during the Champions Cup match on Wednesday. She got an MCL sprain.
00:37:37
Speaker
i don't know that we have like a timeline on that. They said a couple of weeks. It's a grade one. I feel like that's going be longer. But they need to take care of her. Yeah, we'll see. she's think that I think the Kane gang is like beating her up and they need to stop.
00:37:52
Speaker
Well, she and they don't have another year on her. So I feel like they're just like she's out of contract after the season, right? Yeah. So, yeah, I don't know. Maybe they're just trying to get everything they can out of her right now because she'll be gone. Two own goals in this match.
00:38:04
Speaker
One for each team. But the player who scored the own goal ah yeah for Washington, she scored goal for her own team like a minute a minute or two later.
00:38:16
Speaker
Yeah, Abello, she just facing the wrong way, and accidentally heads the ball, goes in, and then she's like, fuck. Two minutes later, goes and scores. Yeah, redemption. Utter redemption. Love that.
00:38:28
Speaker
The PK that Orlando got to win the game was absolute bullshit, though. It was the weakest fucking penalty I've ever seen. Watt just kind of flopped. Yeah, it was kind of, yeah, I don't know.
00:38:41
Speaker
Anyway. I had to be so rough in. Mm-hmm. Houston, Kansas City. Houston wins. 1-0. KC couldn't buy a goal in this game, it felt like. They fucking had they threw everything at it, and they still couldn't get something in the back of the net.
00:38:57
Speaker
I think the big headline here is Shuingo went out in the 29th minute with an injury. and it didn't look good. She couldn't walk. yeah They had to help her off the field.
00:39:08
Speaker
Like her arms are on top and she was just walking with her left leg. And then once they got kind of towards the sideline, they picked her up. Not great. She looked like she was in a lot of pain. I think some people are questioning maybe why she was still starting when they have the top spot clinched.
00:39:27
Speaker
I kind of agree with that, but I also see the side of like you need your players kind of keep in form. So I don't know. I'm not really upset with her starting. Well, and injuries like that are... They're athletes.
00:39:40
Speaker
People get injured, unfortunately. Yeah, they happen. Casey couldn't keep up on the quick transition. Had a, Brian Garris was wide open on the far post. Completely wide open. So.
00:39:51
Speaker
Good for Houston. Congrats, Houston. Welcome to the club of beating Casey 1-0. That's right. ah San Diego played Chicago. san Diego won six to one I don't know if Chicago played San Diego.
00:40:05
Speaker
Oh man, this was brutal. it was awful. Where was this performance from San Diego when Alex Morgan was there for her jersey retirement? okay ah i just don't understand san Diego.
00:40:17
Speaker
No, they're... oo i mean, Chicago was bad. They had given up overhaul they need to overhaul everything after this yeah i feel listening i feel so bad for her like and none of them were her fault it was just like nobody was doing anything Yeah, but it was bad. Poor Alyssa.
00:40:41
Speaker
ah Gotham played Louisville. Tied two to two Good point for Louisville. Yeah. And then ah Angel City played Portland and it was Kristen Press and Allie Riley's final Angel City home game before their retirement.
00:40:56
Speaker
And ah Angel City couldn't even do anything. Portland, of course, got a bullshit PK. No way. Surprise. Bullshit PK. Dive. um And then Moultrie scored from outside, just on the edge of the box. Yeah.
00:41:11
Speaker
Angel City doesn't know to defend. No. So... So everyone's everyone who is ah not there's only two teams left that could clinch a spot. So everyone else above the but above North Carolina and above Louisville, they've already secured a spot at least everything's so tight in the standings. But um the last spot will either go to Louisville or North Carolina. If Louisville, I think if they just draw, they get in. Right.
00:41:38
Speaker
uh no it would depend because louisville is at 34 points and north carolina is at 32 okay okay okay so they would both be 35 and it would but louisville would get through or actually north carolina would get through because their goal differential is okay one goal better because north carolina is at negative three goal differential and racing is at negative four who has the early game on that day there's one early game Okay, I was just making sure that they were at the same time because that super shitty if like the whole point of Decision Day, I feel like, is to put those teams, which i know they have these times in kind of ah limbo for a second, um but we do all the other games besides the first game, which is KC in San Diego, all at 2 p.m.
00:42:20
Speaker
on Sunday 2nd. It's going to be a fun day. We play Orlando away. Last game. Last game. It's on Saturday. Why did I Saturday? God, I'm just all the place. It is Saturday, November 1st.
00:42:33
Speaker
No, it's not. But it's not Saturday. Because on I think I read this from the rain thing, and it said... Why are they doing this to us? This is so irritating. It's definitely Sunday the 2nd. It's definitely Sunday, November 2nd. And it is going to be on NWC Plus for the rain. I think most of them are on NWC Plus that day. like they i don't know if they're doing a multi-view. and They really should be offering that.
00:42:56
Speaker
um Otherwise, you'll have to have one, two, three, four, five, six screens up, which might be too many. Yeah, so we're in fourth place. 38 points. so'reland is Are they sitting in fifth then? Yep. Okay, i don't know if this is like a tied point situation with them and being in fifth.
00:43:11
Speaker
It could still be, I guess. But um they' and they got 39 points. So this is a lot to play for. Yep. This is huge consequences. Huge consequences to this match. um Seattle just needs to go out and win and take care of their side of things. Yeah.
00:43:24
Speaker
And I don't want to have to rely on everybody else. No. Just go out, get three points, and see where you fall. Yeah. Do the work. ah What do you want to see in this match besides that? Like, on the field, what do you want to see?
00:43:37
Speaker
I wrote, keep feeding the beast that is Maddie Dahlian. Da beast. Da beast. You mean da beast?
00:43:48
Speaker
All da puns. We need to get her the ball. Orlando's defense isn't the best. No, it's not. They have a good goalkeeper, though. ah She's fine. She can have great games.
00:44:00
Speaker
Yeah. She can also have not great games. yeah No one's as good as Claudia Dickey. So ah get her get her up high. Get her the ball. Feed her. and I mean, I guess I don't know what the injury situation going to be. I think they'll probably go back to a four back.
00:44:17
Speaker
For us? Yeah. Yeah.
00:44:20
Speaker
I feel like they might start at a five back and just see how Orlando lines up because Orlando also needs to win this game if they want a home playoff game. So they might start all out.
00:44:34
Speaker
I feel, well, I guess my question is, is Marta starting or finishing the game? Because if Marta's finishing it, then I think they go to a five back later and they try to push early. but That's what I'm saying. yeah But if you start with a five back, you can just adjust to a four back. Yeah, yeah,
00:44:49
Speaker
I just, Marta came in in the second half this last, so. And absolutely just fucking tore. don't want to face it. oh She's terrifying. um Yeah, she wasn't, she was not happy about how the season was going for Orlando at beginning and is ready to to just get her vengeance.
00:45:06
Speaker
Which is scary. um So the, the rain need to find a way to contain her. How do you do that? Sam Meza. Mm-hmm. Really? Hopefully she's, I mean, she's getting healed up. She saw Mardit balling out and was just like, oh, I can't leave. Must contain. I got a little soreness. Gotta hurry. Gotta stay here and hurry up this healing.
00:45:29
Speaker
um but yeah if the rain and win there's a good chance they'll end up with a home playoff game which on a seven game unbeaten streak at home i feel like is super important it is it is plus i want to go so do i so for my own selfish reasons uh please um yeah i think yeah they they just have to win Yeah, I think because Jordan Heidema is going on, ah she's going to be gone with Canadian national team.
00:45:59
Speaker
um i think that leaves the opportunity for Mercado to start again. um i don't hate that, especially like you can bring Heidema maybe off the bench. think that's a fun thing we could ah we could happen happen to have.
00:46:11
Speaker
Close out the game defensively too. That would be good. Yeah, and I think what would be interesting for me is Manny Mercado hasn't played a ton of minutes with the rain. So I think strategically, maybe that's a good choice to start Mercado just so that you can have this kind of unknown entity. Totally.
00:46:32
Speaker
Just cause chaos. Yeah, I'm into it. Any other players you hope into or I don't know, is there any like strategy you think there might be going into this? Use the wide channels.
00:46:43
Speaker
I mean, that's that's why McCammon was so instrumental. She's also going for the U-20 camp. Yeah, they're children. They'll be fine. um But being able to switch the point of attack and be more dynamic about how you are building your attack, i think is going to be important because you can't just go straight through.
00:47:07
Speaker
And I think Orlando, Orlando is actually also pretty vulnerable um top of the box in their defensive play. So if we can start cracking shots when you have opportunities, I think you can have one go in when they drop a little too far back.
00:47:24
Speaker
Yeah. What about you? What do you think? I'm not much of a strategist. I guess what I'm wondering about is what the weather is going to be like. Okay. it's what Orlando can kind of be a shit show this time a year. Yeah. I don't and i don't know. i guess I'm just haunted still by both the heat from Portland and the frittata from Portland.
00:47:45
Speaker
um So anytime we go somewhere hot, I'm always just a little like worried. because I mean, they've got so many Brazilians that are just totally ready for that climate. You know what i mean? Yeah. I guess that's kind of why I'm bringing bringing that up.
00:47:57
Speaker
Angelina, i think we're gonna have to figure out how to shut her down. If we're gonna talk, if I'm gonna try to bring up something strategic, I feel like that's a big piece for Orlando. um i don't but like, are they going to this international window thing is also just so hard to know what these lineups are going to look like when they get back.
00:48:16
Speaker
Yeah, because because some of them are traveling pretty far. So I don't I don't know. I guess that's just kind of the one thing that I'm not sure of. And so maybe how deep are your benches? um i think Orlando relies heavily on their national team players like that.
00:48:29
Speaker
And that may maybe our young players who were so spry when they come back, they'll be a little bit more ready to get minutes. A lot of minutes starts, maybe. don't know. Yeah, I think our depth could could play a factor here.
00:48:45
Speaker
I think so. um Orlando has such an attacking sense team. I think it's going to be important to, and I think that's why you might start in the five back. Just because, you know, out wide you've got Carson Pickett, you've got Ali Watt up top, Ovalle, who's been really, really good for them.
00:49:06
Speaker
And Angelina is center the pitch. And then in the back, you've got Emily Sam. So... They've got players. Yeah. You have to be creative, but also direct.
00:49:18
Speaker
That's why I'm just saying let Maddie Darlene cook. Yeah, I like it.
Closing & Listener Engagement
00:49:23
Speaker
All right. I think that's pretty much gonna do for the show. um Any shout outs for the week? I'm sorry, Mariners.
00:49:31
Speaker
There's always next year. Oh, fuck. like I don't know if there is. we got like There's always like 30 years from now. Jeff. That was so funny. Waited 24 For the last playoff. so Nine outs from Weed of the World Series.
00:49:46
Speaker
and know. Heartburn. Actually, like 18. They could have done it, though. ah gene walk Twice. um On that note, I guess I would shout out my server at my brewery that I go to every pizza night, um who I was just down in the dumps after watching that game, the end of that game.
00:50:04
Speaker
And as I was going to pay my check, my server was like, I'm comping your beer. Oh, and I was like, okay, for what she was like, well, we have reasons in here we can choose their celebration.
00:50:16
Speaker
you know, there's different stuff. And there's a morale option and morale is bad. And um um morale is bad over here. So I'm giving you your I'm copying your beer. Oh, dang. i was like, thanks, Jen.
00:50:28
Speaker
So shout out Jen. She's one of my favorites there. But yeah. um Thanks again to our sponsor, The Doctor's Office. um You can always go follow us on social media. We're on Blue Sky and Instagram at Cooler Guild Pod.
00:50:39
Speaker
ah You can send us an email. We do love emails at thecoolergild at gmail.com. You can also go to our main site at sounderatheart.com forward slash thecoolerguild. Yeah, if you like what you hear, go on there, subscribe.
00:50:51
Speaker
um We get a little we cut of that, but also it's good to fund Sounder at Heart. Great organization. Great organization. um you can follow us on YouTube, youtube.com, forward slash at the Cooler Guild, wherever you're listening. Please go write five stars.
00:51:06
Speaker
um Until next time when ah we have our final regular season match. but I'm Coop. I'm Van. Stay cool, y'all. Stay cool.
00:51:31
Speaker
Anyhooser. Okay.