Orlando Pride vs. Boston Breakers: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread for tonight’s match-up between the Orlando Pride (1-3-3, 6 points) and the Boston Breakers (2-3-2, 8 points). This is the first of three scheduled meetings between the two sides this season. The Pride visit Jordan Field on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. and the Breakers return to Orlando on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.

The Pride is coming off a tough 2-1 loss at Sky Blue FC, snapping their three-game unbeaten streak. Jasmyne Spencer opened the scoring but Samantha Kerr and Maya Hayes brought the hosts back to win. Boston lost at Portland, 2-0 last weekend and went winless (0-2-2) in four matches in the month of May.

Orlando is 1-1-0 against the Breakers, winning the first meeting at home, 2-1, on July 10, 2016. Kristen Edmonds’ brace erased a 1-0 deficit in the closing minutes of the match to lift the Pride. Mollie Pathman scored Boston’s goal. The Breakers avenged that loss with a 1-0 home win on July 31 of last year. Natasha Dowie scored the game’s only goal.

The Breakers are a much-improved side over a year ago, with the additions of young USWNT star Rose Lavelle and New Zealand international Rosie White. Defender Megan Oyster has come over from the Washington Spirit to bolster the back line. Matt Beard’s side won two of its first three games in 2017, after winning only three all of last year.

Dowie leads the Breakers with three goals, and Lavelle has added two so far this season. Adriana Leon is second in the NWSL with three assists. Boston goalkeeper Abby Smith, who is in the USWNT picture, is fourth in the league with 25 saves. Boston has been the least disciplined NWSL side this season, racking up 12 yellow cards and a red card.

“It’s not just the significance of this game. It’s the significance of turning our season around and getting results,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “There’s still another 17 games to go so you don’t pin everything on one game. But what is important is that we pick up points and that we start moving up the table and we start getting in contact with the teams in the top half.”

Ashlyn Harris (quad) is out for Orlando due to injury, and Dani Weatherholt was called up to the U.S. U-23 team for the Nordic Tournament which begins in a few days. Megan Oyster (knee sprain) is out for Boston, as is Allysha Chapman (red card suspension).

Projected Lineups:

Orlando Pride (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Aubrey Bledsoe.

Defenders: Steph Catley, Toni Pressley, Alanna Kennedy, Ali Krieger.

Midfielders:  Camila, Maddy Evans, Kristen Edmonds.

Forwards: Jasmyne Spencer, Jamia Fields, Marta.

Bench: Caroline Stanley, Laura Alleway, Chioma Ubogagu, Rachel Hill, Danica Evans, Monica, Nickolette Driesse.

Boston Breakers (4-1-4-1)

Goalkeeper: Abby Smith.

Defenders: Brooke Elby, Christen Westphal, Amanda Frisbie, Julie King.

Defensive Midfielder: Angela Salem.

Midfielders: Emilie Haavi, Rose Lavelle, Rosie White, Adriana Leon.

Forwards: Natasha Dowie.

Bench: Sammy Jo Prudhomme, Tiffany Weimer, Margaret Purce, Ifeoma Onumonu, Morgan Andrews.

Referees

Ref: Karen Abt.

AR1: Brooke Mavo.

AR2: Trent Robert Vanhaitsma.

4th: Janessa Gunn.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Orlando City Stadium — Orlando, FL.

TV: None.

Streaming:  go90.com, go90 iOS and Android app (in the U.S.), NWSLSoccer.com or the NWSL app (outside the U.S.).

Twitter: For live updates, follow along at the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride) and on The Mane Land’s Twitter (@TheManeLand).

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