Orlando Pride
2017 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Camila
When the Orlando Pride acquired defender/midfielder Camila Martins Pereira on Dec. 19, 2016, it was unclear to many what they were getting. This was a player that had been waived by the Houston Dash after 12 NWSL appearances, but she was still quite young at just 22 years of age.
However, Tom Sermanni knew exactly what he was getting, when he said:
“Camila is exactly the type of player we are looking to bring to the Pride,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said in a club press release. “She is a young, dynamic and versatile player who we believe will be a valuable asset to our team. We’re excited to bring someone with her skill and potential to the club.”
How prophetic Sermanni was. Camila brought all of that to the team — dynamism, versatility, skill, and potential — in 2017.
Statistical Breakdown
Camila appeared in all 24 regular-season matches with the Pride this season. Of her 22 starts, four were at left back, three at forward, and 15 in the midfield. She was one of only two Pride players who appeared in all 24 games and she played a total of 1,900 minutes — the fifth most on the club (behind Ali Krieger, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley, and Marta). She scored four goals on the season — tied for third on the team — and added five assists, which place her second on Orlando and tied for sixth in the league.
She created 23 chances, placing her among the league’s best in setting up her teammates with scoring opportunities. Her 51 shot attempts were tied for 13th in the NWSL, and she got 18 of those on target (35%). Adept at getting position on her opponents, Camila won 51 fouls during the 2017 season, leading all of the NWSL in drawing free kicks. She passed at an 80% clip, attempted 24 crosses, made nine clearances on defense, won 78% of her tackles, and was offside only twice all season. She committed 32 fouls and drew four yellow cards — both team highs.
Camila won NWSL Goal of the Week twice, in Week 3 and 9, and was one of the league’s brightest emerging stars up until a severe knee injury sidelined her in the final regular-season game, forcing her to miss Orlando’s first playoff match.
Best Game
The native of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, had perhaps as many outstanding matches as anyone on the team and you could point to any of them and not be wrong. I’m going with the 5-0 beatdown of Sky Blue FC at home on Aug. 12. Camila didn’t even score a goal in that game but she played so well it didn’t matter. In that match, Camila was accurate on 97% of her 33 passes, fired two shots, finished with one tackle and picked up an assist on the one chance she created.
That one chance created was an easy finish for Dani Weatherholt after Camila’s jaw-dropping footwork, dancing through multiple Sky Blue defenders before making the perfect cross to set up the second Pride goal.
43' – Camila with a perfect cross back across goal for @daniweatherholt, who cleanly puts it away for a 2-0 @ORLPride lead. #ORLvNJ pic.twitter.com/mqTtLzIx95
— NWSL (@NWSL) August 13, 2017
2017 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Camila a 7.5 composite grade for the season. The Brazilian did so many things right that this rating might seem a bit low. There were very few criticisms of her game, but she did concede too many free kicks in dangerous spots, attempted too many audacious shots that wrecked promising buildup play which could have created much better scoring opportunities, and sometimes disappeared in the second halves of games. She got her shots on target for the most part, but if she didn’t catch all of it they tended to dribble in on goal weakly. At her age (having just turned 23 in October), there is still plenty of room for development, provided she bounces back from her knee injury.
2018 Outlook
Following the 2017 season, the Pride picked up Camila’s contract option. The Brazilian international will be back with Orlando in 2018, but it may be mid-season before she’s fit enough to play and it could be well into late summer before she is back to 100%. As soon as she’s healthy, expect her to slot back into the Pride midfield, and, depending on how the club addresses the right back position, she could continue to make occasional appearances on the back line in that spot. The sky is the limit for Camila as a player, and should she continue to learn from mentor Marta — and regain full fitness — there’s no reason to think Camila couldn’t become a cornerstone player in the Pride’s future for years to come.
Previous 2017 Player Season in Review Posts (Date Published)
- Dani Weatherholt (11/17).
- Nickolette Driesse (11/18).
- Ashlyn Harris (11/19).
- Aubrey Bledsoe (11/20).
- Monica (11/21).
- Ali Krieger (11/22).
- Jamia Fields (11/23).
- Toni Pressley (11/24).
- Kristen Edmonds (11/25).
- Jasmyne Spencer (11/26).
- Steph Catley (11/27).
- Danica Evans (11/28).
- Chioma Ubogagu (11/28).
- Rachel Hill (11/29).
- Alanna Kennedy (11/30).
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Mariana Larroquette
The Argentine international’s second season with Orlando did not produce the larger role with the team she may have expected.
In the middle of the 2023 season, the Orlando Pride signed forward Mariana Larroquette, adding her to the roster July 6 on a deal through the 2025 season. The Argentine international represented her country in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, meaning she didn’t join the Pride until after the competition. Although she was a signing made with an eye toward bolstering the offense, Larroquette made only five appearances in her first season in Orlando — all of them off the bench. With a full preseason with the Pride under her belt, many expected to see her play a more significant role in 2024, but ultimately, it didn’t work out that way. The Pride’s signing of Barbra Banda didn’t help matters for Larroquette in terms of playing time.
Let’s take a look at how Larroquette performed in her second season in Orlando.
Statistical Breakdown
Larroquette made her season debut March 22 against Angel City, which was one of just four appearances during the regular season — all off the bench — logging 48 total minutes. She did not contribute a goal or an assist, failing to attempt a shot. The 32-year-old completed just 41.2% of her 17 passes without a key pass. Larroquette won four of her six tackle attempts (66.7%) and two headed duels. She committed one foul and drew three on the opposition and was not booked.
In the Summer Cup, Larroquette made three appearances, starting once — in the team’s 2-2 draw against CF Monterrey, in which Orlando captured the extra point in penalties. Larroquette played 107 minutes but did not contribute a goal or an assist, attempting three shots but putting neither on target. She completed 68% of her 25 passes but did not create a scoring chance from them. Defensively, she won two headed duels and recorded three interceptions, but she did not attempt a tackle. Larroquette committed one foul in the Summer Cup, drew four on the opposition, and was not booked.
She did not appear in the Pride’s playoff run.
Best Game
Larroquette’s best game has to be the one in which she started and played a season-high 65 minutes — the Pride’s 2-2 draw and 5-4 penalty shootout victory over CF Monterrey in the Summer Cup. Although Larroquette was already off the pitch by the time the shootout took place, she still made her biggest impact in this match, as it was the only game of the year in which she attempted any shots. While she didn’t impact the scoresheet on the attacking end, Larroquette recorded three interceptions in the match as she helped out in the press and defending the Mexican side.
2024 Final Grade
With 155 total minutes across all competitions, Larroquette fell short of the required 400 minutes to qualify for a grade from The Mane Land staff. As a result, she’s given an incomplete for the 2024 NWSL season. She played more in 2024 than she did in 2023, but she was also on the roster all year.
2024 Outlook
Larroquette’s contract runs through the 2025 NWSL season, but the writing may be on the wall after getting few minutes the last two seasons. She’s also on the wrong side of 30 to see much of an increase in that department. This may be an off-season that sees the club part ways with the veteran striker, who may seek a chance to get more minutes elsewhere as she the shelf life on her professional career grows shorter. If she remains on the roster, I would expect her role to remain the same in 2025, giving the club a few minutes here and there later in games and perhaps seeing a larger role in midseason cup competitions.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Sofia Manner
The Finnish goalkeeper spent her first season in Orlando. Let’s look back to see how she performed.
The Orlando Pride signed Finnish goalkeeper Sofia Manner on Dec. 1, 2023 on a deal through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. At the time, Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said the club expected Manner to challenge Anna Moorhouse for the starting goalkeeper role. Given that Moorhouse played every minute of the season and McKinley Crone dressed as the primary backup, that didn’t exactly happen.
However, Manner did get some minutes in her first year in Orlando in the Summer Cup, giving Head Coach Seb Hines a look at her under competitive match conditions.
Let’s take a look back at Manner’s first season with the Pride.
Statistical Breakdown
Manner did not play in the regular season, as Moorhouse played every minute of the season (and postseason) for the Pride in goal. However, Manner got the start in Orlando’s second game in the competition, a home match against CF Monterrey on July 28. The contest ended in a 2-2 draw before the Pride won 5-4 in penalties in the ensuing shootout.
Manner played 90 minutes, allowing two goals and making three saves, for a 60% save percentage. She only faced seven non-blocked shots, but five of them were on target. The Helsinki native completed 16 of 21 passes (73%), including four of 10 long balls. Following the draw, Manner made the difference in the shootout, stopping a shot by Merel Van Dongen, who was the only player of the 10 shooters not to convert.
Best Game
Having played in only one match, this is an easy choice. Manner’s debut was her only match of the year, meaning the 2-2 draw vs. CF Monterrey in the Summer Cup was also her best game of the 2024 season. The visitors took the lead twice in the match, but Manner kept her team in the game, allowing the Pride to equalize twice. Once the match moved to penalties, Manner did well to stop a shot from one of Monterrey’s most dangerous players, allowing her team to claim an extra point.
2024 Final Grade
With only 90 minutes to her credit across all competitions in 2024, Manner didn’t play enough to get a grade for the 2024 season, receiving an incomplete from The Mane Land staff. Despite a small sample size, backup goalkeepers don’t always get a chance to play, so it’s good that the coaching staff got a look at the 27-year-old during a competitive match against international competition.
2025 Outlook
With Moorhouse signed through the 2025 season and McKinley Crone also under contract, Manner could remain and try to battle her way up the depth chart. However, if the prospects don’t look good for her to get playing time, there’s a chance that she and the club could mutually agree to part ways. Crone looked good in her limited time, but it’s always nice to have a more experienced option behind Moorhouse as well. Unless there are injuries, I would expect Manner’s minutes to be limited in 2025 as well, unless she can elevate her game and earn more looks.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride Defender Carrie Lawrence Announces Her Retirement
Pride defender Carrie Lawrence has announced her retirement from professional soccer.
The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that defender Carrie Lawrence has announced her retirement. The defender joined the Pride in 2019, but a major injury derailed a promising professional career.
“Carrie means so much to this club but also means so much to the city of Orlando. To be a native of Orlando, play at UCF, and represent the Pride badge the way she has speaks volumes to the type of person she is,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Her perseverance to battle back from injuries and constant positive energy epitomize the kind of players we want to represent this club. We are so thankful for everything Carrie has done for us and can’t wait to continue to support her in any way she needs during this transition. We are proud to have Carrie a part of our Pride family and are so excited to see what she does in the next chapter of her life.”
The 27-year-old originally joined the Pride as a training player in 2019 and signed a short-term contract on Sept. 8, 2020 for the Fall Series. She impressed enough to earn a one-year deal on Jan. 5, 2021 with an option for an additional season. The team kept the young defender on its books following the 2022 season, signing her to a new two-year deal that expired following the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, Lawrence’s bright future soon turned sour. The defender tore her ACL during the team’s 2023 preseason camp, causing her to miss the entire season. By the time she returned for this year, the team had built a stronger defensive unit, leaving Lawrence on the sidelines. She got some playing time this year, but her most impactful performance was getting sent off against the Kansas City Current in July.
Lawrence’s professional debut came on Sept. 19, 2020 in a 0-0 draw with the North Carolina Courage. She played 90 minutes that day and had a goal-line clearance, helping the Pride’s defensive unit to a clean sheet. Her final appearance was a start on Oct. 11, 2024, a 2-0 loss to the Portland Thorns. She played 65 minutes in that game before being replaced by regular starter Emily Sams.
The Orlando native made 33 appearances with 23 starts in all competitions, recording 2,041 minutes and two assists. This year, the defender made 11 appearances in all competitions with five starts, recording 465 minutes and an assist.
“After giving my whole life to this sport, I am extremely blessed and grateful to announce my retirement,” Lawrence said in the club’s press release. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be than Orlando. It’s been my home from the start of my professional career, and it gave me everything in return. Winning the shield and the championship this year is more than I could have dreamed. Most importantly this group of people made it that much sweeter. Orlando will forever be home!”
Prior to joining the Pride as a training player, Lawrence played three seasons for the UCF Knights, making 49 appearances between 2016 and 2018. She scored four goals, added 11 assists, and was named second team All-American Athletic Conference during her senior year.
What It Means for Orlando
Lawrence was a key contributor to the Pride defense before her injury prior to the 2023 season. However, she soon found herself with a much lesser role as the team built up its back line, signing Brazilian international Rafaelle during the 2023 campaign and slotting in Kerry Abello in a new role at left back. Kylie Strom moved from left back to center back this year, making it even more difficult for Lawrence to find a spot on the field.
In all likelihood, the Pride weren’t going to re-sign Lawrence after this season, forcing her to find a new home. However, she’s currently engaged to Pride captain Marta, who has indicated her intention to play one or two more years — likely remaining in Orlando if she does so. This decision likely had a significant impact on Lawrence’s decision to retire from the game.
At one time, it looked like Lawrence would be a key piece of the Pride lineup moving forward, but the team has largely moved on without her, causing her to see limited minutes. As a result, this decision won’t have a tremendous impact on the Pride moving forward aside from opening a roster spot.
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