HOLY POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS, BATMAN!
Saturday’s match against the Chicago Red Stars will be crucial in the Pride’s attempt to qualify for their second consecutive playoff. Currently, the sixth-place Pride sit one point behind fifth-place Chicago with two games remaining. The Red Stars have 31 points and three games left in the regular season. With two prior wins in the month of May over the Red Stars, the Pride hold the tiebreaker should the two teams finish the season with the same amount of points. A win could jump the Pride back into playoff position, as Utah Royals FC hold the fourth and nal spot with 32 points.
IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME
The last time the Pride faced the Red Stars on May 26, Orlando defeated Chicago by a score of 5-2. Those ve goals match a Club record for goals scored in a single match. Rachel Hill recorded what was then the fastest goal in Club history, scoring just 108 seconds into the match. Sydney Leroux tacked on a brace, marking her rst goals with Orlando, and Alex Morgan and Dani Weatherholt each netted a goal of their own. The only other time the Pride have scored ve goals in a single match came on Aug. 12, 2017, against Sky Blue FC in a 5-0 victory for Orlando.
In addition to the 5-2 win over the Red Stars, the Pride also had a 2-0 victory over Chicago on May 2 with Chioma Ubogagu and Rachel Hill nding the back of the net. Prior to this season, Orlando had never beaten Chicago, earning its only point in a 1-1 draw on Aug. 5, 2017. This season Orlando is unbeaten against Chicago, winning both matches on the road at Toyota Park as part of the team’s Club-record six-game road unbeaten streak.
IT’S A BIRD... IT’S A PLANE... IT’S ASHLYN HARRIS!
Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris made three saves on Sunday against the North Carolina Courage, including a goal line save in the 71st minute to earn her the NWSL Save of the Week. Harris has won the award 21 times, more than any other player in the league. She won it nine times in 2016, six times in 2017 and her win this week marks her sixth win this year. This season Harris has made a total of 64 saves, the fourth-most in the league, a single-season best while with the Pride and her third-most in a single season during her NWSL career.
IN BRIGHTEST DAY, IN BLACKEST NIGHT
Saturday’s game will mark the last home game this season for the Pride. In their second season at Orlando City Stadium, Orlando has posted a 3-4-4 record in 11 games. The Pride went 6-2-4 at Orlando City Stadium in 2017. Following Saturday’s match, the Pride will play one nal game this regular season on Sept. 8 at Yurcak Field against Sky Blue FC, their rst and only in New Jersey this season. Should the Pride make the playoffs, their semi nal game will be on the road.
WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
Orlando has registered more goals (7) and assists (5) in two games against Chicago than against any other team in the league this season. The Pride have outscored Chicago 7-2 in the two meetings this season. Orlando’s two goals conceded to Chicago are also its fewest against any team this season. Orlando has racked up a shot conversion rate of 41.18 percent, more than double what it has against anyone else, with the second-highest being 15.79 percent against the North Carolina Courage.
DON’T MAKE ME ANGRY...
This season the Pride are the only team that has not had a player earn more than two yellow cards. Until Tuesday night, Seattle Reign FC also did not have a single player with more than two yellow cards. Orlando currently has eight players with two yellow cards and seven players with only one yellow card. However, despite not having any players with more than two cards, the Pride have the second-most yellow cards in the entire league with 23, just four yellows behind the Chicago Red Stars.
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
Since last playing each other, Chicago has bolstered its roster with the addition of FIFA World Cup champion Morgan Brian and defender Brooke Elby. In the process, Chicago traded away Taylor Comeau, Samantha Johnson and So a Huerta, all three of whom started and played the last time the Pride faced the Red Stars. Since joining Chicago, Brian has made seven appearances and Elby has made nine.
