Orlando Pride Falls 2-0 in Season Opener
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Orlando City SC // Orlando Pride (0-1-0, 0 points) fell 2-0 to Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0, 3 points) in its 2019 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season opener at Orlando City Stadium.
The match marked the professional debuts for Joanna Boyles and 2019 NWSL College Draft pick Erin Greening. In addition, midfielder Bridget Callahan made her first professional start.
Head Coach Marc Skinner:
“It wasn’t good enough from us. I think that all of the things we looked at doing in preseason, we didn’t effect first half. We just didn’t do them, so we had some words at halftime. We had a better second half; still not good enough. That’s nothing against players, that’s nothing personal, that’s nothing me telling that the players aren’t good enough. That’s me saying as a team, as a collective, we were not good enough in that game and it’s the reason we lost. It’s just as simple as that.”
Scoring Recap:
45’ Caitlin Foord (Tobin Heath) – POR 1, ORL 0
After a scrum in the box, Tobin Heath finds Caitlin Foord in the center who converts to give the visitors the lead.
49’ Tobin Heath (Caitlin Foord) – POR 2, ORL 0
Foord slides a ball inside the 18 from the right side, finding Heath who manages to get a foot on the ball, deflecting into the back of the net.
Match Notes:
- Midfielder Bridget Callahan made her first career NWSL start on the evening. Callahan, a University of Central Florida graduate, made one appearance for the Pride in 2018.
- Midfielder Joanna Boyles logged her first professional minutes and recorded her first NWSL start.
- Defender Erin Greening registered her first professional appearance when she entered the match in the 74th minute. The Pride selected Greening No. 25 overall in the 2019 NWSL College Draft out of the University of Colorado.
The Pride face a quick turnaround, hitting the road to face the defending NWSL Champion North Carolina Courage on Wednesday, April 17. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | F |
| Orlando Pride | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portland Thorns FC | 1 | 1 | 2 |
POR – Caitlin Foord (Tobin Heath) 45’
POR – Tobin Heath (Caitlin Foord) 49’
ORL – Camila (Yellow Card) 90+1’
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy
Date: April 14, 2019
Attendance: 7,189
Possession: 53.5% / 46.5%
Shots: 15 / 22
Shots on Goal: 2 / 8
Saves: 6 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 / 7
Fouls: 8 / 12
Offside: 0 / 3
