Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
Opening Statement
“We did what we set out to do, and that was to host a home game in the playoffs. Obviously, we would have preferred the win and finish in that third spot, but it was not meant to be. It's unique as we get to play Seattle [Reign FC] again, this time next week. That is an exciting prospect ahead, but I am really pleased with the players. They were phenomenal today. The pressure that they put on Seattle and the physicality that they showed throughout the game was really good. We‘re going to reset, go again next week, and look to get another win here at home.”
On having to make a last-minute change to his starting XI
“You have to be adaptable. These things happen. We had an incident this year again where we had to make a change leading into the game. It just shows that players need to be ready, even when they may not be starting. They are going to be called upon at any given moment. So, I thought Julie [Doyle] did a really good job. Like you said, she is a different type of player. She is going to drop a little bit deeper than what Ally [Watt] would do. Then, like you said, it's making sure that we still have a lot of threats in behind. We were unfortunate not to get that first goal in the first half that was offside. It was marginal. But that was what we were trying to do. So, whether that is Ally on the pitch, or if Ally is not on the pitch, with the game plan, I thought we did really well. Again, Ally brings a lot off the ball with her pressure, but you could see the team didn’t miss a beat. Julie instigated the press, and everyone was falling in behind, and we won a lot of balls higher up the field. I think for us, we need to turn those opportunities into goal-scoring opportunities and that will be the adaptation that we take into next week's game.”
On the team’s performance
“ You could see that we were very good in our press, winning the ball up the field. We were switching the point of attack. I think that is the hardest part of football, getting those clear-cut opportunities when a team has got multiple players behind the ball. The spaces do not always present themselves like they would whether you fall back or tightly press. There were moments when Seattle decided to press us higher up the field. I think we found good moments and we left ourselves a little bit vulnerable with some misplaced passes, but I think that is something that is risk-reward. If you lose it, the team is high enough to win it and go straight to goal. If you get through that press, it opens up space. You never look for a perfect game; this game does not allow you to be perfect. I thought we were really good, especially in that first half at finding good areas, but that last part is to make the keeper work, and I do not think we did that enough tonight.”
Orlando Pride Defender Carson Pickett
Opening Statement
“I think it was, for the most part, a pretty even game. I thought our defending and our press in the first half was really good. At half-time, we talked about wanting to test their keeper and take some more shots. So, in the second half I thought we pressed them more and got more chances. Obviously, we were able to finish. Overall, it was a pretty good game for us.”
On her scoring opportunity and goal
“I saw Jacquie [Ovalle] had the ball, and that’s enough said. I knew she was going to get the ball, and I think she's one of the best servers in the league. So, every single time she gets the ball, I try and get into the box. I honestly saw both of their defenders go for the same ball, so I backed out, waited and it came to me. I luckily took a pretty good first touch, and I was able to half volley it.”
On recent results against Seattle
“I think, as you’ve seen in the league at this point, back in the day there were four good teams and that was kind of it, and everyone battled against each other. But now, I think you have a whole league of great teams. Obviously, you saw that Decision Day was actually a ‘decision day’ this year. I just think everyone has quality players and depth and I think the league is getting harder and harder every single year that I’ve played in. It’s hard to break a deadlock sometimes, especially in a moment when you absolutely have to win.”
