Key Transactions
While the Spirit have not made any transactions as of late, they will be without U.S. Women’s National Team members Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh as the two will join the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion side once more for two matches on their victory tour over the weekend. With this weekend being a FIFA international window, both sides will be forced to utilize their depth due to the absence of marquee players with the Spirit also missing Andi Sullivan, Chloe Logarzo, Amy Harrison, Elise Kellond-Knight and Cheyna Matthews due to international duty.
Recent Form
The Spirit earned points in three of their four matches through the month of September, with their last match resulting in a 2-1 victory over the defending NWSL Champions in the North Carolina Courage last Saturday. Prior to that, the Spirit battled to draws against Reign FC on September 14 and the Houston Dash on September 25 with their lone loss of the month coming to Chicago on September 21.
Who’s Hot
Ashley Hatch leads the Spirit with six goals this season, followed by Jordan DiBiasi with four. Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe has been hot all season, remaining in the top two in NWSL in registered saves throughout the course of the year. Bledsoe currently sits tied for the league lead in saves with 80 and for second in clean sheets with eight in 2019.
Head-to-Head
Prior to their last match at Audi Field, the Pride had earned three consecutive victories over the Spirit dating back to 2018. The Pride hold a 4-4-2 record all-time against Saturday’s opposition and a 3-1-1 record in the city of Orlando. In the Spirit’s last visit to Exploria Stadium, the Pride earned a 4-3 victory on July 6.
Rasmussen College Fun Fact
Saturday’s match will serve as the first of the Pride’s two-game home stand to close out the 2019 NWSL season. This weekend’s contest serves as a rescheduled match from August 31 due to Hurricane Dorian. The Pride will close out the 2019 season next Saturday, October 12 against Reign FC in the Club’s first-ever Breast Cancer Awareness match.
