Dickey forced to exit with bloody head

Seattle Reign and U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was forced to exit the match against San Diego with a bloody head injury Sunday night. Head coach Laura Harvey said postgame that Dickey went to the hospital to get stitches.

The injury occurred in the 81st minute as Dickey was saving a shot by the Wave’s Ludmila. On the follow-through, Ludmila’s knee and then foot made significant contact with Dickey’s head. Dickey initially got up as play went on, but then sat herself off the field next to the goal. Blood could be seen running down Dickey’s face from her forehead as trainers attended to her for five minutes. After having her head wrapped over the cut and taking off her blood-stained jersey, she was helped up and walked off the field down the nearest tunnel. Cassie Miller replaced her to see out the game.

Dickey was awarded Player of the Match honors in her team’s 1-0 home win over San Diego Wave. She recorded six saves, a couple of them much more difficult ones, which were key to the shutout.

“We knew we had to be big defensively and that that was going to be a whole team effort … but our goalkeepers really stepped up,” veteran defender Sofia Huerta said postgame. “Claudia, on that last save, I mean she literally put her body on the line for us. Unfortunately, she did have to come out and has a little like gash on her forehead, but Cassie came in and did her job, and we’re extremely proud of both of them.”