1 - Let's Bring It Home
Orlando Pride enters Saturday’s match one win away from playing for the NWSL Championship at its home ground. Orlando City Stadium was selected as the host for the 2017 final match on April 22, marking the third time the championship will be played at a predetermined site.
The Championship game will kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Lifetime.
2 - Going For Double Digits
The Pride will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a win during the semifinal round. Orlando hasn’t been beaten since July 22 when the team fell 2-1 to Chicago.
Since then, the Pride have tallied a 6-0-3 record, most recently picking up a stoppage-time win over No. 1 ranked North Carolina Courage on Sept. 30.
3 - Awards Season
The Pride cleaned up in the final week of the season, with Ashlyn Harris winning her fifth Save of the Week for a spectacular 29th-minute save and Alanna Kennedy winning Goal of the Week for her 91st-minute free kick winner. The Pride have won Save of the Week 10 times and Goal of the Week seven times.
Marta was named September’s Player of the Month and was named to the Team of the Month along with Kennedy. It marks the fourth straight month Marta was on the list, while it is Kennedy’s first.
Four members of the Pride are also up for end-of-the-year awards, it was announced this week. Head Coach Tom Sermanni is nominated for Coach of the Year, Defenders Steph Catley and Ali Krieger are up for Defenders of the Year, while Marta is nominated for Most Valuable Player.
4 - Another Undefeated Month
Orlando made it two straight months undefeated after last week’s win over North Carolina. August 2017 was the first month the Pride went without a loss, going 4-0-1 then, before picking up a 2-0-2 record during the final month of the NWSL regular season.
5 - A First Time For Everything
Just two weeks ago, Orlando earned its first-ever point against Portland Thorns FC in a 0-0 draw at Orlando City Stadium. Now, the Pride will need to get their first-ever win over the Thorns if they wish to keep their season going.
Portland owns the all-time record 3-0-1, including wins in both season openers at Providence Park this year and last year. The Pride fell 2-1 in 2016, with Steph Catley scoring the Pride’s first-ever goal, and 2-0 on April 17 this year.
6 - Battle Of The Bests
Saturday’s showdown will pit the Pride’s high-octane offense against Portland’s dominant defense.
Orlando, which scored just 20 goals in its inaugural season, led the NWSL in total offense with 45 goals across 11 different scorers in 2017. The Thorns defense, however, was the best in the league, allowing just 20 goals to opponents over 24 matches.
7 - Sermanni Sticking Around
After leading Orlando Pride to its first playoff berth in its second season in the NWSL, the Club has signed head coach Tom Sermanni to a contract extension. After finishing the inaugural campaign in ninth position, Sermanni transformed the Pride during the offseason and propelled the side six spots up the table, ending the 2017 regular season with the third overall seed.
8 - Century For Spencer
Jasmyne Spencer enters Saturday’s game with 99 career NWSL appearances and could step on the field for the 100th in the semifinal. Spencer has played in the NWSL since 2013, previously with the Washington Spirit and WNY Flash. This is her first time in the playoffs.
9 - Camila Ruled Out
Despite picking up a win on Saturday, Orlando lost a key piece to the roster with Camila going down with an injury in the 32nd minute after a battle for the ball. It was announced on Tuesday that the 22-year-old Brazilian will miss the remained of the season after suffering a torn ACL and sprained MCL in her right knee.
Camila is the third on the Pride in goals (4) and second in assists (5).
