Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Sky Blue FC: Final Score 1-0 as Lloyd’s Goal Lifts Hosts to First Win of the Season
A terrible season came to a merciful end as the Orlando Pride played the victims in Sky Blue FC’s only win of 2018. Carli Lloyd’s goal in the second half was the only one of the game and Kailen Sheridan was a savior in net for the hosts in a 1-0 Pride loss at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ.
As has been the case all season, the Pride (8-10-6, 30 points) squandered chances, gave away the ball cheaply, and simply weren’t good enough given the names on the backs of the jerseys. The tactics and shape were fine and the team created plenty of opportunities to take control against Sky Blue FC (1-17-6, 9 points) but couldn’t capitalize.
To make matters worse, Sky Blue played a road match just four days ago while the bulk of Orlando’s roster was fresh. The Pride, who scored just one goal in their final four games, finish the 2018 NWSL season an unbelievable seventh in the nine-team league.
The only real surprise in Tom Sermanni’s starting XI was Haley Kopmeyer in net in place of Ashlyn Harris. With Marta unavailable with a hamstring issue, Chioma Ubogagu started up top with Alex Morgan and the returning Sydney Leroux.
Let's go get three points. #NJvORL pic.twitter.com/NV7JOOWhyg
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) September 8, 2018
The Pride controlled much of the first half in terms of possession and passing but lacked clinical finishing, as we’ve seen much of this season, and most of Sky Blue’s scoring chances came on careless turnovers and counters.
Sky Blue fashioned the first good scoring chance when Imani Dorsey beat Kopmeyer but hit the crossbar in the seventh minute. The ball came back to her but her follow shot was deflected wide.
.@SkyBlueFC was inches away from an opener, but @Imdorsey96's shot rattles the crossbar.#NJvORL | NWSL pic.twitter.com/6E92cO2xmm
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
The first good Pride chance came in the 10th minute when Morgan nearly got in behind but Erica Skroski got back in time to block her shot attempt.
💪#NJvORL | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/5uyLUQ39Hs
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
Seconds later, Morgan took the ball from a defender and poked a shot on target but Kailen Sheridan made a good reaction save to keep the game scoreless.
The Pride had penalty shouts in the 14th minute when Morgan made a nice move to slide the ball into the box and cut inside her defender. The Orlando striker was sandwiched and impeded on her run but the referee saw nothing wrong and the chance went away.
After Carli Lloyd pushed a shot wide in the 16th minute, Christine Nairn sent in a beautiful cross to a wide-open Dani Weatherholt but her headed effort went straight at Sheridan in the 18th minute.
Sky Blue got a couple of good looks in the 20th minute. The first came when Shea Groom took the ball in the midfield, dribbled through most of the Pride defense and slipped a ball in for Dorsey, who shot wide. Moments later, Shelina Zadorsky turned the ball over by not getting it up the field quickly enough and Lloyd took it from her but again fired wide.
Orlando again should have gone ahead in the 23rd minute. Chi Ubogagu slipped Morgan into the box but the striker didn’t make good contact with the ball and Sheridan made an easy save. Moments later, Chi fired wide from the left side, attempting a near-post shot. Ubogagu sent in a good cross in the 26th minute that Leroux flicked with her heel but her touch took too much speed off the ball and Sheridan was able to get down for the save.
Chioma Ubogagu provides some fancy footwork of her own before @sydneyleroux nearly completes a cheeky finish at the near post. #NJvORL | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/dsvtrbdYYu
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
Sky Blue gifted a free kick to the Pride just outside the box in the 32nd minute when Sheridan handled an obvious back pass. Morgan’s set piece hit the wall, however. The Pride had the last good opportunity of the half when Chi sent in Leroux in the 42nd minute and the former USWNT striker patiently waited for traffic to clear before shooting. But Sheridan again made a good reaction save and again the Pride’s final touch wasn’t clinical enough.
🙌 @Kailen_Sheridan comes up huge to keep the score even!#NJvORL | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/9cbKg5UZij
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
The Pride and Sky Blue went into the half scoreless. First-half shots were 10-9 to Sky Blue, though very few of those 10 were memorable and many were from long range. The Pride led on shots on target (4-0), possession (54%-46%), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (77%-73%).
The second half was more of the same. Orlando had opportunities and continued to waste them. Leroux headed a corner kick delivery just wide in the 48th minute.
Sky Blue fashioned the next couple of chances with Groom firing high in the 52nd minute after Monica stepped up and missed the ball, allowing the hosts to break. Three minutes later, Groom turned Nairn inside out near the sideline then slipped a ball to Dorsey, who fired wide.
Ubogagu tried a long-range effort in the 57th but missed the net, looking to pick out the top corner on the far side. Morgan then fired wide moments later but she was offside anyway after a corner kick was cycled back in.
Lloyd went for goal from distance on a free kick in the 63rd minute but fired off frame and Kopmeyer likely had it covered anyway. The next warning sign for the Pride came in the 66th minute after a failed clearance, when Katie Johnson lost her mark simply by making a quick turn, then hit the crossbar.
Crossbar has been huge for @ORLPride. #NJvORL | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/vf9dDq2FyN
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
Nairn fired a rocket from long range in the 69th minute that Sheridan not only saved, but also held onto. Five minutes later, Sky Blue broke through. Groom centered the ball to Lloyd near the top of the area and the USWNT captain one-timed it past Kopmeyer inside the post for the game’s only goal.
Think we've seen this before from @CarliLloyd. @SkyBlueFC now leads. #NJvORL | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/gyk0pIye7N
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 8, 2018
Morgan smashed a ball across the box from a severe angle in the 78th but Sheridan knocked it out for a corner. Two minutes later, second-half sub Rachel Hill had her shot blocked for another corner. On the ensuing set piece, the ball fell to Zadorsky’s feet but she couldn’t cleanly poke it home.
Camila and Emily van Egmond came on in the 83rd but neither really made an impact on the game. Camila fired high in the 88th minute from the top of the area and van Egmond nearly got to a great long ball from Pickett but Sheridan came off her line to beat her to the ball.
After just two minutes of stoppage — after a goal, six subs, and a bit of time wasting — the whistle blew on the Pride’s season.
Orlando held the advantage in shots (20-18), shots on goal (6-4), possession (56%-44%), corners (9-1), and passing accuracy (77%-68%). Sky Blue’s 31 clearances tell much of the story of how much time was spent in the hosts’ defensive end.
In the end, none of the statistics mattered because Sky Blue finished once and Orlando couldn’t do the same, despite numerous opportunities. It was a microcosm of the 2018 season.
That’ll do it for 2018. The Pride won’t play again until preseason. We hope you’ve enjoyed our game coverage throughout the season and that you’ll stick around for our season in review ratings for the entire roster, as well as all the off-season news to come as there is sure to be a bit of a shakeup this winter.
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse
The Pride’s starting goalkeeper improved during her second season as the team’s number one.
The Orlando Pride acquired goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse from French D1 Feminine side Bordeaux on Jan. 31, 2022. Her first year in Orlando was spent as the backup behind Canadian international Erin McLeod. When McLeod moved to Iceland following the 2022 NWSL season, Moorhouse was promoted to starting goalkeeper.
The English shot stopper was inconsistent during her first year as a starter, but played well enough to earn the spot for this year. It was a historic season that saw her set new club and league records for most clean sheets in a season. She also got her first call-ups for the England Women’s National Team.
Let’s take a look at how Moorhouse did in her third season in Orlando.
Statistical Breakdown
Moorhouse started every game of the regular season, making 26 appearances and recording 2,340 minutes. She faced 107 shots, making 87 saves (81%), and conceded 20 goals. Her 13 clean sheets set a new league record for the most single-season shutouts and lifted her to the most in Pride history. Additionally, Moorhouse completed 72% of her 824 regular season passes. As she started every game, her record as a starter in the regular season was 18-2-6.
The Pride’s number one started all three playoff games, going 3-0-0 and recording 270 minutes in the postseason. She faced 12 shots on target in those three games, making nine saves (75%), and conceded three goals, with one of those on a penalty kick. Her lone clean sheet was in the NWSL Championship when the Pride beat the Washington Spirit 1-0. Her distribution was worse than in the regular season as she only completed 54% of her 46 passes, and her lone booking came in the playoffs, receiving a yellow card in the semifinal against Kansas City.
Moorhouse was on international duty for the first NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup game and was an unused sub in the second game. She started the third and final matchup against Racing Louisville FC, playing all 90 minutes. She saved two of the three shots she faced (66.7%) in that game, conceding once in a 1-1 draw. She completed 77% of her 42 passes out of the back, helping to keep the Pride unbeaten in all competitions.
Best Game
The Pride’s stellar defense this season meant Moorhouse often had little to do. However, there were some games in which she had to be solid between the sticks, and one of those games was on June 30 in Los Angeles when the Pride defeated Angel City 3-0 to remain unbeaten on the season.
Moorhouse made a season-high seven saves in back-to-back games, beginning with the Angel City matchup. But while she conceded a goal in Kansas City the following weekend, Moorhouse claimed her third consecutive clean sheet in LA. Her distribution was also solid in this game, completing 17 of 21 passes (81%).
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Moorhouse a grade of 7 out of 10 for the 2024 NWSL season. That’s an improvement from her 2023 grade when she was given a 6 out of 10. It’s hard to give anyone in the Pride’s defensive unit a poor grade when they conceded the fewest goals in the NWSL and were on pace to set a new league record for fewest goals conceded until the final three games. They also recorded 13 clean sheets in an outstanding season.
The grade might seem a bit high to some because Moorhouse made some mistakes that cost her team goals. On April 26 in Washington, D.C., Moorhouse failed to catch an easy-to-handle shot by Ashley Hatch, watching it go through her hands and in. Fortunately, the Pride were already up 3-1, so it didn’t cost them the game. She made another mistake against the Chicago Red Stars in the playoffs, taking too long to clear the ball and allowing Jameese Joseph to block the attempt. While the block resulted in a Red Stars goal, the Pride were already up 4-0 and the game was out of reach.
Despite a few errors, it was a solid year for the goalkeeper, who made great strides in reducing the frequency of those types of mistakes. She was better than 2023 and will likely remain the Pride’s starter in net for the foreseeable future.
2025 Outlook
Moorhouse signed a new contract on Oct. 5, 2023, keeping her in Orlando through the 2025 season. The deal meant that Haley Carter didn’t need to worry about re-signing her starting goalkeeper after the season and could focus on more pressing matters. However, Moorhouse will undoubtedly be a priority in 2025.
In addition to Moorhouse, the entire back line will also return for 2025. While Moorhouse was solid in the net, Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke, along with the other defenders who were pressed into action, made sure to limit her workload. The pressure will be on the goalkeeper next season to see if she can improve and help the Pride remain the best defensive team in the NWSL.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
- McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
- Sofia Manner (11/30/24)
- Mariana Larroquette (12/1/24)
- Viviana Villacorta (12/2/24)
- Luana (12/3/24)
- Evelina Duljan (12/4/24)
- Cori Dyke (12/5/24)
- Carson Pickett (12/6/24)
- Brianna Martinez (12/7/24)
- Ally Watt (12/8/24)
- Summer Yates (12/9/24)
- Ally Lemos (12/10/24)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/11/24)
- Julie Doyle (12/12/24)
- Morgan Gautrat (12/13/2024)
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Morgan Gautrat
The veteran holding midfielder brought stability and experience to the Pride in 2024.
The Orlando Pride acquired former United States Women’s National Team midfielder Morgan Gautrat along with $50,000 in Allocation Money in exchange for a 2024 international spot on Jan. 11. Midfield depth was an area of need after the Pride had lost Mikayla Cluff in the NWSL Expansion Draft, with Viviana Villacorta also recovering from a serious knee injury. The team had already signed Brazilian internationals Angelina and Luana, so adding Gautrat ensured that there would be competition for the starting lineup and improved depth in that position group.
Gautrat added stability, experience, her high soccer IQ, and talent to the squad in an area of need, and she was rewarded on Sept. 12 with a new contract through the 2025 season with an option year for 2026. Players like Gautrat, who were willing to serve in any role (or multiple roles) needed, helped the club achieve remarkable accomplishments in 2024, including the NWSL Shield, NWSL Championship, and numerous league and team records.
Let’s look back at Gautrat’s first season in Orlando as she experienced somewhat of a homecoming, having grown up in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Statistical Breakdown
Gautrat made 17 appearances during the regular season, starting 11 games and amassing 850 minutes. She did not contribute a goal or assist, attempting just six shots and putting two of them on target. She passed well at an 88.5% rate on 504 attempts without a key pass, connecting on two crosses and 14 long balls. Defensively, she contributed 13 tackles, 16 interceptions, and 18 headed duels won. Gautrat committed 10 fouls on the season, drew six on the opposition, and was booked three times (all yellow cards).
In the postseason, Gautrat appeared in two of the Pride’s three playoff games — both off the bench — logging just 19 minutes. She did not contribute to a goal, attempting two shots and putting one of them on target. The midfielder completed 85% of her 13 passes without a key pass, cross, or long ball. She recorded one tackle, no interceptions, no fouls committed, no fouls drawn, and no bookings.
Gautrat appeared in all three of Orlando’s games in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, starting the last two and tallying 122 minutes. Again, she did not register a goal or assist, and she did not attempt a shot. She completed an impressive 95% of her 57 passes but did not log a key pass or successful cross, connecting on two long balls. She won two of her three tackle attempts (67%), adding an interception on the defensive end. Gautrat committed two fouls, suffered two fouls, and was not booked in the tournament.
Best Game
Several games leap out as strong defensive outings for Gautrat, including her part in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against the Chicago Red Stars on March 29, in which she tallied four tackles and passed at a 96% rate.
I’ll go with her lone 90-minute outing of the season, which came in a 1-0 road victory at the Utah Royals April 12, because it was a similar performance and helped the team win on the road. This was before Barbra Banda appeared in a match with the Pride, who had scored only four goals in the first three games of the season, drawing all three. The offense again scored just one goal at Utah, but this time it was enough to provide Orlando with its first win in a season full of them, largely due to Gautrat’s part in the collective team defensive effort.
Gautrat started and went the distance without contributing anything offensively. However, she turned in one of her best passing performances of the season, connecting 94% of the time on her 50 attepts — her second-most passes of the year. She didn’t record a tackle, but she managed three interceptions, which ended up tying for her high in a game for the 2024 season. She committed one foul in the match but was not booked. Her efforts helped the Pride limit Utah to just five shots in the match.
The win was an important one, because it kicked off a league record eight straight victories for the Pride, who built momentum and didn’t lose a match until after they’d won the NWSL Shield.
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Gautrat a solid rating of 6 out of 10 for the 2024 season. While the veteran midfielder provided stability in helping to shield the back line and goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse well throughout the year, the offensive side of the game was not a strength, as shown in her 517 pass attempts in NWSL regular season and playoff games without a single key pass or assist and only two successful crosses. While offense isn’t her primary job, and she was by no means the only holding midfielder short on goal contributions, the occasional critical through ball to free up an attacker is essential in the way the team plays. Gautrat also had to fight through some injuries in April and June, which may have affected her to some degree, because she began the year starting frequently but was more of a bench player after her second injury spell.
2025 Outlook
Gautrat remains under contract with the Pride for 2025 (and 2026, if the option is exercised), and I expect she will play a similar role next season for Orlando. She will turn 32 in February, and the years, miles, and several injuries over her career have robbed her of some of her lateral quickness. But she’s a savvy player who reads the game well, so she is still mostly able to get herself into the right spots. Gautrat will continue to bring value to Orlando’s midfield group. She will push others in her position group for a starting spot but may end up as a second-half super sub to protect leads or replace teammates on yellow cards while providing spot starts when needed.
Players like Gautrat and Angelina brought a level of composure to the Pride midfield that had never previously been seen in the club’s history. Moving Haley McCutcheon from right back to midfield only added to that. But there’s also the uncertainty of Luana returning to fitness to consider as well as the development of 2024 draft pick Ally Lemos. The Pride midfield is in good shape entering next season, and it showed in 2024 that it could even survive multiple absences and still perform at a high level. This bodes well for the team in 2025.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
- McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
- Sofia Manner (11/30/24)
- Mariana Larroquette (12/1/24)
- Viviana Villacorta (12/2/24)
- Luana (12/3/24)
- Evelina Duljan (12/4/24)
- Cori Dyke (12/5/24)
- Carson Pickett (12/6/24)
- Brianna Martinez (12/7/24)
- Ally Watt (12/8/24)
- Summer Yates (12/9/24)
- Ally Lemos (12/10/24)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/11/24)
- Julie Doyle (12/12/24)
Orlando Pride
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Julie Doyle
A look at the forward’s third season with the Pride.
The Orlando Pride selected Julie Doyle 11th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft and signed her on Jan. 27, 2022 to a one-year contract with an option for 2023. On May 8, 2023 the California native was given a new two-year contract through the 2024 season. Doyle was then given another contract on Oct. 1, 2024, a new two-year deal through the 2026 season.
Doyle saw more of the pitch this season but wasn’t able to increase her offensive productivity. Let’s look at how the attacker performed in 2024.
Statistical Breakdown
Doyle played in 25 of the Pride’s 26 games in the regular season, starting 21 and recording 1,377 minutes. She scored two goals and added one assist on one key pass, with seven successful crosses and seven completed long balls. Doyle put 13 of her 23 regular-season shots on target and completed 76% of her 308 passes. Despite playing in the attack, she also helped defensively, recording 17 tackles and four interceptions. She committed 15 fouls, suffered 23 fouls, and earned two yellow cards.
During the NWSL playoffs, Doyle came off the bench in all three of the Pride’s matches, recording 72 minutes. The majority of those minutes came when she subbed on at halftime for Ally Watt in the 4-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars. Through the three matches, she took five shots, putting one on target, and completed 92% of her 12 passes. Defensively, Doyle recorded two tackles, committed two fouls, and earned one yellow card.
Doyle played in all three of the Pride’s NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup games, starting in the first and third games while recording 189 minutes. Doyle scored one goal on five shots with two on target. She did not register an assist, but completed 19 of her 33 passes (62%) without recording a key pass, a long ball, or a cross, turning the ball over 25 times. Her one goal came in the match against Liga MX Femenil club CF Monterrey. Defensively, the attacker contributed one interception and won two headed duels. She committed one foul, drew one on her opponents, and wasn’t booked.
Best Game
Doyle’s best game came in the 1-1 draw against the San Diego Wave June 7. While it was the match that broke the team’s NWSL-record winning streak after eight victories, the Pride remained undefeated, thanks to a first-half goal from Doyle. She made a good run into the box, and held up just a bit to give herself space between the defenders. It wasn’t an easy goal, as the cross from Barbra Banda was slightly behind her, but she made the most of it to give the Pride the early lead.
The attacker started, played 63 minutes, and was a big part of the Pride’s offensive scheme, touching the ball 30 times and completing 86% of her 14 passes. Two of her three shots were on target, including the goal. She also contributed defensively, adding two tackles and committing one foul.
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff gave Doyle a composite grade of 5.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season, which matches the 5.5 grade she received last year. Doyle always brings the energy when she is in a match, but her finishing and decision making in the final third aren’t always the best. Still, the club finds value in her game, and I’m certain she’s a cultural fit within the club and the locker room. A few more goals and she can see her grade go up next year.
2025 Outlook
Doyle will be with the Orlando Pride in 2025 as the club looks to defend two titles. With Banda, Adriana, Ally Watt, Grace Chanda, and Summer Yates all options for Seb Hines, Doyle might find herself in the role of energetic sub again next season. She’ll still get plenty of playing time but is unlikely to get as many starts as she did early in 2024. That doesn’t mean she won’t play an important role, but she’ll need to put the ball in the net a lot more to earn a starting spot.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
- McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
- Sofia Manner (11/30/24)
- Mariana Larroquette (12/1/24)
- Viviana Villacorta (12/2/24)
- Luana (12/3/24)
- Evelina Duljan (12/4/24)
- Cori Dyke (12/5/24)
- Carson Pickett (12/6/24)
- Brianna Martinez (12/7/24)
- Ally Watt (12/8/24)
- Summer Yates (12/9/24)
- Ally Lemos (12/10/24)
- Haley McCutcheon (12/11/24)
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