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Orlando Pride vs. Boston Breakers: Final Score 4-2 as Pride Win Fifth in a Row

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6 years ago

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On a wet, rainy night in Central Florida the Orlando Pride (10-6-5, 35 points) managed to win their fifth game in a row and extended their unbeaten streak to six. Rachel Hill scored an early brace and Marta and Chioma Ubogagu added a goal each, as the Pride beat the Boston Breakers (3-11-7, 16 points) 4-2 in front of 5,413 fans in Orlando City Stadium. The win completed a 3-0 sweep of Boston in 2017 by Orlando.

“I thought the first 30 minutes we were superb,” Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “I thought that was the best 30 minutes that we’ve had, perhaps, this season. I thought we were slick, our movement was great, we were creating chances. I thought we really dominated the game and then we went to sleep for a little bit. We need to be, probably, a little bit better when we are not going through those spells and playing really well.”

With Kristen Edmonds and Jasmyne Spencer both injured, Sermanni was forced to make a few changes to his starting XI. Camila moved down to right back and Hill got her first start since Aug. 8. The rest of the starters from the Pride’s 2-1 win in Kansas City remained the same, with Alex Morgan leading the attack and Marta playing underneath her.

The Pride came out hot, and Morgan, Hill, and Marta all had chances, but it was the rookie that put Orlando ahead in the eighth minute. Ubogagu put in a cross from the left side to Morgan. Boston ‘keeper Abby Smith made a good save on Morgan’s effort and Hill was there for cleanup duty, scoring off the half-volley. 

After the opener, the rain started coming down even harder. And with the rain, the Pride kept pushing forward and Hill got the first brace of her career in the 15th minute. Morgan put in a perfect ball, and Hill passed it into the back of the net to put the home side up 2-0. 

It was Hill’s third goal and Morgan’s third assist of the season.

Hill nearly got the first hat trick in Pride history in the 23rd minute. Chi forced a turnover and beat two Breakers’ defenders before trying to hit Hill on the back post. Hill’s sliding attempt was fractions off, and the ball went out of bounds untouched. 

“I think the great thing about our strikers or attacking-minded players on the team is everyone wants to score but at the same time no one’s forcing it,” Chi said. “So, I think if it’s the first minute or the 90th minute, Rachel is making those runs. She just really works hard for the team.”

The rain seemed to have an impact on the match, and there were many turnovers from both teams. Both the Pride and Boston had difficulty controlling the ball, first touches were poor at times, and a few slips. 

After the first half hour, the Breakers got into the game and Orlando started to hold onto the ball. There were a couple of long spells of possessions for the Pride, and most of the action happened within the first 25 minutes. 

The Pride finished the first 45 minutes with 60% possession, seven shots, and an impressive 86% passing accuracy. Hill’s two shots both found the back of the net, as the rookie was a nightmare for the opposition.

As the second half started, the rain stopped and Boston got one back. Rosie White got on the end of a cross from Amanda Frisbie to cut the Pride lead to 2-1. The Pride defenders looked unorganized and not ready, but the goal lit a spark for Orlando. Two minutes after giving up a goal, Morgan hit the post on the other end. Hill followed up the shot, but the ball took an unlucky bounce off the post and she could not complete the hat trick. 

“At halftime [Ali Krieger] was kinda saying that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football. So, starting the second half she wanted us to start how we started the first half,” said Ubogagu. “So when that goal went in it was kinda frustrating because we all knew that wasn’t good enough.”

The game went back and forth until Chi put the ball on a platter for Marta in the 67th minute. All alone, with only the ‘keeper to beat, the Brazilian had no trouble finding the back of the net. It was Marta’s 12th goal of the year, which is good enough for a tie for the second most in the NWSL.

In the 77th minute, Chi once again intercepted the ball and started an Orlando attack. Ubogagu had Morgan up top, but she was tired of assisting other players, so she took on Boston’s defense by herself before taking a left footed shot that beat Smith. The ball bounced off the far post and rolled in the net to secure the three points for the Pride.  

Boston got a consolation goal in the 89th minute. Julie King out-jumped every Pride player off a corner from Adriana Leon. Ashlyn Harris had no chance at saving it, but the game was all but over at that point anyway.

The Pride finished with 12 shots, seven on target, and 54% possession. Orlando dominated for most of the game but there were periods of time when they went on autopilot, which led to the first time all season that the Pride gave up multiple goals at home.

“Yea, [giving up two goals] is worrisome, because we come up against a team vying for the top four next week and then we come up against two teams in the top four,” said Sermanni. “If we make fundamental errors at the back, we’ll get punished. We talked about it at half, because we saw some of the signs of it in the first half. And again, there’s a couple of things. I thought one-against-one we made life too easy for them. I thought collectively we never got ourselves organized as well as we could have. You combine those factors, you give away goals.”

The Pride are nearing the end of the season and face Seattle, Portland, and North Carolina to finish out the season. Seattle has the second most goals scored in the NWSL, behind the Pride’s 41, and Portland and North Carolina are second and first in the standings, respectively.

The Pride continue their home stand on Saturday, Sept. 9. They take on sixth-place Seattle at 7:30 in Orlando City Stadium.

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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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