Tracking Orlando Pride Players on Loan: 12/19/15

Like probably the majority of our readers, I am a fan of many sports, and I remember a few years back there was this commercial that played a lot about the golf Senior Tour. I don't recall the exact specifics, but it talked about how when stars of other sports are past their prime, they retire, get honored in the Hall of Fame, and perhaps play a little golf. Golf stars, on the other hand, keep on competing.

If you take that concept, shrink it down, add some (ok, a lot) of athleticism and squint a little, you can apply it to the soccer season. With all other sports, there's a definitive off-season, but because of the way the MLS and NWSL seasons play out, we can enjoy soccer year-round. Some may not like the inverse nature of these schedules, but the ability for the players to play soccer — and consequently for us as fans to enjoy it — all year is a nice benefit.

A few of the Orlando Pride players take advantage of this opportunity, and last month we took a look at their progress as they played abroad. Let's check in on them again, along with some of the more recently signed players who are also out on loan.

Jasmyne Spencer

When last we last we left Jasmyne Spencer, she was four games into her season with Sydney FC. She had been off to a slow start, having gone scoreless in her first four matches. She's started to heat up since then, finding the back of the net in two of her last three. She now has two goals on the season, and Sydney has started to creep up the table. They now sit third.

Camille Levin

Playing with Fiorentina, Levin had only played six minutes when we last looked. Since then, she's received but one more. Yet, it was a solid minute as nary a goal was scored and Fiorentina walked away with a 3-0 victory over Bari. I dare say, it might be the best minute of soccer in the Serie A women's season. Fiorentina sits fourth in the table; up one spot from last month.

Aubrey Bledsoe

Bledsoe's time with Fortuna Hjørring is over as the season has come to an end. The team was already eliminated from Champions League play when we checked in last month, but it had one game left in the Elitedivisionen. They won that game, 2-1, which vaulted them to the top of the table in a tie with Brøndby, though Brøndby held the edge in goal differential, Though Bledsoe didn't play, I feel confident in saying that her presence on the team was an essential part of the victory.

Lianne Sanderson

Last time we looked at Lianne Sanderson's production, she had scored four goals for Apollon (Cyprus) on the young season, and she's shown no indication of cooling since, as she's netted one more in each of her last two games. Apollon won those two games, 7-0 and 13-0 (!). The team has played seven games this season, winning six games and drawing one, while outscoring its opponents — and you may want to make sure you're sitting down for this one — 65-2. Sixty-five to two! That draw was a 2-2 game to open the season against Lefkothea Latsis. After that warm-up, they've proceeded to score 63 unanswered goals in the following six games. Not surprisingly, Apollon tops the table in a tie with Lefkothea Latsis (also at 6-0-1, though with a measly 39-3 scoring differential).

Stephanie-Elsie Catley

Steph Catley came to Orlando via trade only a week and a half ago, and she's currently playing in Australia for Melbourne City FC. The two-time FFA U-20 Footballer of the Year, and W-League Young Player of the Year is a key player on the dominant team in the Australian W-League. Melbourne City is a perfect 8-0 on the season, including a season-opening 6-0 victory over Jasmyne Spencer's Sydney FC. Their 27-3 goal differential is not quite Apollon-esque, but I suspect there's a little more parity in Australia than there is in Cyprus.

It's only a matter of months until these women bring their talents back to Florida to kick off the inaugural Orlando Pride campaign. Until then, we'll continue to follow their successes as they compete in other leagues around the world.