Storylines | Pride vs. North Carolina Courage

Unbeaten Streak

The Pride look to extend their unbeaten streak to three games after picking up a 1-0 victory at Angel City FC and earning a draw against the Kansas City Current in their most recent matchup on Saturday. The last time the Pride went three straight games with an unbeaten record was last season from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11. The Pride picked up two wins and a draw during that stretch of three games.

First of the Season

Pride captain Gunny Jónsdóttir scored her first goal of the regular season, sliding the ball past the Current’s AD Franch in the 51-minute. The goal marked her first of the regular season and third in all competitions after netting two in the Challenge Cup for Pride. Her three goals across all competitions already surpasses her total across all competitions last year. 

Ice in her Veins

Orlando defender Toni Pressley rocketed the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time against the Current, pulling the Pride level at the death to walk away with a point on the night. The goal was her fourth career goal, all coming as a member of the Pride. It was her first goal since May 11, 2019 and her first career penalty goal.

Lending a Helping Hand

Forward Sydney Leroux picked up her first assist of the year, laying the ball off for Jónsdóttir’s goal. Pride forward Darian Jenkins worked well on the wing to get the cross in from the right side, finding Leroux at the back post who then laid it off just inside the six-yard box for the finish. The goal was very similar to one Jenkins scored herself on April 16 against the Courage, in which Celia played a cross from the right side that was headed back toward goal by Kerry Abello, finding the open Jenkins on the doorstep. 

A First Appearance Impact

Pride defender Kylie Strom recorded her first regular season appearance of the 2022 regular season in Saturday’s draw, coming in at halftime and putting on a great shift for the second half. Strom had a solid strike on goal that was tipped over the bar, leading to the corner kick which then saw her earn the penalty that led to Pressley’s second-half stoppage-time goal.