The Orlando Pride played their best game of the season thus far at home Saturday night against Boston. So many positives can be taken from the match: the three points, Marta getting her first goal at Orlando City Stadium, and, most notably, the Pride recorded their first shutout of the 2017 season.
In her postgame press conference, Pride goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe was asked about how it felt to earn the team’s first shutout: “We were waiting for this breakthrough performance. It’s been a long time coming and honestly the defense made my job easy today,” Bledsoe told reporters. “That shutout was a total team effort and everyone deserves the credit for it.”
Bledsoe, the team’s backup goalkeeper, is currently filling in for an injured Ashlyn Harris at the position. It is never easy for second string goalkeepers – as they never know when their number will be called. However Bledsoe has shown both poise and confidence between the sticks for Orlando during Harris’ absence. She was asked about the transition from backup to starter in her postgame press conference:
“It’s been a pretty smooth transition honestly. The defense, they have a lot of trust in me and Ashlynn is still in the locker room being a leader, helping organize at halftime, talking to the girls, telling us what she saw, giving me encouragement and tips. The whole team is behind Ash, me, and whoever is in goal.”
Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni also spoke about the team’s stellar defensive performance and, in particular, the play of Aubrey Bledsoe: “Tonight I thought she was flawless,” Sermanni said in his press conference after the match. “Any crosses that came in – in difficult conditions under pressure – her handling was first class, her decision-making was really good, and I think the way she controlled the game from the back was excellent.”
Bledsoe only faced three shots on her goal all evening – all of which came in the second half – and none really threatened the Pride keeper. Credit to the Pride backline which was rock solid and kept Boston at bay all night long.
Tom Sermanni shared his thoughts on what this comprehensive win means for the Pride moving forward: “The win tonight will give us that extra boost of confidence,” Sermanni explained. “Hopefully tonight’s performance will be the foundation for us to kick on from here.”
