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Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Final Score 2-0 as Last-Place Dash Send Pride to First Home Defeat

The Pride weren’t sharp at all and squandered too many early chances before falling at home for the first time in 2017.

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6 years ago

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Image courtesy of Victor Tan / New Day Review

The Orlando Pride squandered good opportunities early and looked more like the visiting team than the hosts, falling 2-0 to the Houston Dash. It was the Pride’s first loss at Orlando City Stadium and came against a team that entered with only two wins on the year.

A crowd of 5,497 braved the midday Central Florida heat but wasn’t rewarded for its support, as Orlando (3-4-3, 16 points) simply didn’t have it on this day. Houston (3-7-0, 9 points) got just its third win of the year behind goals by Carli Lloyd and Rachel Daly.

“Given how we’ve been playing of late, I think it was a disappointing performance,” Head Coach Tom Sermanni said after the game. 

The Pride were actually on the front foot through the game’s first half hour but lacked the sharpness in the final third necessary to take the early lead. It started early, as Steph Catley’s through ball for Rachel Hill was picked off four minutes in. A minute later, Jasmyne Spencer left a back-post cross for Hill too close to Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who made a diving intervention.

In the ninth minute, Hill worked a nice give-and-go with Alanna Kennedy but the Pride midfielder couldn’t get the ball out of her feet to take a shot. Ali Krieger pushed a header wide on a Marta corner kick at the 11-minute mark as the Pride continued to buzz but couldn’t take advantage.

In the 21st minute, Camila made a sparkling turn and run to the top of the box but she got nothing on her shot and it was easy for Campbell to collect. Two minutes later, a ball fell perfectly for a wide-open Hill at the top of the box but she fired her shot right at Campbell.

The last good opportunity for Orlando in the opening period came in minute 27, when Catley placed a cross perfectly for Marta but Campbell got a touch on Marta’s header and sent it off the bar. The Houston keeper was able to recover in time to beat two onrushing Pride players to the rebound.

The water break at the half-hour mark seemed to settle down the Dash, who came into the game in the final 15+ minutes of the opening half.

“To be honest, up until the first water break I thought we were quite comfortable,” Sermanni said. “I thought we were playing OK, generally in control of the game. I felt if we had scored at that stage we would have probably gone on and won the game. But after that I thought we were very poor.

“The energy was poor. I thought our effort was poor. And I thought our execution was poor. We really never got at any stage of the game after that what I’d call on a roll to put Houston under any kind of pressure.”

“Obviously those water breaks are needed but it takes away from the momentum of the game,” Krieger said.

Toni Pressley gave up an unnecessary free kick shortly after the restart. Houston’s cross was headed clear by Krieger but fell for Janine Beckie, who sent her volley shot over the net. Beckie fired high again in the 40th minute from outside the box when given too much room. That problem led to the opening goal minutes later.

Poliana got in behind the defense on a ball over the top in the 42nd minute and her chip shot beat Aubrey Bledsoe, but Catley cleared it off the line at the last second.

The warning bells didn’t wake the defense, however.

In first-half stoppage, Poliana squared a ball to a wide-open Lloyd, who blasted her shot into the upper 90 to give Houston a 1-0 lead at the break.

Things didn’t improve for Orlando after the half. The Pride continued to make unforced errors, pass the ball out of bounds, cross into the box to no one, and lose the ball repeatedly.

Just 17 minutes after the restart, the Dash doubled their lead. Lloyd’s long diagonal ball found Poliana, who centered for Rachel Daly, who one-timed a shot past Bledsoe to double the visitors’ lead.

Sermanni emptied his bench to try to find some offense, bringing on Maddy Evans, Jamia Fields, and Danica Evans for Monica, Hill, and Spencer, respectively. It didn’t really work. Evans got one shot off on a give-and-go with Kennedy at the top of the box but missed wide. Fields had a shot off a corner that was blocked. Aside from that, there was little in the way of opportunities for the Pride after the second Dash goal.

“Credit to Houston — they were really good,” Catley said. “They moved the ball well and worked really hard.” 

The Pride out-shot the Dash, 14-10, but only got three of their efforts on target. Orlando fell to 4-2-0 all-time against Houston after six meetings. The Dash snapped a six-game losing streak and denied Orlando a three-game winning streak in the process. Houston’s last win was April 29.

Orlando won’t have long to try to regroup. The Pride travel to Sky Blue for a Wednesday night match.

“We’re going to move forward. We’re going to iron out the details this week,” said Krieger. “We understand that we can do a lot better and we can play a lot better.”

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2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Madril

The first-year defender played almost every single minute available in the 2023 season.

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5 hours ago

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December 6, 2023

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride selected former Florida State defender Emily Madril with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft. The 5-foot-7 Navarre, FL native decided to forego her last season of eligibility in Tallahassee to begin her professional career. A two-time national champion (2018 and 2021), Madril left FSU, signing a contract with the National Women’s Soccer League through 2025 and was loaned to Swedish side BK Hacken FF.

Following a standout first NWSL season in which she played all but three minutes in the regular season, Madril was rewarded by the Pride with a new contract through 2026.

Let’s take a look at her first season with the Orlando Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

Madril started all 22 of the Pride’s regular-season games in 2023, leading all rookies in minutes played (1,977), and coming off only moments before the end of the club’s season finale against the Houston Dash when the Pride were desperately trying to score a game winner to stay in playoff contention. The defender did not record a goal or an assist on the season, attempting just one shot, which was off target. Madril completed 814 of her 953 passes (85.4%), 46 of her 103 long passes (44.7%), and one of her three crosses, while recording five key passes. There wasn’t much drop-off in her passing rate related to position on the field, as Madril completed 88.7% of her passes in the defensive half and 75.6% in the attacking half. Defensively, she added 19 blocks and 19 interceptions, won 17 of her 28 tackles (60.7%), and was successful on 76 of her 122 duels (62.3%). She also won 54.5% of her 33 aerial duels. She won 23 fouls while conceding only nine and was booked twice during the regular season.

In the NWSL Challenge Cup, Madril appeared in five of the team’s six matches (all starts), and played 450 minutes. She did not score a goal or assist on one and did not attempt a shot. She completed 193 of her 224 passes (86.2%), including 13 of her 25 long passes (52%). Madril passed at an 89% rate in her own half and a 78.3% in the attacking half, recording one key pass, but not attempting a cross in the competition. She recorded 10 blocks and four interceptions on defense, winning 55.6% of her tackle attempts, 68.1% of her duels, and 71.4% of her aerial duels. She committed five fouls, drawing six on the opposition, and was not booked in the tournament.

Best Game

With a number of standout games to choose from, I’ll go with the Pride’s 1-0 win over OL Reign on July 7. Paired with Megan Montefusco as the center back tandem, Madril and her teammates limited the Reign to just five shot attempts (two on target) across the 90+ minutes of the game. Madril had 55 touches and completed 89.1% of her 46 passes. She recorded two tackles and drew two fouls on her opponents while not committing any. Madril and her teammates helped Messiah Bright’s 16th-minute strike hold up over the remainder of the match without constantly being under siege. It was a complete performance and one of the team’s best defensive efforts of the year. It was also just the Pride’s second win ever against OL Reign.

2023 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Madril a composite rating of 6.5 for the 2023 season. There were several shaky moments early in the year for the first-year NWSL defender that prevented that score from rising higher (such as conceding a penalty against Angel City), but as the season progressed and she became more comfortable with Seb Hines’ system, the league, and her teammates, Madril was a solid player on the Pride’s back line. She showed her versatility in being able to play both center back positions as well as right back for a couple of matches. A 6.5 is a good rating for a first-year NWSL center back, and Madril showed that she has the potential to develop into one of the league’s best defenders.

2024 Outlook

Madril is obviously highly regarded by the organization and has a huge upside. She has expressed on multiple occasions how happy she is to be with the Pride, and I would expect her to be in Orlando until/unless the Pride get an offer they can’t refuse from a bigger club or if Madril decides to leave once she’s eligible for free agency. Madril should be a starter on the back line for the Pride in 2024 barring something unforseen.

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Orlando Pride Sign Defender Emily Madril to New Contract

The center back signs a new three-year deal, keeping her in Orlando through 2026.

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1 day ago

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December 5, 2023

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed starting center back Emily Madril to a new three-year contract. The defender originally signed a three-year deal with the NWSL, running through the 2025 season, but this new contract will keep her in Orlando through 2026.

“I had a great rookie year here and had so much fun and love everyone in the Orlando Pride organization,” Madril said in a club press release. “The chemistry that we have in the locker room between all the girls and the entire coaching staff is just amazing and played a big factor in me wanting to stay here in Orlando. I am so excited to be a part of the Pride for the future and continue to be a part of the special thing we are building here.” 

After leaving Florida State University following her junior season, Madril signed a three-year contract with the NWSL and went on loan to Swedish Damallsvenskan side BK Hacken. The Pride drafted the defender with the third overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft, immediately putting her into the starting lineup.

Madril initially started alongside Caitlin Cosme at center back, before being joined by Megan Montefusco and, eventually, Rafaelle. She showed her versatility on two occasions, starting at right back.

The Boise, ID native started all 22 regular-season games for the Pride, recording a rookie-leading 1,977 minutes, and she only came off late in the season finale against the Houston Dash when the Pride needed a goal. She completed 814 of her 953 passes (85.4%), 46 of her 103 long passes (44.7%), and took one off-target shot. Defensively, she added 19 blocks and 19 interceptions, won 17 of her 28 tackles (60.7%), and was successful on 76 of her 122 duels (62.3%).

Madril also played in five of the team’s six Challenge Cup games, recording 450 minutes. She completed 193 of 224 passes in those games (86.2%) and 13 of 25 long balls (52%). She continued to be a key defensive presence in those midseason cup matches, recording 10 blocks and four interceptions, as well as winning 10 of her 18 tackles (55.6%) and 32 of her 47 duels (68.1%).

“Emily came in and made an immediate impact, just as we expected she would when we drafted her,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in the club’s release. “She was a reliable presence in our back line throughout the entire season and showed her potential to be one of the best defenders in the league. Her maturity and professionalism shined throughout the entire year, and we are very happy to be able to have her with the Pride for the years to come. She is an important part of what we are building here, and she wants to be a part of it, which we are very excited about.” 

Madril has also had a presence for the United States at the international level, receiving call-ups for the U-19, U-20, and U-23 U.S. Women’s National Teams.

What It Means for Orlando

Madril was a key piece of the Pride’s team in 2023 and the club hopes she’ll be for a long time to come. She showed early on that she can become one of the best defenders in the NWSL and her time at right back indicated she has the versatility valued by Carter and Pride Head Coach Seb Hines.

The 24-year-old was already signed to a three-year deal through the 2025 season, so this keeps her in Orlando for an additional year. Terms were not disclosed, but it’s likely she got a raise as well. If she continues to improve on how she played this season, the Pride will undoubtedly look to extend her even further into the future. For next year, she’ll likely continue starting alongside Rafaelle, making up a formidable center back pairing the club can count on.

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2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse

The 2023 NWSL season was Anna Moorhouse’s first as the Orlando Pride’s starting goalkeeper.

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2 days ago

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December 4, 2023

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The 2023 NWSL season was Anna Moorhouse’s second with the Orlando Pride and her first as the team’s starting goalkeeper. She was originally signed prior to the 2022 season, backing up veteran Erin McLeod that year. However, the Canadian international left the team, resulting in Moorhouse taking over the starting role.

Let’s take a look at Moorhouse’s first season starting for the Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

Moorhouse started 19 of the team’s 22 regular-season games, playing 1,623 minutes. The team’s record in those games was 9-9-1, as she conceded 22 goals, saving 72 of her 94 shots faced (76.6%). She ended the year with seven clean sheets, 19 catches, six punches, and four drops. The Pride’s number one completed 387 of her 573 passes (67.5%) out of the back and 115 of her 292 long balls. The passing accuracy in her own half was 79.1% and 32.4% in the opposing half. She conceded one foul and won two, getting sent off in the third minute of the team’s 1-0 loss to OL Reign on Sept. 3.

The English shot stopper also played in four Challenge Cup games, recording 360 minutes. She conceded 10 goals in the competition with no clean sheets and saved 13 of her 23 shots faced (56.5%). Moorhouse had three catches, one punch, and no drops in the secondary competition. She successfully completed 69 of her 111 passes (62.2%) and 29 of her 68 long passes (42.6%). Similar to the regular season, her pass completion percentage was far higher in her own half (76.4%) than in the opposing half (35.9%). Additionally, she won a foul and didn’t concede any.

Best Game

Moorhouse’s most active game was the season opener against the Portland Thorns, where she faced 27 shots and made 12 saves. However she conceded four goals and one was her fault. Her best game of the year came on Oct. 2 in Los Angeles and it was a critical one. Adriana scored in the 22nd minute against Angel City FC to give the Pride a 1-0 lead and the visitors held on for dear life to claim three points that put them in the running for a playoff spot.

One of Moorhouse’s seven clean sheets, the goalkeeper made seven saves on the night, her second-most of the season. Most of Angel City’s shots were right at the goalkeeper, but she was sure-handed, something that plagued her earlier in the year. In the 57th minute, Claire Emslie beat Haley McCutcheon to the ball inside the six-yard box, but Moorhouse was decisive in coming out, forcing the forward to send her shot into the side netting. Her biggest moment of the game came in the 86th minute, when substitute Sydney Leroux got her head on the ball and put it on target. Moorhouse tipped the attempt over the crossbar, maintaining the Pride’s narrow 1-0 lead.

2023 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Moorhouse a composite grade of 6 out of 10 for the 2023 NWSL season. Shot stopping was her strength, but she struggled at other aspects, especially holding onto the ball. On multiple occasions this season, her inability to hold onto a catch resulted in second chances and goals for the opposition. She struggled in the team’s penultimate game against Racing Louisville, effectively ending the Pride’s season, and her third-minute red card against OL Reign was likely a determining factor in a crucial 1-0 loss. However, she had seven clean sheets on the season and was the team’s best goalkeeper.

2024 Outlook

Moorhouse’s initial contract was a two-year deal, running through the 2023 season. While there were questions about her dependability in goal this season, Seb Hines and Haley Carter were pleased with her performances, awarding her with a new contract on Oct. 5, keeping the goalkeeper in purple through at least the 2025 season. The Pride now have four goalkeepers under contract for next year, and Moorhouse will be challenged for her role as the starter by new signing Sofia Manner.

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