Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
Opening Statement
“[The final whistle was] more relief than anything. If we dissect the game, although we took the lead, I thought we started slow. We didn’t really start [like] ourselves. We were very lethargic, I thought Washington started on the front foot, putting us under real pressure. We didn’t really get any rhythm in the game but it’s a great ball from Barbra [Banda] to Ang[elina] and it’s a great finish. Then I think the disappointing part from our side is that we gifted them two goals today. In this league, you can’t give teams goals because they’ll punish you. So it’s a good reminder that we have to keep our standards high, stick to who we are and stick to our identity. I’m super proud of the players, to not only see the game out at 3-2, but with 10 players. It shows another side to our game. So I’m super proud of them and their efforts and everything they put in today.”
On weathering storms against the Spirit in the match
“I trust them [the players]. They’ve been through enough scenarios like that. It’s a mentality, you have to embrace it, you have to take the bull by its horns because it’s coming. You know that Washington are a direct team, they’re going to push numbers forward, they’re going to be very physical, and I thought for some periods of the game we stood up to that challenge. Certainly, at the end we had 10 players, your back is against the wall, you’re having to deal with the directness and putting your body on the line and I thought the players did a terrific job in handling that. We obviously rode our luck, as well, with them hitting the crossbar but you need a little bit of luck at times as well. So yeah, I'm super proud and super pleased and again, it showed another side to our team and a willingness to go through that hard time and those waves of attack. So, yeah, pleased with the performance.”
On Barbra Banda’s performance
“Yeah, she was phenomenal. Threatening in behind, holding up the ball, she was a true No. 9 today. You saw a lot of elements of her game. I know last week, we only saw a snippet of it, but today it was a complete performance with a goal, an assist, and she won the penalty as well. So I thought she caused a lot of problems for Washington's backline. Again, it's difficult at the end. You're down to 10 players, she's the lone player up top and her desire to go out and just try and put pressure on the players, and hold the ball up, and still threatening behind in the 90 plus 10th minute. So, credit to her and what a great asset she's been to the team.”
Orlando Pride Forward Barbra Banda
On her first start and match performance
“It's always amazing to have three points, more special, it was an away game so it was very important for us to win away and carry three points. I’m very happy and excited that I scored in my second appearance and I think I'm still motivated to want to make some more goals and more assists.”
On what she saw on her goal
“Well, actually, I didn’t expect it but I think it went according to the plan from training. I think I took the position that I was taught to pick, and I definitely picked that spot, and I found the ball in the back of the net.”
On her assist to Angelina
“Well, it was a good play because I think I made an effort to make that pass and I think my teammates were definitely aware that I would maybe put a cross, which I did, and it was so amazing.”
On playing with a team that was able to grind out three points down a player
“I think it means a lot. I think Pride are a very good team and we are working together, we fight together, we don’t want to let another down. I think the coordination and the teamwork is there, so it’s a very good team.”
Orlando Pride Forward Julie Doyle
Opening statement
“I’m just super proud of the squad. Today we showed a lot of grit. The first half wasn't pretty but we had the choice to throw it in the trash and come out a brand a new team [in the second half] and I think that's what we did. We scored two goals in the second half to get up and then I was just super proud of the people that came in and held down the fort.”
On her assist in Barbra Banda’s goal
“Well, it's something we've been working on in practice and it was working. Summer [Yates] said she meant to play me the ball near post. She said she saw that I was wide open, and I knew that I just [had to] flick it in into the squad. And I was just so happy for Barbra to finish that because that wasn't an easy finish and she made it look easy.”
On the team’s ability to see the game out
“I can count on every single person that's on this team. I trust everyone and we're just a team that digs, and you want to be a part of that.”
On Summer Yates’ play this season and playing with her
“I love playing with her. You know, she's super technical. She sees the game well, and I can see that she's looking for me in behind, and she's somebody who can play those balls. And so I know when she has the ball her at her feet, I’ve just got to make that run in behind and she'll find me. So it's been real fun and I'm excited to see how the rest of the season goes.”
