In the 25 th minute , Purce was sent down the right side of the field into space , and as she worked her way toward the endline she was able to pull a cross back and pick out Lynn Williams in the middle of the box . From there , Williams pushed an effort past Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and in for the night ’ s opening goal . NY 1 x 0 .
Four minutes later , Rose Lavelle got in behind the Gotham defense and buried a chance past Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught who did all she could to get back , Lavelle still squeezed a shot around her and in to level the game 1 x 1 .
LYNN WILLIAMS
ROSE LAVELLE
ESTHER GONZALEZ
Gotham would continue to knock on the Reign ’ s door before the halftime break , and in the 2nd minute of first-half stoppage time , Gotham ’ s Midge Purce delivered a corner kick ball into the middle of the box where Esther was in position to meet it and guide her headed effort past Dickey . Gotham ’ s lead was restored . Half time ended Gotham 2 x 1 Reign .
MIDGE PURCE
MIDGE PURCE , F # 23 NJ / NY Gotham FC NWSL Championship MVP 2 assists on both goals got her the NWSL Championship MVP award .
ALI KRIEGER
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