ORLANDO, Fla. (April 28, 2017) - Orlando Pride (0-1-1, 1 point) kicks off a two-game road trip on Saturday afternoon when it faces the newly relocated North Carolina Courage (2-0-0, 6 points) at 4 p.m. ET. Though new to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the Courage are a familiar opponent to the Pride as North Carolina is the former Western New York Flash, who was purchased and moved during the 2016-17 offseason after winning the team’s first NWSL Championship.
Saturday’s match will be available to watch live on the go90 app as well as go90.com, with Matt Pedersen and Taylor Burke on the call. Live updates can also be followed on the Pride Twitter page, @ORLPride.
“[We’re expecting] a very tough game again. North Carolina won their first two games and the final last year [as Western New York]. They are a team that’s full of confidence and, obviously, a team that’s very difficult to beat,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “However, in saying that, I think that two of our best games last year were against them and I’m hopeful that we bring that form into this game.”
Orlando picked up its first point of the season last weekend, hosting the Washington Spirit in the team’s first match at Orlando City Stadium. After the Spirit went up a goal in the 60th minute, rookie Danica Evans entered the game in the 75th minute and sent the home crowd into a frenzy 11 minutes later with her first professional goal. Evans, 21, collected a pass and used a slick backheel to nutmeg the Spirit defender before dribbling around goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and capitalizing on the open net.
The match also marked the highly-anticipated debut of Marta, whose April 7 signing marked a historic occasion for the NWSL. After arriving in Orlando just a day and a half earlier, the Brazilian forwarded entered the match in the 59th minute and instantly made an impact on the Pride’s attacking side. Marta came inches from giving the Pride all three point from the match in stoppage time, but her left-footed shot sailed just wide of the far post.
“[Marta] was outstanding. She changed the game,” Sermanni added after the Washington match. “I think you saw her class and quality and creativity in the last 30 minutes [on Saturday]. Considering the travel she had, I think she showed how good of a pro she is to be able to come on and perform that way.”
The Pride and Flash met twice during the 2016 season, splitting the series 1-0 with each team taking all three points from their home field. Early in the season, Orlando earned a shutout decision on May 14 after Alex Morgan scored a golazo in the 79th minute off a perfect pass from Kristen Edmonds. In the second game of the season series, the Flash’s Makenzy Doniak scored what would be the game’s only goal just four minutes in.
Orlando closes out the two-game road swing on May 7 when it travels to face FC Kansas City at 6 p.m. ET. The Pride returns to the friendly confines of Orlando City Stadium on May 14 for its second of three meetings with the Courage.
