Saturday’s match against the Chicago Red Stars could determine Orlando Pride’s playoff fate. A loss against Chicago would guarantee that Orlando would miss out on playing in its second consecutive National Women’s Soccer League playoff.
All season the standings have been tight, with teams going back and forth and jumping each other for positions on the table. But with only one playoff spot remaining, the race is as tight as ever.
The Pride currently sit just out of playoffs behind the Red Stars and Utah Royals FC, but a win would catapult Orlando right back into fourth place.
The implications of Saturday’s game are not lost to the members of the Pride. In fact, they have become a driving force in training.
“We’ve got to get a win,” Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris said. “We’ve got to pull ourselves out. We’ve got to pull ourselves out of the mud right now.”
And Head Coach Tom Sermanni echoed the same.
“It’s simple; when you talk about a must-win game, this is a must-win game,” Sermanni said. “It’s really tight, but anything other than a win won’t be good enough. Simple as that.”
Still, a win wouldn’t automatically guarantee a spot in the playoffs. The Pride also need positive results from a couple games across the league.
Despite the weight of this game and the coming weeks, the Pride are focused on the tangibles and the moments they can control.
“Yes, it’s a must-win mentality, but we’re just focusing on ourselves,” midfielder Dani Weatherholt said. “We have to be better in all aspects of our game. We’re just really trying to finish the season strong.
“Other games are going to be going on and there’s nothing we can do about that. We really have to focus in on ourselves and make the most of this time.”
The Pride will also look to make the most of their final game at Orlando City Stadium this year.
“We’ve got fantastic supporters, really passionate, they’re always right behind the team through the good times and bad times,” Sermanni said. “They’ve always been there and they’ve always supported the players and that gives us a huge boost.”
In front of that home crowd, the Pride will attempt to win their third game against the Chicago Red Stars this season and keep their playoff hopes alive.
“We’re looking to finish on a good note,” Weatherholt said.
