Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
Opening Statement
“Hard-fought point. We will take it. Obviously, every game we want to win, but considering that we were just on the road in Chicago and this quick turnaround with Gotham, getting to have two games at home we will take the clean sheet and we will take the point. These are the current champions right now and we know how talented they are and some of the players that they have, so for us to keep them quiet, we should take a lot of positives from that. Again, pleased with the point. Four points away from home is a good foundation to build on and now looking forward to Friday’s game.”
On Gotham FC’s offensive threats
“They’ve got some really talented players. You’ve got to be mindful of where players like Rose Lavelle picks off really good spaces, Esther [González] dropping down, and then the threats they can bring off the bench, as well, in Midge Purce and Jordynn Dudley, so I thought we managed it really well. I thought we picked our moments. It would’ve been nice to test their goalkeeper a little bit more, but wasn’t meant to be. But again, we’ve had back-to-back clean sheets, which is great for us considering the first two games that we’ve had and it’s something to build on moving forward.”
Orlando Pride Defender Oihane
Opening Statement
“Well, we didn’t win so we’re a little bit upset, but I think it was really good work from the team defensively, so we have to keep going, and look at Friday, when we have another game.”
On the team’s consecutive clean sheets
“Yeah, I think the team’s realized the most important thing is to have a clean sheet. Apart from that, we’ll keep going, and if we have a clean sheet, we have more chances to win. So I think we’re going the right way and we have to keep going.”
On weathering the offensive pressure in the second half
“Actually, we talked about it the other day, and I think that we need to have fun while we’re defending and bring that energy back. So once we’re enjoying what we’re doing, even if it’s defending, I think the team’s doing a really good job in that.”
Orlando Pride Midfielder Ally Lemos
Opening Statement
“My initial thought is road warriors. This is not an easy place, this is not an easy week, so really happy with our performance. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but at the end of the day, we got a point, and being away from home, being away from our fans, three-game week, I think that’s a pretty decent outcome.”
On the Pride’s success on the road
“I think in our minds, it’s underdog mentality. I think we really thrive off of that, and at the end of the day, we have nothing to lose. We have nothing to lose and everything to prove, so I think just embodying that and every tackle, every pass, every play just giving it our all and having each other's backs, and I think that’s really going to propel us throughout the season.”
On the team’s mentality defensively
“I think for us, it’s just taking pride in our defending, taking pride in our set pieces, and Seb [Hines] is really emphasizing all the little details and I think that’s really what helped us today to get a clean sheet. And at the end of the day, a clean sheet is a good performance defensively, so I think just taking pride in what we do, whether that be a clearance, whether that be a tackle, and just putting bodies on the line and doing whatever it takes to achieve that clean sheet.”
