Every loss is a learning lesson.
That's been the approach for Seb Hines and the Orlando Pride early in their 2023 season as the team continues to try and find answers and wins.
After a string of games at home where the team conceded goals late in stoppage time, the Pride had two moments early in the second half Sunday that saw the Kansas City Current score twice in the span of four minutes, ultimately winning the game by a score of 2-0.
"We had a game plan, we stuck to the game plan in moments, but didn’t really execute in terms of creating too many opportunities in the attacking third," Hines said after the match. "I don’t think there was a lot between ourselves and Kansas either. We had a lot of corners, lots of shots, but didn’t really make the keeper work. It’s another moment where they’ve capitalized on us giving the ball away and it changed the whole game."
Through the first half of the match, the Pride and Current were fairly even with each other with a similar amount of shots, possession and passes. Defender Emily Madri, who's played the last two matches as a right fullback, said that the first goal they conceded in the 64th minute was the the one that changed the complexity of the game.
“I think that first goal just kind of put us out a little bit,” Madril said. “I think, overall, we were right there with them the whole game and could have had a couple of goals.”
The goal came off a turnover by the Pride in their own defensive third, with Debinha being the one to eventually capitalize on the mistake. It's something that Madril knows the team can't dwell on in the future and especially in that moment.
"I say, 'Who cares?'" she said. "We all make mistakes. We all have given up goals off of mistakes. So put it in the past, forget about it. We were just as good as the other team and making that one mistake, it sucks that lead to a goal but it doesn't matter. We've all made mistakes and we just have to keep going.
"Just encourage them and say, 'Next one, we're all right behind you.' We as the 11 are going to win the game. It's not one person doing something right or wrong. It's all 11. So we have to stick together through the whole game."
That mindset from Madril is one of the many facets that have impressed her fellow Pride teammates, including defender Megan Montefusco.
"She's grown into this league already," she said of Madril. "I'm excited to see what happens in these next couple of games. We're building something, and it's going to take time, but I think we're really close."
For Montefusco, who has been in the NWSL for nine seasons, she believes the work the team has put in should be able to give way to results, but unfortunately they haven't come yet.
"We put every our heart and soul out in the field and we're prepared," she said. "We're ready to go, and those things happen, and we're sick of it at this point. We are so ready to get a win and what better way to do that than in San Diego away."
Next match: Orlando Pride (0-4-0, 0 points) at San Diego Wave (3-1-0, 9 points)
When: Saturday, 10 p.m.
Where: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
TV: CBS Sports Network
