A fans holds up a sign during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender Alanna Kennedy (14) kicks the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Seattle Reign FC interim head coach Sam Laity signals to his team against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson, right, chases the ball defended by Seattle Reign FC defender Madison Curry during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie takes a free kick against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC midfielder Katie Zelem, left, chases the ball defended by Seattle Reign FC midfielder Angharad James-Turner during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Seattle Reign FC forward Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, left, attempts to recover the ball defended by Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, right, dribbles the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender Savy King, left, kicks the ball defended by Seattle Reign FC forward Nérilia Mondésir during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) A fan reacts during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender Savy King, left, heads the ball against Seattle Reign FC forward Nérilia Mondésir during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola (16) attempts to block a pass by Seattle Reign FC forward Emeri Adames during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Julie Dufour chases the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) A fan cheers during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC midfielder Macey Hodge kicks the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Julie Dufour (7) vies for the ball with Seattle Reign FC defender Phoebe McClernon during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan is knocked down by Seattle Reign FC forward Maddie Dahlien, not pictured, during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Christen Press (23) recovers the ball mid-air against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Christen Press moves the ball up the field against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan (33) heads the ball for the wining goal against the Seattle Reign FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan (33) kicks the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC midfielder Katie Zelem kicks the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, right, vies for the ball with Seattle Reign FC midfielder Sally Meza during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson moves the ball against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, left, celebrates with teammate defender Gisele Thompson after Alyssa scores a goal against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson celebrates after she scores a goal against the Seattle Reign FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 26A fans holds up a sign during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Angel City FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer) Expand LOS ANGELES —  Soccer has moved fast for Riley Tiernan in a few months. The Rutgers grad joined Angel City FC as a non-roster invitee to training camp. She turned that into a two-year contract and a starting spot at forward so far for the first three games of the season. Sunday, she added game-winning goal scorer to her early professional chapter, leading the way to a 2-1 win over the Seattle Reign in front of 15,384 at BMO Stadium. The win was the first for Angel City this season and leaves the club as one of three unbeaten teams remaining (1-0-2) after three weeks of the season. “At first it was definitely intimidating,” Tiernan said of joining Angel City. “Once I got here, I knew I had to show how much I can do every day in practice, in training every day was a tryout, so I just put my best foot forward and did what I can do and I got the spot.” Tiernan also found the spot rising to head in a cross from Claire Emslie in the 63rd minute to snap a 1-1 tie. “That was a dream come true, honestly,” she said. “We talked a lot in training about getting in the box and winning those first and second balls and I think we did that really well today. I know that when Claire gets the ball, she’s playing it into the box and right place, right time, connected to my head.” Tiernan joined training camp before interim coach Sam Laity was brought in. He credited the staff for bringing her in and noticed how she was always making plays in training. “They did an amazing job of scouting the type of person that the club wanted and profile,” he said. “She just kept turning up in training. Every single day. Every time we were reflecting on training sessions and showing video clips for the players, she was in all the clips. She got stronger and stronger. Top performance for her. She started slow in the game, played her self into the game and great header.” Angel City opened the season with consecutive 1-1 draws, first against San Diego Wave FC in the opener (March 16) and last Friday on the road against the Portland Thorns. “Today we put a lot of really good things together,” Laity said. “The first half performance, we played a little bit quicker and cleaner. I think we should have scored a few more goals. Really, really positive performance from the group.” Angel City entered the game with limited success against Seattle, winning just two of the previous 11 meetings, with one ending in a draw. The teams will meet again Friday, Aug. 1, in Seattle. The first meeting of 2025 opened in fine fashion with Alyssa Thompson scoring, off of an assist from Kennedy Fuller, in the eighth minute. “I’ve been working on my relationship with Alyssa,” Fuller said. “She has an eye for the goal …My job as a 10 is to figure out how I can be the most dangerous and if Alyssa is in the right spot, Alyssa is in the right spot and I’m going to play that ball. She’s been in the right spot a bunch of times.” However, Angel City’s lead was short-lived. Moments later, the Reign was awarded a penalty kick, which Ji So-Yun converted, tying the game at 1-1. “An actually horrific penalty given against us,” Laity said. “Normally coaches only complain about that when you lose the game, but that was one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in the league. “Goals change games, it changes momentum, they change the flow. The players reacted to that goal and that decision very positively and grew strong from it. Really, really proud of their psychological performance after conceding that goal.” Angel City is off next week for the international break. The club returns to action April 12 on the road against the Houston Dash. Related Articles Angel City FC hosts Seattle in search of consistency Angel City FC’s Alyssa Thompson named to USWNT roster Angel City FC holds on for tie with Portland Angel City FC’s Savy King home again and excited for what’s ahead Angel City FC notches draw against San Diego Wave FC ...read more read less