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The Cooler Guild: Missing: Reign Goals. - Ep. 65
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One day Seattle will score again, Friday was not that day. The Reign fell to Gotham 2-0 Friday night at Lumen Field. With the team’s goalless drought now reaching 5 matches, we discuss our frustrations with the lack of offseason signings that led to this problem as well as the other issues the team had in this most recent loss. We also cover the week’s other matches from around the NWSL and preview the Reign’s next match.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Details
00:00:19
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to episode 65 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 Monday, May 18th, 2026. On today's glorious show, we get to talk about another rain loss.
00:00:39
Speaker
Hell pod. Yeah. Fuck. but we can Not the Al-Pod with the laugh. ah this time Hey, we lost to the champions of the league from last year, so it could be worse. ah But before we get into all that, we got some housekeeping.
00:00:54
Speaker
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 Sound 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 soundertheheart.com forward slash the cooler guild. New subscribers get 10% off the normal rate and you'll help support everything we're doing.
Weekend Recap: Coop's Adventures
00:01:12
Speaker
And we need as much support as possible right now in these dire times. really bad It's really bad. really bad. uh, you know, my, I hate how much sports dictate my mood. i truly do. um Alex is out of town. And so I, I was like trying to find stuff to do and fill my time and stuff. I reorganized all my yarn, which is great. i also cataloged it all. Um, but I also went to, ah a sauna. i had a little spa day for myself. um And i I, you probably saw the pictures, but the best, I'm sure that you would think the best part was that my friend's cat, who is always like i on the property while I'm like in the sauna, his cat was like meowing outside of my private sauna session was like wanting to come inside. and he did come inside for a bit.
00:01:59
Speaker
Love that. i mean know sorry It was a very nice, really like like i got I didn't have to think about sports. I just like got to enjoy that. And like I went in the river a little bit just kind of had like some me time to reflect on why sports affect me so much emotionally.
00:02:17
Speaker
It's rough. It's rough out here right now. Yeah.
Van's Coaching Experience
00:02:20
Speaker
Well, I mean, I coached a game yesterday and that team couldn't even score. So maybe it's a me problem. Yeah, maybe it's an us problem.
00:02:27
Speaker
Shit. It was fun, though. Yeah. what What was this game that you coached? um So there's the Cascadia Premier League, which is like a regional competitive adult competitive league. um And so the FC Olympia team has a CPL team as well as a USLW team.
00:02:43
Speaker
And the guy that coaches the CPL team was out of town and needed somebody to cover for him. And we used to coach together back in the day when we coached this like U13 and U14 girls team. And one of those girls actually plays on this team. So that made me feel really old. yeah. But yeah, he needs somebody to help cover. So I went out there and help coach him.
00:03:05
Speaker
Cool. They called two penalties on us. Well, the game was three zero, but really it was one zero. I don't think they'll be calling you up for any other job soon. It was also their first game. So, oh, well, okay. So you'll get them next week.
00:03:18
Speaker
Yeah.
Game Analysis: Rain vs. Gotham
00:03:19
Speaker
I don't think they play for a couple more weeks, but anyway, let's get into this L pod here. um Going into the game, they did. um It was Phoebe McLaren's 100th NWSL game.
00:03:31
Speaker
Was that someone else's too? No, they just celebrated. um i thought I saw something for where to Harvey's 300th game. I feel like I'm surprised it's not. She just hit 100. She just seems so like, you know, experienced. i'm But great. Congrats to her.
00:03:48
Speaker
Yeah. Too bad it wasn't better, but I thought she actually had an okay game. So ah what worked? So we lost 2-0 to Gotham. Not surprising, um but still disappointing.
00:04:02
Speaker
i I wrote, I think, halfway through the first half, or no, second half, I wrote, the only redeeming qualities of this match are Sam Meza because she's good at soccer.
00:04:15
Speaker
And then that Jordan Bug came back. It's not... Yeah, i great points. Really good points. ah Moving on. I really don't know have anything else good.
Team Challenges: Defense and Scoring
00:04:28
Speaker
I will i guess i it could have been worse, I guess.
00:04:33
Speaker
But the goals that were scored were just like very bad defensive goals. Yeah. ah just They just turned off. The defense turned off. The things that they are supposedly good at that they focus on so much, it didn't. Like, what why?
00:04:49
Speaker
Why is this not happening to us? Everything's falling apart, it feels like. Yeah. So I guess we're getting into what didn't work. Yeah, defensively, just again, that mentality just for some reason, it just there's like a switch and they just forget that they're playing.
00:05:04
Speaker
Do you think like that's related to this goal scoring drought? I think it probably doesn't help. Yeah. Because that that does as much and as much as you want to like turn a new leaf every game to try and fix that issue. Right. It's still going to be in the back of your mind. Yeah.
00:05:25
Speaker
So I don't think it helps. um But it was just so glaring that both times there was no one marking. What did you think of this lineup when it came out?
Lineup Changes and Player Performances
00:05:36
Speaker
Because we haven't had a same starting 11 at all at any game um this season. It's always been different. Did you have any reactions to like what what the lineup was when you saw it put out?
00:05:48
Speaker
um So four minutes into the game, i wrote Holmes a bit shaky to start. That didn't end well for her game. So yeah, obviously noticed that Shea Holmes was going to be getting her first minutes of the season. u hu um Also, and and taking Curry out who had a phenomenal game. Yeah.
00:06:07
Speaker
Last match. If anything, you should have taken Huerta out of that position. Sure. um And Adamez starting instead of Mercado. i get that people want to see Adamez, but Mercado really has been a huge part of the attack.
00:06:23
Speaker
Yeah, this season. And I don't think and Adama has made mistakes. And I know that players need to get experience to be able to overcome some of those challenges when they're young. Right.
00:06:36
Speaker
But it just seemed that I don't know. It was an interesting choice to me, especially when Montessori has just kind of been meh. I think that was more of my hang up on it is that I feel like I haven't really seen a lot of chemistry with with those two. So it just was like, I don't really know where this is going to go. no because every time you have Mercado on the field with Adames, something happened. Yeah, I think that's where I would have changed
Player Struggles and Referee Critique
00:06:59
Speaker
it. I feel like Coco just hasn't been performing. Yep.
00:07:03
Speaker
Calls also haven't been going her way. And then I will like totally acknowledge that. i feel like she's been getting called for things that aren't fouls. There was a lot of that in this match, especially to start. It was a really, really frustrating first like 25 minutes. There was a point where we had been called for fouls five times and they didn't have any. And I don't, I really try not to complain about the reffing because to me, it kind of does even out at some point, but it was to me, it kind of felt to me like the ref didn't really like respect our team. Like we are, our players weren't allowed be physical, but theirs were. Yeah, because there was a couple times where we had players just like taken out from the back. Mm hmm. Penalty should have been given. Yeah, penalty should have been given.
00:07:50
Speaker
we were a little bit confused about that at the game, but I was watching the replay during and you could clearly see that she got nicked. Yeah, it's it's. Like that changes everything for the rain if that's given right and they score it. Yeah. And that's so frustrating.
00:08:08
Speaker
Like I want them to be able to make scoring opportunities in different ways, but like sometimes you need just something like that to get everything kind of rolling. it just didn't happen. That doesn't happen for us. No. For whatever reason, just doesn't seem to happen for us.
Team Leadership and Front Office Criticism
00:08:22
Speaker
That's it just adds to the frustration, really. um What else? Yeah. I think at one point at the end of the game, I just came to the realization that we just do not have the personnel for the team that we need to see to win games.
00:08:40
Speaker
Yeah. Against opponents like this, especially. yeah They need to sign at one player at least two. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. I don't... Yeah, and it's like, we're yeah, we're getting beat by Gotham. We're getting beat by Spirit, who seemed to always beat us. um But we were in that game for a while, right? And we were in this game for a while. i mean, like, one goal deficit. You should be able to score a goal, score, change games, whatever you want to say that cliches. But, like, you get... Like, imagine we had, like... Megan Rapinoe in her prime, a player like that on this team, that elevates the rest of the whole lineup, like everyone who's playing on the field.
00:09:21
Speaker
Well, it stops everybody else from having to do as much work. Yeah, because they're working hard. They are. It's not about effort right now. No. I mean, Mia Fishel's out there running like crazy. Yeah. Because she's having to cover so much ah this gap in in the attacking center mids.
00:09:38
Speaker
And dropping back to have it have to defend. Mercado has been doing it too. You know, you got Adames back there. And it's just like, where's the coverage from the rest? Like the weaknesses start to show when your stronger players are having to work their butts off to cover ground that other players should be covering.
00:09:56
Speaker
Sucks. And I think that it would elevate these players that are kind of struggling right now, like Fischl, like Adames, like Mercado, if they had somebody that could feed them the balls that they need to be fed. I mean, talk about Darlene, right? Yeah.
00:10:08
Speaker
We're not using Darlene to her full potential because nobody can play the ball that she needs. We also don't have anyone that's kind of been at that high level with success, I feel like, on this team at the moment. So, like, there's not that person on the field to, like, kind of talk them through these struggles and, like, keep their heads right. So then that's when we're seeing these mental lapses in the defense,
Press Conference Insights
00:10:31
Speaker
right? Yeah.
00:10:31
Speaker
Yeah, there was actually, um I'll hop to the presser, but there was one point where Laura, okay, so Laura showed up to the press conference looking like she had just like tried to rip her hair out for the last 45 minutes.
00:10:44
Speaker
It was all over the place. And I was like, same girl. Um, At one point, Laura was talking about how Gotham has players that know how to win because they've been in big games. They've been in European championships. They've been doing these things. And she said, and that's what we need.
00:11:00
Speaker
and And hinting at that. Agreed. I'm like grasping for straws trying to see what she thinks and what she... And I feel like this is one thing that I kind of finally got a little hold on where she's like... Just calling out the front office. Yep. in it's some way i mean i feel like she has been calling them out when she says we're missing a little bit of quality but this this is this is something for sure god i was this player presser um the players came second because they had showered and everything but it was um has and mezza
00:11:33
Speaker
And I like has she came out and this was much more real than I've seen after these disappointing losses. um you know, she said she's disappointed and frustrated, frustrated with the performance and the result.
00:11:47
Speaker
And I was like, Oh my God, somebody is being real. She's been in big games though, to be like yeah fair. She said we have standards and we're not meeting them right now. gha Yes. Yes. But it's only like, finally, somebody is like being a little bit real here.
00:12:02
Speaker
um Sam has at some point said, well, it's only up from here. got i love her. So you know it's bad, as bad as it can possibly get. I got it. It was so great. At one point, ah Grant asked the players. It kind of pointed out that Sam mezz has been the standout star for the season. Yeah. and she did not know how to answer. She she was kind of has answered for her yeah and like i was just like just like agreeing with like her being great she was just like she been like turned red that's so funny just like yeah like yes you're very good um don't leave us but has said you know she drives the team forward and they have to match that it's like yeah you do you're not we're dating
00:12:55
Speaker
I feel like when we keep having these kinds of results, you have to like reflect a lot and also do some deep thinking about like, I guess there's a bigger issue here.
00:13:06
Speaker
There is. And it's the front office. It's Leslie Gallimore. And I did come to the realization that there's a lot UW representation on this team. And UW is not even a very good team in the NCAA.
00:13:22
Speaker
h Not the women's team, at least. No. Metagrade. But and you have to wonder, why are you picking the easiest possible target? like ah Do you know how to do this job?
00:13:35
Speaker
You're playing against a team who brought in Guru Wrighton, right? And you're like, oh, here's some non-standout player that did wasn't even an All-American yeah that you're trying to play in the midfield. Sally Menti, right?
00:13:51
Speaker
Get us something better. but Or at least have a player with these developing, like, because, like, these players in theory are, they're not they're not the best players at this point, right, in their careers. Right, but we're getting all of these. You're just stacking these onto us and not giving us a fucking shining light. and No, not giving them another player to learn from. Yeah, you're not helping them in any sense. The development is, like, stalled when you don't have bigger names with them.
00:14:18
Speaker
Exactly. So you have to have balance to that. If like Phoebe wouldn't be Phoebe without Lou, right? Yeah. And like if Sally Menti had a mentor of a bigger caliber player, then maybe that changes. But like she doesn't have that right now.
00:14:34
Speaker
I mean, Jess Fishlock's not playing right now. I also feel like we know that Jess Fishlock's like she's going to retire. She was never getting any younger. So like, why were they not working on figuring out who's going to replace her?
00:14:47
Speaker
Because she because Lizzie Gallimore wants to hire, wants to bring on people who she likes their families. She knows them. She recruited them. Or players that have reached out to her.
00:14:59
Speaker
it's She's not doing her job. We're not in the conversation for these big signings when these players come up. And we need to be in that conversation. Yeah. It's a little too personal, it feels like at times. That's exactly what it is. too hunky-dory.
00:15:14
Speaker
ah They're paying the price for it now. They're also paying the price for it, not just in perfl flake results in going down the standings. are now, what, in 11th place? Yeah. um Their attendance isn't doing well. Attendance isn't good. Laura's getting heat. Yeah.
00:15:31
Speaker
and i just it' It seems connected likely to the lack of ah ambition with the roster building. And and that's that's to me what it feels like.
00:15:43
Speaker
I don't like it. Yeah. I didn't like it. the players don't deserve it.
Recruitment Strategy Critique
00:15:47
Speaker
That's the thing that pisses me off. is it Yeah, the players deserve so much better. Yeah. Like these players are working their asses off. I love this team. I love these players. Don't get me wrong, but like they need more and they deserve to have, this is the NWSL. You have, this is the best women's league in the world. Like bring in players that we see all over the league into this team. Why can't you do that?
00:16:11
Speaker
It's been so long. and Because you're not good at your job. I feel like it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to call her out like this, but it's not good enough. Yeah, I agree it's not good enough. And you have over 6,000 people that are having sit and watch this at the game. Week after week after week.
00:16:29
Speaker
um I pulled up some stuff. um I feel like the club lately has been trying to take some big swings with bringing in players. It's never been obvious that these players are going to hit, but they're taking big swings. And I don't know that any of them a hit, um at least for us, in terms of long-term success for the club. ah G came in. We were all like, this is kind of confusing, but I guess maybe it'll work. Didn't work.
00:16:59
Speaker
AMC was like, oh, okay, maybe. And I did really enjoy it. Like, I enjoyed all these players, but they're coming into this team and they're hyping them up as if they are going to be difference makers. And I feel like we're not, like, there's not, they're not actually getting players in their prime. And I just don't understand how you think that's going to be good enough in this league. Like, they're sometimes four plus years past their prime.
00:17:24
Speaker
And, like, your hope is to maybe, maybe they'll get back to that. And that's not going to happen. Yeah, meant mentally, they can be solid. They can be good with leadership. But like, they don't have the legs to be doing those kinds of things anymore.
00:17:38
Speaker
No. And it's just, I mean, you could even say the same thing about Lynn, right? You could absolutely. I mean, i have i had a list of former players and current players. Current players, I did have Lynn on that list. Former players, and i also included players that like, these are players that like, I thought when they came in, like, I did i was confused by the moves and then they ended up not working out at all.
00:18:01
Speaker
um Hannah Glaston really contributed a ton. I love Jordan Heidemann. I do think she was very valuable, but like production wise wasn't there. Lily Woodham, Jalen Howell. Now we're watching Jalen. Like who, why did you let Jalen Howell go to Gotham?
00:18:19
Speaker
Like we are seeing her ball out and somehow the rain let her go. and that is the exact kind of fucking player we need right now. Yeah. Yeah. That was really frustrating to watch last game, honestly. Angelina, I mean, know she left in free agency, but that's another player that I would have really enjoyed. And like, maybe you can't prevent that because she's got all these Brazilian players she wants to go play with in Orlando. I get that. That's totally, you know, fine. Luani, don't know what happened with that signing. ah Lavelle and Sonnet, its own tricky little situation as well, but that was difficult to watch leave. Elise Bennett didn't really hit. Seemed like that was supposed to be something that took, didn't really take.
00:18:55
Speaker
Um... Coco isn't performing well lately. She had a few good games, but like they extended her contract and she's not staying at that high level that we've seen her capable of,
Coaching vs. Recruitment Debate
00:19:05
Speaker
at least. I don't know. I just I'm I'm kind of I'm just really, really frustrated that we've been seeing this happen for several years with just these signings that it's like, um,
00:19:19
Speaker
Yeah. who's Who's been the GM that whole time? Yeah. It's like people want to blame Harvey. And I'm just like, I think this is a deeper problem than that. um I don't think. Can we get Bill Predmore into the GM position? Does he want to do that? I just, I can't, like I can't look at the coach until I see her have a team where I'm in like someone else can do something with this team and and it ah and it'll work. I just. Yeah. That's the thing. Like if people really want to blame Harvey. Okay.
00:19:46
Speaker
What would a different coach do? Yeah. I can think of what a different, like, different signings we can make. And that just, that kind of lies on one person. Mm-hmm. And, like, I get Leslie's respected figure in this community and everything like that, but i just think the ambitions of this club need to be bigger. Yeah. And now that we have...
00:20:07
Speaker
you know sounders have a stake in this as well i just feel like i need somebody step up and realize this isn't good enough we need to make some changes i think part of the problem might be from what i've heard um is that adrian hanauer is very loyal he is yeah and leslie is probably somebody he's trying to be loyal to If that's the case, that's fine. I think she, I do think there are some good players she has brought in. Like we're just calling out the ones that didn't work, but there, if, if he really wants to keep her in the space, he needs to find a different role. I think um we saw this kind of same, maybe not the exact same thing, but we saw ah kind of a similar thing in Portland, right. With their GM. um And they just gave her a different job, you know? um And I think that might need. That's fine. Get me somebody that wants to get players in that wants to make this team better. Because I don't feel like that's what's going on. There are so many exciting players in women's soccer right now.
00:21:06
Speaker
Like, and we're just watching other teams sign them and build these crazy rosters. I know if some of them might be breaking the rules, but like, where is that for us? Like, I need at least one or two of those players because people do not want to come to games if they don't get to see those players. And you've got the World Cup on the horizon.
00:21:24
Speaker
Yeah. If you're not getting players in that make the game exciting to watch. Yeah.
Fan Frustrations and Expectations
00:21:29
Speaker
it's it's extreme it's It's frustrating. yeah We are frustrated. And we're very passionate and we love this team. And I just, we want the best for this team and these players because we do think they deserve that.
00:21:40
Speaker
and don't think it's blow up everything situation. it it might go that way soon. Yeah, if players want to leave because they're not getting any help. Yeah, you don't want to lose Semesa. You don't want to lose Claudia Dickey.
00:21:52
Speaker
Like, these are players that I think want to be on a championship caliber team or at least a team that can compete. in its And they deserve to be on one. Yeah, they just need some more, you know, quality on the field. Yeah.
00:22:07
Speaker
Agreed. ah don't, I really don't like having to um call out people, but it it it just seems like there's a... It's time.
00:22:18
Speaker
it's It's been a while. It's been a while. And I'm tired. And I want to win! and I want to win. I want the players to be happy. and i want them to score goals. I want the fans to come out. I want the fans to be excited about the team.
00:22:31
Speaker
um I want fans to be able to go see world-class players. you know like The city deserves it. The other players on the team deserve that. and I just really want what's best for the success and this of this team. so yeah That's not happening right now, and I don't see that how that's changing. I just don't.
00:22:48
Speaker
but Yeah.
Humor Amidst Struggles
00:22:50
Speaker
Yeah. You want to add anything else before we go into Cooler Player of the Match? Now we're in a really great mood? No, I think that's it. Yeah. um 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.
00:23:11
Speaker
So... I don't know if this is on the broadcast, um but prior to the match, they honored Laura Harvey with a framed photo of like, it was like a celebration photo, but they used pictures from throughout the years to make up the photo. It was really well done. Whoever the person in the front office that made this, kudos. This was great. um But they go out there and they hand it to her. And because they've got the grass on there now, the sprinklers come out.
00:23:44
Speaker
So the sprinklers hit her and the photo. I was like, well, this is not starting good. And now we know it was a warning sign. And then they threatened to sing Laura Harvey happy birthday because it was Laura's birthday. Oh, God. She ran out.
00:24:02
Speaker
She just took off. Yeah. Yeah, good call on that. So clear play the match goes to the Lumenfield sprinklers for trying to warn us not to be hopeful. pretty dire right now. um Thanks again. But you know where it's not dire? At the doctor's office where you know can go have a nice cocktail um and re reminisce about when things weren't as bleak. um So thanks again to our sponsor, the doctor's office. The doctor's office is the best place to grab a drink before or after a match. Or any day now. Because...
00:24:34
Speaker
You don't need a reason these days. No, you don't need a reason. um Check out their Instagram at TDO Seattle or better yet, go drink there person. Cheers. Cheers.
00:24:45
Speaker
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00:24:58
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:25:26
Speaker
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00:25:37
Speaker
Did you have any other final thoughts? I just I don't i i think we covered everything that I had in my final thoughts. um I'm probably going to do a little bit of a deeper dive, i think, on like numbers and players that we've brought in and the lack of contributions, it feels like from some of. what seemed like should have been key players to over the rain. um But I just want to like reiterate, I don't think the team isn't trying. And it's not that I think everyone is really bad.
00:26:04
Speaker
I just really, really think they need an attacking midfielder that is has an insane pedigree and has had success and is a proven winner. And we'll come in here and we're not going to wonder if they're going to get back to their prime. I need to know that they're in their prime. Like I truly need them to be in their prime. And I think the fact that that hasn't happened for so long concerns me. And I think someone needs to be held accountable.
00:26:32
Speaker
ahreious I just feel like at this point, it just does. I don't see how this improves without that kind of signing. I just feel like it's maybe too little too late. Yeah. um This is, I don't know. Yeah. That's, that's how I feel.
00:26:45
Speaker
Yeah, I think it needs to be reiterated that it's not for a lack of effort, right? You can tell that the players are trying and that they want to win. they want to believe in themselves too.
00:26:56
Speaker
Yeah, it's hard to do. I feel like you've got the culture correct. You've got the coaching correct. You don't have, but you're not given the tools on the roster to do it.
00:27:07
Speaker
Yeah. And that's, it's just, it's maddening. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we saw moves all offseason for other teams. We just sat there and twiddle our thumbs.
00:27:20
Speaker
Yeah. It's just, yeah. ah Well, um I think it's time to move on. Maybe things will go better the next game.
Opponent Reviews
00:27:28
Speaker
Maybe they won't. We'll see. um What happened over the weekend in the in the league?
00:27:33
Speaker
um Casey beat Houston 3-0. I wish we could have beat Houston. Well, I wish Jane Campbell would have had this game against us. um It was bad. She caused the first two goals.
00:27:44
Speaker
don't know. Um, the first one was even an own goal cause she couldn't catch the ball. Um, Oh And then she came out on the second one to take a ball off a player's foot and couldn't grab it. So it bounced off.
00:27:58
Speaker
And so she was out of the goal. It was past shot goal. Uh, and then chewing it just did chewing gun 68th minute. So that was chewing score two and Jane Campbell had an own goal. Um, Bay tide Boston.
00:28:10
Speaker
That red card in that game was gnarly. I am so glad we don't have to play her. i am so glad we won't have to play her. i Truly, that was like like scarred me seeing that happen. And it wasn't even as bad as it could have possibly been. It was like a two for two. So Bianca St. George ah goes in for a slide tackle after after she takes a bad touch and is trying to recover the ball. Slides in, her bottom leg that's tucked under rolls over the player the player's ankle and the top leg studs up, goes straight into the thigh.
00:28:44
Speaker
Who was that? That was on, it was a U.S. National Team player. I think it was Hutton, yeah. Yeah. Because we I remember thinking, oh, Canada's already up to shenanigans. Yeah. yeah that was my thought um she wasn't more hurt yeah but so that was in the 42nd minute that that red card and then uh bay scored in the second half bailey scored um and then gutierrez for boston scored a penalty in the 64th minute ah San Diego beat the Spirit.
00:29:13
Speaker
ah Trinity Byers, who it's our first start in the NWSL and she scored her first NWSL goal in the sixth minute. Rebecca Bernal scored for Washington in the 33rd minute and then Kimmy Ascanio in the 86th minute.
00:29:25
Speaker
This one was bad. It was corner kick and MacGyver came out to punch it away and just missed the ball and it went to the player behind her. Boom. End of the goal. Oh, God, this result's bad. Next one.
00:29:37
Speaker
Yeah. ah North Carolina 4, Chicago 0. Oof. oof Goals in the 48th, 61st, 65th, and 86th. ah My note for this match was ah Sanchez should come to the reign.
00:29:50
Speaker
that's ah'd be That'd be pretty big. That's the kind of player we need. and That's the kind of player we should be going for. It is. I don't know if North Carolina's dumb enough to to let her go because she's a cheat. They're not but that's the type of player. Yeah.
00:30:04
Speaker
um Denver beat Orlando 3-1. That's big result. ah they I've been calling this player Gaetano, Gaetino, but they called it called her Gaetino in the broadcast, so that must be it. 11th minute, scores for Denver. Denver got a penalty, and Janine Sonis scored it in the 54th. Banda came back, got one back for Orlando in the 76th, and then Sonis scored again in the 77th minute.
00:30:29
Speaker
She's a dangerous player. um There was another red card in this match on Angelina. saw that. Hair pull. What's with that these days? I don't know. people Players are getting more grabby. Hair's getting longer to set up.
00:30:42
Speaker
Hair's getting longer. The hair is growing and that's actually why they can't stop. This was Denver's first ever home win. Wow. So good for them. I guess. I did watch the Portland Angel City game. Oof.
00:30:55
Speaker
And ah the only the 0-0 draw here. The only redeeming performance of this match was Sarah Gordon. Man, I really wanted her team. balls out on the back line. She's so good. I love her. Me too.
00:31:08
Speaker
ah Utah beat Louisville 2-1. Utah, top of the table almost. They're on fire, man. They they look so fun. They do. ah What's fun? Well, the first Utah goal was actually an own goal for from Malay, 22nd minute. um Keila Fisher got one back for Louisville in the 68th minute when they were trying to play out of the back and Tejada gave the ball away.
00:31:34
Speaker
Boom goal. And then Tanaka scored in the 77th minute, of course. So don't feel bad about losing to Utah. They're in second place. Yeah, that's true. They've been really good. bus That's kind of like...
00:31:47
Speaker
the I mean, the issue is we cannot compete with these really good teams. Right. I mean, we're not even beating bad teams, but like I'm like we we we are losing to like the top teams and that it's like we're literally losing to all of the top teams.
00:32:02
Speaker
We're losing to everyone at this point. though Yeah, definitely. And that's not good. But it's it's just like this is not this is not how things usually go for Laura Harvey. Yeah. And it's like, I just, I'm like, what's missing? Oh, literally players. Players. Um, um,
00:32:19
Speaker
Yeah, ah things are not going great in the standings, but the good news, if we want to find any bit of good news, is we're playing Boston next, Boston Legacy, Boston Nation.
00:32:31
Speaker
Bam, bam, bam. Our next match
Match Preview: Rain vs. Boston
00:32:34
Speaker
is against them. Friday. It's funny. I think Ryan put it in wrong. He had Sunday, May 22nd, but it's on Friday, May 22nd, 5 p.m.
00:32:42
Speaker
ah it's a We just found this out today. I mean, maybe you knew this. centerville bank stadium which is in rhode island yeah maybe they should have been the new england legacy there's a rebrand because in way third time's a charm yeah ah Sounds like they're gonna be there. Well, I guess it's because the World Cup stuff too. So, um but yeah, they're going to be there for the rest of the summer. It sounds like um that game will be on prime video and on the radio, 950 KJR AM.
00:33:13
Speaker
ah Since what do you, what do you, what do you, ah what do you, what do you think is going to happen in this game? So we were just on the Boston podcast and they asked us to do a score prediction i I think we have to get a goal in this game. I don't care if Phoebe McLaren and has to go up and score it.
00:33:38
Speaker
There was a point where she was like playing right mid at one point during the last game. And I was like, you know what? I don't care. You go for it, Phoebe. Yeah. I saw some people saying that they just saw her yelling at everybody.
00:33:51
Speaker
what do we are what did, yeah. i was like, what do you, do you think that's a problem if she's yelling at everybody? But it's like, I feel like she's trying to like be the leader that it seems to be missing on the field.
00:34:02
Speaker
Um, I don't know. She's fiery. She's yeah. Passionate player. Um, I agree with what you wrote in here. Get a point. Literally anything would be great. Yeah.
00:34:13
Speaker
My prediction on the podcast of your own which was called the Swan Dive. You're fun people. I predicted that they would win this game 1-0. from From what I've learned from talking to the Boston people, is it's that um they're a little leaky in the back.
00:34:29
Speaker
Sounded like a lot leaky because they have still yet to get a clean sheet. Yeah, so this is the kind of game... If you can't score in this game, then what the hell you doing? Yeah, there's no excuse. Yeah. Like, we played Ann Katchenberger.
00:34:43
Speaker
that That was difficult. She made, like, a really good save in that game. We should have had a penalty. You know, like, there's all these little circumstances that just keep piling and piling and piling. They should be able to overcome those things, and that's where they are missing that key player with quality um to overcome those those things. But, yeah after hearing that they're a little leaky, i think they'll finally break this streak, knock on wood. ah And also, Van paid a witch officially. Yeah. I've forgotten to talk about this. Yeah. I think the witch will come through. i don't know. I feel like the defense is going to be so angry at themselves too after what's happened the last couple games. Granted, those really, really good teams, but expansion side, who's leaky in the back, like just take it to them, please. Yeah. Get a shutout score at score goal. Yeah.
00:35:37
Speaker
I know it's a big ask these days. I do think they're capable of it Who do we play after that? It's the spirit again, isn't it? fuck my life. Yeah. When do we play Chicago?
00:35:50
Speaker
ah Fixtures. So we've got Spirit. or Yeah, so it's just Boston Spirit. So yeah, this is... I mean, if they're going to get a win and or something out of these last two games, it's going to be this one.
00:36:07
Speaker
It's got to be this one. It's got to be this one. Because that's a that's a tall order going to Washington. all Are they but they're probably just... do you think they're going to come back home? Maybe they'll stay on the East Coast and regroup mentally, emotionally. Yeah. I think at this point, I just, I don't know what to expect. I want our best lineup. What is that? I don't know.
00:36:29
Speaker
What do you think? mean, like, what needs to change in this game from the last game? i think you take Coco out. and You start Adamez and Mercado. Get Curry back on the field, please. needs to be on the field,
00:36:40
Speaker
And also, like, I understand that that Laura Harvey wanted a left-footed left back, which is why she had Holmes on. Yeah. Why do that when Ryan Brown's right there? Yeah, I don't.
00:36:52
Speaker
but Anyway, um I hope the defense gets their stuff together. ah Maybe we get bug more time. Yeah, bug starting would be awesome. That would be a great help in the distribution department. Indeed. Maybe we get a bug bomb. Maybe that's the break we need.
00:37:09
Speaker
You know, I was thinking about the last time we scored goals. Let me see their fixtures. I was thinking about the last time we scored goals. It was um it wasn't even like the team was really good. it was like the goalkeeping was really bad.
00:37:24
Speaker
Well, yeah, that was like the, was it the Louisville game? Yeah, it was Louisville. And then the game before that was, you know, against KC. Like, we haven't done shit this year for scoring goals, really. No. Yeah, we really haven't.
00:37:39
Speaker
It's actually really depressing when I look at the rest of the schedule. And I say if we're not scoring and you get into the 60th minute, put Britt Radcliffe on. Yeah, sub sooner. We did get a halftime sub this game.
00:37:52
Speaker
And I was like, I saw a Mercado warming up and I was like, oh, we're going to get a halftime sub? Kind of jokingly. The girl sitting next to me was like, no way. and then I was like, called it.
00:38:04
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I get this. Like... i I feel like I understand so much about what is being done in the game sometimes. There's just limited resources and personnel.
00:38:17
Speaker
Yeah. You know, it's just tough. It's tough. You have to work with what you got. Right now we don't have enough, it feels like. I know. And sometimes it feels like you're like trying to think big brain, right? And you have to come up with something, something wild and hasn't been working. you know, it would be wild though. Just signing someone who's really good.
00:38:37
Speaker
That would be so wild. Let's get crazy. Crazy. ah All right. Yeah. Do you have anything else you want to add on to any of this? Shout outs? I do want to mention one thing. um i was talking to Jane about this before the last match.
00:38:52
Speaker
There's another podcast about women's sports in Seattle. I'm not going to name names. Um, and the woman who does it posted a video about how the kind of talking crap about the Royal
Defending the Royal Guard
00:39:06
Speaker
Guard.
00:39:06
Speaker
Oh no, that's not good. Um, and talking down the attendance and mind you, attendance hasn't been great, but she was comparing it to the rest of the league. And I'm like, the rest of the league is not just Portland.
00:39:19
Speaker
Get your head out of your ass. You're obviously not watching the games because I'm watching the games every week. And I can tell you there are teams that constantly pull pull less fans than we do. Where are you getting your numbers? You don't you don't even know what you're talking about.
00:39:31
Speaker
And just came at this conversation with this tone that was very demeaning. And supporters group had to like wrote a comment on it. Granted, this video had like 15 likes, so it's not like a huge deal.
00:39:42
Speaker
But it just made me angry that somebody who supports supposedly like covering sports for women's sports for Seattle is going and going to comment that conversation from a like, oh, my God, look how bad this is. Instead of like, hey, like we should be doing more. Like, let's get people out to the games.
00:40:00
Speaker
And it it just rubbed me the wrong way and it pissed me off. I think that's fair. I'm curious. You can tell me later. Yeah, it's like you can tell me who this person is. It's not. i Yeah. I mean, and I feel like we've done deep dives into like the struggles with the rain and why. And why are you talking like the thing that got me to is that you're talking crap about these people that come religiously every single game and are the best supporters of the team. Yeah.
00:40:28
Speaker
And you're like, there was like four of them there. I'm like, girl, no. Why aren't you talking to the people, the 20,000 people that were at the Sounders game the day before? Yeah. Who didn't want to show up for the women. yeah you're just talking you're you're going at this the wrong way and it and it really made me yeah and then if you want to like go down that road like why did the sounders fans not come to the rain game and it's like well it's because they don't have an exciting team because they haven't made these signings and it's like oh well well let's just actually look at the root of the problem maybe um yeah instead of just trying to do yeah instead of being an asshole and like being a bully like that's just not welcome that's not welcome in these spaces No, it's not. And I felt bad for the supporters group. um
00:41:07
Speaker
They do a lot of work. Yeah. And try their damnedest with whatever people show up. Yeah. More people should join the supporters group. Yeah. It's rough out there right now as a Reign fan. Sure
Neighborhood Cat Stories
00:41:20
Speaker
is. But don't go making it harder. No, no, that's not. there's That's fucked up.
00:41:27
Speaker
Anywho, ah do you have any positive shout outs? The cat from the sauna? The cat from the sauna. um I don't know if you've ever talked about this before, but I sometimes go on, well, every, I go on walks. My dog likes to look at the cats.
00:41:39
Speaker
Like she like loves to look at the cats and like stare at them. It's like in her breed. She just like wants to like watch them and like kind of herd them, but she'll just like watch them from like a close distance, but still a distance and stare at them. But like, I'll try to like, there's a cat street that I call Kitty Street and I'll walk my dog around Kitty Street. But like people have like their like, you know, cameras outside. and i i yeah I cannot imagine how many videos I'm on of me just like cat calling, like literal literal cat calling. I'm just constantly cat calling on this like one block. I'm just like kitty kitty.
00:42:12
Speaker
um But yeah, there was there was a nice cat ah yesterday that my dog got to really enjoy. So shout out to that cat. His name is Cinder. He's very haggard. um He's had a very rough life from what I've heard. i will not be surprised when he's not there one day because he's very old and haggard.
00:42:32
Speaker
um But he tolerates my dog and it's very sweet of him. Nice. He's got like a snaggle tooth kind of thing going on. I heard he fell out of a truck ah and like during a move like and then somehow found its way back to the owner like many, many miles away in a different house. Like a Homeward Bound situation. Yeah, truly. Homeward Bound with this like haggard cat, this black cat. It's really cute.
00:42:56
Speaker
It's kind of... minute then One of the neighbors hates it because she's like, he started being mean to my cat when I started giving him wet food. I'm like, well, that's on you, girl. Yeah. ah I'm sure he'll really appreciate this shout out. Yeah.
00:43:12
Speaker
ah yeah Well, I think that's going to wrap it up. ah ah Sorry to anyone who is ah upset that people need to be held accountable. um Thanks again to our sponsor, of The Doctor's Office. You can go follow us on Blue Sky and Instagram at CoolerGuildPod.
00:43:30
Speaker
can send us an email. We love an email at thecoolerguild.gmail.com. You can also visit us on our main page and read all the Writers of the Valkyries content at sounderatheart.com. Our page is sounderatheart.com forward slash the Cooler Guild. How funny it would be if you got an email from ah from the GM.
00:43:47
Speaker
really funny girl i'll bring it well you can come on the podcast tell me what you're doing yeah uh you can go follow us on youtube youtube.com forward slash at the cooler guild uh wherever you're listening please go rate five stars i'm coop i'm van stay cool y'all stay cool
00:44:28
Speaker
You and your dad's root beer. Still making my way through my 12 pack. Making my way.