SANFORD, Fla. -- It's only four games into her first full season playing on the pitch with the Orlando Pride, but Caitlin Cosme has already been called upon to defend some of the NWSL's top talent.
This week, she'll have the opportunity to face down one of the U.S. Women's National team's top players in history, Alex Morgan, as the Pride take on the San Diego Wave on Saturday night.
"It just gives you exposure," Cosme said Thursday at Orlando Health Training Ground at Sylvan Park. "I think the more exposure you have to the world's best players only helps you. Every game is different, they are totally different players but are super dangerous and super powerful. So I think it's just focusing on their strengths and trying to minimize what they're trying to do and sticking together as a backline and as a team defensively."
After Cosme missed all of last season due to various injuries, she's now played and started in all four of the Pride's league matches. With her has been a combination of rookie Emily Madril and veteran Megan Montefusco, who played as the centerback opposite her for the last game in Kansas City. Having that experienced presence next to her has helped Cosme in not only the adjustment of playing at the NWSL level, but working in tandem to lock down the defense.
"Me and Megan are always in constant communication," she said. "I think having her experience out there helps us all out a lot. She's gone up against these teams, against these players for years, so I think it's more comforting."
As the Pride shift focus out west, the hope for the team is to build off of the lessons learned last weekend in Kansas City. Despite the result, head coach Seb Hines feels that the performance from the team was a positive one and something they can pick apart and improve upon.
"Obviously the result doesn't dictate that, but I think there was a lot of positives," he said, "I think there's areas that we can improve on, in possession, trying to manipulate the opponent a little bit more. There's some key details that didn't really define our identity that we spoke about after the game: the intensity of our defending in our pressing in the critical moments, giving plays a little bit too much respect.
"But we created opportunities, we hit the bar off a set piece and, you know, a little moment like that where it goes in can change the result of the game. So, again, we're still building, we're still getting better each game, we just need to start getting results and points on the table now."
The last time the Pride traveled to San Diego in August of last year, they were able to secure a 1-0 result. Many of the players on the team then will be available for selection this weekend, which could help the mentality of the Pride heading into the match.
"It's 11 players versus 11 players, and if you win your individual battles all around the field, you have a good chance of winning the game," Hines said, "That’s the message that we have to present to the players. You win with your individual battles and the outcome can be what we want it all to be.
"We've been there, we've been to San Diego and come away with three points previously, so we know what it takes to win a game of football there, in front of a hostile crowd. With those experiences, it can help us go out there this weekend and win a game."
Orlando Pride (0-4-0, 0 points) vs San Diego Wave (3-1-0, 9 points)
When: Sunday, 10 p.m.
Where: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
TV: CBS Sports Network
