Pride Set the Tone with Committed Defensive Display vs. Utah
At separate ends of the field in their first game for the Orlando Pride, Sydney Leroux and Shelina Zadorsky showed what it looks like to play defensively from the first kick to the final blow of the whistle.
In a match that was back and forth, it was Leroux and Zadorsky’s individual defensive performances that spoke volumes about what Head Coach Tom Sermanni is expecting from his club in 2018.
“What we felt we had to do better as a team in this league is defend with the XI and I think that starts at the front.” Sermanni said. “It’s important that our front players defend as well as our back players do.”
In a game where forwards are most often times remembered for the goals they score, it was the intensity with which Leroux battled for the ball that was most evident.
At several points in the game Leroux was seen playing in the Pride’s defensive third, defending the ball and creating turnovers.
“I like to defend as a forward, that’s one of my favorite things to do aside from scoring goals,” the 27-year-old veteran said. “I like to get into tackles and I like to hit people. It’s fun for me.”
On the other end of the field Zadorsky, the Club’s newest center back, was doing much of the same.
Zadorsky started the game alongside veteran defender Ali Krieger and after conceding a goal in the early minutes the former Washington Spirit teammates jumped back and stopped several attempts from the Royals to score.
“I think she was very solid defensively and generally kept the ball for us,” Sermanni said of Zadorsky.
In the 30th minute, Zadorsky made a critical sliding save to recover the ball just outside the penalty area, stymying a potential breakaway and showing what this team and defense are made of.
“You know what, we fought right back and I’m proud of us to keep our heads held high,” Zadorsky said on how the defense recovered.
Welcome Home: Players get First Taste of Orlando in Pride Debut
No one ever forgets their first game in Orlando City Stadium and for Zadorsky and Leroux tonight was no different. With excitement building for the first game of Orlando’s season, both players were eager for 2018 to begin and to experience their first match in purple.
“I was just so pumped to get out there and play with these girls,” Zadorsky said.
For Leroux this game has felt like a long time coming, having experienced this stadium several times as a member of FC Kansas City and as a spectator watching husband Dom Dwyer and Orlando City.
“I was very excited,” Leroux said. “I love being here, my family loves it here, so we hope to be in Orlando for a long time.”
The path down the tunnel to the field leads the team on a motivational walk, as graffitied quotes from fans illuminated under blacklights cover the walls and players can hear the echoes from the crowd anxiously awaiting their arrival.
“It was special,” Zadorsky said. “Just walking through that tunnel I couldn’t stop smiling whereas usually I’m pretty serious. It just feels like home to me.”
