The Royals keep their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 home win over the Reign

Associated Press

Cloe Lacasse scored three goals and the Utah Royals defeated the Reign 3-0 on Sunday, eliminating Seattle from the National Women's Soccer League playoffs.

Lacasse, who joined the Royals from Arsenal in August, scored all of her goals in the first half at home in Sandy, Utah. It was the first hat trick in the NWSL this season.

The Canadian striker scored her first two goals in the first 20 minutes and added another in first-half stoppage time.

The Royals (7-14-3) have won their last three games and sit 10th in the league standings, below the playoff line, but still have hope of a shot at the postseason with two games remaining .

The Reign (5-14-5) has lost five straight games. The last time Seattle failed to make the postseason was 2017. Last year the team reached the NWSL finals.

Seattle was injured when Angharad James-Turner was sent off with their second yellow car in just the 16th minute.

SPIRIT 4, RACING LOUISVILLE 1

Makenna Morris scored two goals in the first half and Washington edged Louisville

Ashley Hatch scored a penalty for the Spirit (16-6-2) in the 56th minute in front of the home crowd at Audi Field.

Racing Louisville (6-11-7) avoided the shutout with Emma Sears' goal in the 72nd minute. Louisville sits just below the playoff line in ninth place.

Lena Silano scored the final goal in stoppage time and the Spirit remained in second place with two games left in the regular season.

Trinity Rodman, who has not played for the Spirit since suffering a back injury on September 20, came on as a substitute in the 67th minute.

With the Spirit's victory, the Chicago Red Stars secured a spot in the playoffs.

Line 2, wave 0

Barbara Olivieri had a goal and an assist to help Houston beat San Diego.

Olivieri converted a penalty to give Dash (5-14-5) a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. It was Houston's first penalty of the season.

Ramona Bachmann scored for the Dash in the 72nd minute of the game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego from a cross from Olivieri.

The Dash have already been eliminated from the playoffs.

The Wave (5-12-7) lost for the second straight year but still has a chance to clinch one of the final two playoff spots.

Dash goaltender Jane Campbell had her eighth shutout of the year.

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