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Orlando Pride Media Day Highlights

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6 years ago

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We’re just a month out from the Orlando Pride’s 2019 NWSL season opener against the Portland Thorns and the team held its annual preseason Media Day event at Orlando City Stadium. The event featured a press conference with Pride GM Erik Ustruck and Head Coach Marc Skinner, with six players made available to the media in a roundtable format.

The players who spoke to media members today were almost all internationals, with former USWNT automatic selection Ali Krieger being the only player of the six not currently involved in her national team setup. The five current internationals were Ashlyn Harris and Alex Morgan of the U.S., Alanna Kennedy of Australia, Marta of Brazil, and Chioma Ubogagu, who has recently been getting England call-ups.

The players unanimously lauded the atmosphere, attitude, and attention to detail that Skinner has brought to the Pride this preseason and seemed energized.

Here are the highlights from today’s event.

Ustruck/Skinner Press Conference

  • Skinner said he was “over the moon” at being selected as the Pride’s head coach and said he was “proud and privileged to be here.”
  • Initial interviews with players are nearly complete, as Skinner is finally getting to sit down with the international players who were late to arrive.
  • The buzz around camp, according to Skinner, is “really, really something that energizes you as a person.”
  • Skinner said he’s identified his targets and what his ideal team would look like, however, he said he’s still identifying the abilities of his players and giving players an opportunity to show what they can do.
  • Although Skinner said Tom Sermanni is a wonderful person and is sure he’ll do well at New Zealand, he’s here to bring a new direction to the club and said he coaches to allow his players to make decisions on the field because they have to know what they’re doing even when they can’t hear the coach in hostile environments.
  • Skinner spoke often of getting to know the players’ character, as well as treating the players as people first, and players second, regardless of whether they’re stars. He said he thinks of the players as he would if they were his daughters, and works with them to make them as successful as possible.
  • Ustruck said he hasn’t yet spoken with club partner Wolfsburg on the women’s side. He said he’d like the Pride to explore options such as bringing them over during their preseason period or to look at potential player loan opportunities.
  • Skinner, who has watched all of last year’s games, said the team was far off from performances last season but not far off in results. He stressed that there is some time involved in getting the team to play the way he wants it to play and that it might seem a bit high risk at first.
  • Both Skinner and Ustruck said the team will play an attractive brand of football and the GM said he expects that will help bring more fans to the stadium.
  • Skinner said the athleticism in the NWSL is massive but the transition part of the game could be better. “We have to re-educate players or just switch on their senses to do that. That’s what we’ll be doing in training.”
  • “I’m 100 percent sure that our players will love how we’re asking them to play,” Skinner said. “But they have to be brave. If you want to do something different and you want success to come to Orlando then they’re going to have to be brave. And that’s how I will expect them to be. My job is to support them through that process.”
  • Skinner said he’s not just here to coach players to win, but to improve as players.
  • The idea of having North Carolina (on the preseason schedule) was to get the Pride up to speed in playing an NWSL team, said Skinner.
  • “We will play fixtures that will challenge the players in different ways,” Skinner said of the preseason schedule. Ustruck said the full preseason schedule will be out in the next few days.
  • Ustruck mentioned that the North Carolina game in preseason would give the club an opportunity to learn how far they still need to go to get to the level of the defending champs.
  • Ustruck said the idea of a preseason invitational tournament would be difficult due to the MLS side having started its season but it’s something the club might look into if they can find the right location or if the stadium was available.
  • Skinner said his team likes to play tactically and force the other team into playing a way in which is to Orlando’s advantage.
  • Ustruck said Camila is still in Brazil because she’s working on getting her green card. Her interview was scheduled for today and she’s expected back by the weekend.
  • There will be a recognized Orlando Pride supporters group this year, said Ustruck. He said he wasn’t at liberty to speak about it just yet, however.
  • “There needs to be patience for this team to understand what we want them to do,” Skinner said. He added that he’s seen a desire from the players to buy into that.

Ashlyn Harris

  • “I have to say that I’ve been blown away by Marc,” Harris said about her new coach. “I’m very, very impressed with what he has brought just in the short amount of time that I’ve met him.”
  • Harris said the spark and enjoyment are back at training this preseason. “It’s like a breath of fresh air. This is a chance for people to start over and have new energy and a new opportunity.”
  • Harris said Skinner demands excellence and is detail-oriented. “He’s very organized and very, very specific about things.”
  • Harris said the international players are used to being in and out of the lineup but admitted this year would be challenging due to the time demands of the World Cup.
  • Last year is in the past for Harris and she wants to focus all her energy on 2019 and not what didn’t work in 2018. “We have a fresh start and I want to enjoy that taste in my mouth.”
  • “Marc is going to bring an element to this organization that people are going to be proud of and I’m excited to be on that train,” Harris said.
  • Harris said that Skinner sent her video clips from every touch from every game with notes attached, he has drones flying overhead every practice to record the players, and he frequently texts with thoughts as they occur.
  • Harris said that the feeling of unity hasn’t quite been there the last few years but that’s what Skinner is restoring in Orlando.

Ali Krieger

  • Krieger said that players can only change the culture of a team by bringing their best and control their work ethic and attitude each day.
  • “I think it’s so great to have somebody come in that makes every player feel like they’re the most important player,” Krieger said of Skinner. “I think that if we continue to create that positive atmosphere that will translate for sure on the field.”
  • Krieger said last year the team played more individually than as a collective group and expects the opposite this year.
  • Skinner creates an atmosphere where everybody feels important, said the veteran defender.
  • “Little specific movements, footwork stuff, the way your body is angled, or the pace of your pass,” – Krieger on the details that Skinner notices and brings to the team.
  • Skinner is “bringing the fun back into the game.”
  • Krieger reiterated Skinner’s statements in the presser about treating each person individually based on their needs.
  • “I don’t mind playing the underdog role,” she said. “If people think they’re going to come in here and it’s going to be easy-breezy, then good on them because we’re going to just crush it.”
  • Having a new coach will be an advantage for the Pride because no one in the league is going to know what to expect from Orlando.

Marta

  • “I like it here,” the Brazilian legend said. “I like the club. I like the atmosphere we have here. I like the city, the players. I think we have so much potential to [have] a very good season.”
  • Marta said her first impression of Skinner was good. “I see the energy he brings to the training and the ideas he brings to the players [are] good.”
  • Sermanni and Skinner are different. Skinner wants to keep the ball more and having the ball more means more opportunities to score.
  • “It’s about how we work together when we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball,” Marta said of the team’s philosophy.
  • Marta said players have to play hard and do their best for their club or they risk not being ready when called up to the national team. So there is no benefit in taking things easy with the club side to stay healthy for the World Cup.
  • When asked if she would continue to play internationally after this World Cup, Marta responded, “Let’s live day after day, you know?” She said if she feels good with her club and her teammates she can continue to do so with Brazil, too.
  • Marta said she was a little sad to see Monica and Poliana leave the club and hopes that they find a good new club to play for because that’s also important for the Brazilian national team.
  • When asked if she had any goals for the season, Marta replied, “Make more goals!”
  • Marta said Skinner’s system allows the freedom to roam and feel the game, so that she can play as both a midfielder and a forward, moving to spaces wherever she’s needed. “Not whatever I want,” she laughed, “but to produce good for the team.”

Alex Morgan

  • “I’m just eager to be coached by [Skinner], and for him to just implement his style, and for us to apply that in games,” Morgan said.
  • Morgan said she was happy with Ustruck’s decision to bring in Skinner to take the job.
  • “In previous years, just playing college teams is really difficult because that’s a hard gauge to see on like where we are in terms of how ready we are for the season,” Morgan said of the preseason. “So going in and playing North Carolina, obviously having them be the reigning champions from last year, it’s going to be just right away we’ll know what we still need to work on, where we are in terms of fitness, and in terms of Marc’s style being adapted by the team. So I’m really happy we’re making this trip.”
  • The team not having a lot of turnover is a good thing, Morgan said.
  • Morgan said the challenge for the Pride is the number of international players leaving for a big chunk of the season.
  • Younger players can learn from the internationals’ professionalism and they have to be eager to learn.
  • Morgan lauded France’s acceptance of women in sport as “exciting to see” and was glad to see the number of tickets sold for the World Cup games.
  • “I’m hopeful that we look very organized and have clear direction,” she said.
  • Morgan said she was impressed with Ustruck and his ability to bring in someone like Skinner.
  • She said she feels there’s still room for her to learn and grow as a player and she’s looking forward to Skinner helping her do that.

Alanna Kennedy

  • “I really like his direction and his philosophy,” Kennedy said of Skinner. “It’s something that’ll make all of us better, hopefully, as a collective.”
  • Kennedy talked about having surgery “thrown in there” during a six-week break. She said she’d played about 80 games in the previous 12 to 18 months. She said she’s now feeling good and is excited to be back in Orlando.
  • “When you’re in a positive environment, your well-being is taken care of, that’s when you’re able to thrive on the field,” she said. “I’ve loved every minute of the couple days I’ve been here.”
  • Kennedy said she thinks that with the style of play Skinner will have, she’ll be able to play both midfield and defense. She said she loves her midfield role but also loves her role on defense with Australia, because that’s where the team needs her and she can thrive there.
  • Kennedy noted the team has always had the personnel to succeed but needed to have more of an identity.
  • “To know your role and to know what’s expected of you every minute is important and that’s something Marc will bring with his experience and his personality,” she said.
  • “You don’t really” get used to all the international travel, Kennedy said. But she added that it’s helpful when you have people in place to take care of you, as the Pride have.

Chioma Ubogagu

  • When asked what kind of Chioma Ubogagu the Pride are getting back, as opposed to the one who left to go play in Australia at the start of the off-season, she replied, “I think just someone who understands even more now the definition of being a professional.”
  • She said she learned more about recovery, watching film, and working on details while playing in Australia.
  • Ubogagu said that coming in from overseas, she was expected to be an impact player in the W-League, and that challenged her and she learned how to deal with pressure.
  • Having three nationalities — English, American, and Nigerian — she said all three are very important to her and she feels connected to all three and they combine equally to make her who she is.
  • “That experience to put on the England kit and represent the Lionesses is something I’ll never forget,” she said of her time with the England national team.
  • Ubogagu said she got the call on her birthday that she’d be getting her first call-up to England and it was the best birthday gift ever.
  • She said her national team coach, Phil Neville, texts the whole team and he told her to train hard this preseason.
  • Ubogagu said she met with Skinner yesterday. She said he’s very intelligent and noted that he showed her an iPad with screen shots and detailed notes on it.
  • “I think everyone has been really impressed with training sessions and the detail and energy,” she said “[Skinner is] always saying ‘brains over brawn.’ He wants us to make sophisticated decisions with the ball.”
  • “I don’t want to label myself a leader because I think I’m learning every day,” she said.
  • “Last year, if we’re going to be frank [the North Carolina Courage] killed everyone in the league. They scored the most goals. I think they had the fewest goals against. They had this confidence, this swagger on the field that you weren’t going to touch them when you’re on the field,” Ubogagu said. “So I think that’s awesome that one of our first preseason games is going against the defending champions. We’re going to see what we’re about early on in the preseason. It’ll be really cool to see how we adapt and how we come out against a team like that.”
  • Ubogagu said she wanted to help with the game so she became the players union representative for the Pride. She said her main job was to bring information back to the club so the players had a voice on things like, for example, when the league would break for the World Cup.

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Orlando Pride at Bay FC: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Pride need to do to secure a victory against Bay FC on the road?

Published

6 hours ago

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June 12, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride head to California to take on Bay FC Friday night. The Pride are coming off a win, thanks to a last-second winner from Cori Dyke at home. Unfortunately, I won’t be in San Jose to lend whatever small bit of mojo I have to the outcome, so it’s going to be all on the players (as if it isn’t always that way, of course). With that being the case, what do the Pride need to do to take all three points from Bay FC at PayPal Park?

A Quicker Start

In the last match against the Houston Dash, Seb Hines rested the players returning from international duty to start the match. As such, the stout Dash defense was able to keep the Pride off the scoreboard in the first half. Even after the normal starters returned in the second half, it took until the very last kick of the match to secure the win. Let’s not repeat that this time.

Whenever a club plays in a different time zone, it can mess with the sense of normalcy you want on a match day. That is especially true when going all the way across the country. The beginning of the match will feel like the same time the match would normally be ending at Inter&Co. As such, I want to see the normal starters jump on Bay FC very early. Get the early lead — perhaps multiple goals — and see out the match with whichever players Hines may want.

Open it Up

Except for Barbra Banda’s hat trick against the Utah Royals, the Pride attack has been lacking some bite for over a month. The club has generated plenty of chances, but the finishing has been less than stellar. Orlando needs to turn the scoring faucet back on and pour on some goals.

The final bit of quality needs to be better from everyone in the attack. In the last five matches, the Pride have scored four goals on 70 shots, with 30 on target (43%). That means the Pride have scored on 6% of shots taken and only 13% of their shots on target. For a team with Marta and Banda, that isn’t good enough.

This may be my recency bias, but one area the team can change to improve its chances is to not take short corners. As I said on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast, I lost count of the missed opportunities due to short corners against the Dash. Just put the ball into the box and sometimes weird things happen. It is much more likely that the ball goes in the net than is sent on a counter by the opposition. There are chances for a handball resulting in a penalty, a foul resulting in a penalty, or an own goal being scored. Just get the ball in the darn box!

Lock It Down

I know that the Pride secured yet another clean sheet against the Dash, but it was partially down to luck. Anna Moorhouse was fortunate that the ball that went through her hands went out of bounds and that the Dash were offside when she got caught in no-woman’s land on a ball over the top. That can’t happen. The difference between a team that wins championships and one that doesn’t comes down to limiting mistakes and a bit of luck. Only one of those two can be controlled.

I want to see the lock-down defense we saw in 2024. I think Emily Sams is maintaining her level of play and Oihane has been an improvement — albeit a small one — at right back. Kylie Nadaner has struggled a bit this year after a phenomenal 2024 season. I think she can step it back up, but she needs to do so sooner rather than later. Left back has had a rotating cast, with Kerry Abello, Carson Pickett, and even Dyke seeing time at the position.

Bay FC has spread the goals out over several players, with Penelope Hocking leading the way with three. That being said, the California side has plenty of players who can score, including Zambian National Team forward Racheal Kundananji. We know all too well how dangerous Zambian strikers can be. Moorhouse and the back line must tighten things up. No mistakes on the road.

That’s what I’ll be looking for late Friday night. Where do you think the game will be won or lost? Let us know in the comments section.

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Orlando Pride Returning to Winning Ways at Right Time

The Pride are gaining momentum as the summer break approaches.

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3 days ago

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June 9, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride got off to a flying start in 2025 before their first three-game winless run since the beginning of the 2023 season. However, they’ve bounced back strong in recent weeks, hitting their stride at the right time.

The Pride came into the 2025 season with huge expectations. They won the NWSL regular-season and playoff championships in 2024, making them a target for the opposition. However, they won five of their first six games this year, with the only loss being a 1-0 defeat against the Washington Spirit, who currently sit tied in second with the Pride.

Following a 3-2 comeback win over Angel City FC, the Pride went on a skid unseen in two years. It started with a 1-0 loss away to the Portland Thorns and a draw against the North Carolina Courage, before they returned home and lost 1-0 to the Kansas City Current — the team’s first loss at Inter&Co Stadium since Aug. 25, 2023.

The skid ended on May 23 with a historic performance by Barbra Banda. The striker netted three goals in the first 38 minutes against the Utah Royals for the first hat trick in team history. More importantly, she lifted her team to a 3-1 win away from home.

The first half Saturday against the Houston Dash looked like it might be a disappointing night. At halftime, possession was even and the Pride had a slim 6-4 shot advantage. After putting 11 of their 13 shots on target in Utah, they only put one on frame in the first half against a team near the bottom of the NWSL standings.

Fortunately, it looked like a different team in the second half. They dominated possession and put constant pressure on the Dash defense, reuslting in Cori Dyke scoring the game-winning goal with the final kick of the ball.

The wins are coming at a great time for the Pride as an extended summer break approaches. Following the team’s June 20 game in Louisville, they won’t play again until Aug. 3. The last thing the players on the team want is to spend more than a month thinking about their current struggles before taking the field again.

“We talked about going into the Utah game, our form wasn’t great, so we knew how important that Utah game was leading into the international break,” Pride center back Kylie Nadaner said following the team’s win over Houston. “And now these three games leading into an even longer break for the Euros. So, we want to get that momentum back and just keep growing and learning each game.”

The team knew this season was going to be much more challenging. Heading into the 2024 campaign, the Pride had only made the playoffs once in eight years. They only missed out on goal difference in 2023 and were heading in the right direction.

Despite the improvements, nobody expected them to go 23 games unbeaten, winning both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. This year, they have a target on their backs, something Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made sure his team knows.

“We’ve said it at the start of the year, we’ve got a target on our backs. You know, teams can come to Inter&Co Stadium and maybe be content with a 0-0. That’s where we’re at,” Hines said after Saturday night’s win. “Teams may have a completely different game plan against us in those two recent other games. So, we know that that’s the challenge.”

The win over Houston, combined with San Diego Wave FC’s 2-1 loss to Seattle Reign FC, saw the Pride jump the California-based team into second place. Even though Washington matched the Pride’s point total with its win Sunday, the Pride have a better goal differential.

The Pride now go on a difficult two-game road trip, where they’ll face two teams hovering around the last playoff spot. It starts with a cross-country trip to San Jose, CA, where they’ll face Bay FC, currently in the last playoff position.

Then, they’ll head to Kentucky for the final game before the extended break, facing a Racing Louisville team that sits in sixth. Both opponents will be desperate to get points and stay in the top eight.

The game in Louisville will be the 13th of the year, marking the halfway point of the season. Sitting in second, even if it’s still five points behind Kansas City, will be a positive spot heading into the break. More importantly, the team will have momentum when the league restarts in August.

“Momumtum is massive,” Hines said. “I think we showed that last year.”

The Pride entered that Utah game knowing they had to start winning again to get themselves back into an advantageous position. They’re now halfway to ending the first half of the season on a four-game winning streak, precisely what they needed. Wins in the next two would put them in a great spot entering the final 13 games of the 2025 campaign.

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Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Final Score 1-0 as Cori Dyke’s Goal at the Death Lifts Pride

Cori Dyke’s last-second goal lifts the Pride to a much-needed home victory.

Published

5 days ago

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June 7, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Cori Dyke scored on nearly the last kick of the game to lift the Pride (7-3-1, 22 points) to their second-straight win, as Orlando defeated the Houston Dash (3-6-2, 11 points) 1-0 tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It was Dyke’s first professional goal and it was a difference maker in front of an announced crowd of 9,766.

Coming out of the international break, the Pride made three changes to the team that beat the Utah Royals 3-1 on May 23. Oihane, Ally Lemos, and Julie Doyle entered the lineup in place of Dyke, Angelina, and Barbra Banda.

“We made a lot of changes going into this game and I stick by it,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about the lineup. “You know, you have to take into consideration the amount of travel that some of our players have done, the competitiveness of international football as well. And it’s not ideal, but this is why we have a great squad. And so, players come in and they play a role in what you’re trying to achieve.”

Additionally, Hines made a late change, replacing Morgan Gautrat with Summer Yates. The time of the change meant the Pride used their first substitution before kickoff.

“Listen, we make a decision to select a starting lineup. We leave it until as long as possible. Morgan was just feeling a little bit underwhelmed going into the game and we just have to make a decision,” Hines said about the last-minute change. “And Summer was ready. She was brilliant, Summer, with a quick turnaround for herself. And, yeah, like I said, you just have to be adaptable in those moments.”

The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was made up of Kerry Abello, Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams, and Oihane. Yates, Lemos, Haley McCutcheon, and Carson Pickett were in the midfield, with Doyle and Ally Watt up top.

The first half was evenly played with both teams struggling to create good chances. But the Pride took off in the second half, completely controlling the final 45 minutes. The substitutions of Banda, Marta, and Prisca Chilufya sparked the Pride, who pushed hard for a winner until the dying moments. They found the goal in their final attack, claiming a big three points.

Neither team created a shot until the 17th minute, when Delanie Sheehan found Yazmeen Ryan approaching the box. However, the veteran attacker’s shot from distance was blocked by Sams.

Two minutes later, Moorhouse misplayed a long shot by Barbara Olivieri out for a corner kick. The set piece by Olivieri was long to Evelina Duljan, who sent the ball back into the six-yard box. Katie Lind tried to redirect it on goal but was unable to get over the ball, allowing Moorhouse to make the jumping catch.

The Pride’s first chance of the game came in the 20th minute, when Pickett played the ball back for Lemos. The second-year midfielder fired from distance, sending her shot over the target.

Pickett attempted an ambitious shot in the 32nd minute, trying to chip Abby Smith from the top left corner of the box. The shot appeared to be going wide, but it was close enough for Smith to tip it out of play.

Olivieri tripped Yates just outside the Houston box in the 33rd minute, giving the Pride a free kick in a dangerous position. It was cleared, but only to the top of the box, where Lemos collected it. The midfielder played the ball to Nadaner, whose first touch was heavy, but she was able to turn and shoot. However, Maggie Graham got in front to block the attempt.

The Pride were unable to do anything with the ensuing set piece and the visitors were able to clear the danger.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Duljan blocked a pass by Abello out for a corner kick. Lemos’ ensuing set piece was short to Doyle, whose cross was punched out by Smith. However, it went to McCutcheon at the top of the box. Unfortunately, the midfielder’s shot was over the target.

Quick passing in the fourth minute of stoppage time saw Olivieri send Ryan behind the Pride back line. The attacker cut back to lose Sams, forcing Moorhouse into a good save. However, the flag went up for offside.

That was the last chance for either team as the game went into halftime scoreless. After 45 minutes, possession was even. The Pride had more shots (6-4), but Houston put more on target (2-1). Meanwhile, the Pride had more corner kicks (5-1) and the Dash had more crosses (6-5) and better passing accuracy (88%-85%).

The Dash created the first second-half chance in the 47th minute when Sheehan lifted the ball to the back post. Kiki van Zanten got her head to it but sent her attempt wide.

A minute later, a give-and-go between Oihane and McCutcheon saw the former send Watt towards the endline. The speedster’s first touch was a low cross for Banda. However, the striker sent her shot wide of the target.

Ryan and van Zanten combined in the 57th minute to get Ryan behind Nadaner. However, the pass forced her to shoot from a tight angle, creating an easy save for Moorhouse.

Banda intercepted a pass from Olivieri to Lind in the 58th minute and darted towards goal. Lind tried to pull her back, but Banda kept going. The striker was aiming for the near post, but Smith did well to get down for the stop.

Seconds later, another poor pass in the back by the Dash allowed Yates to intercept and get in on goal. This time, Smith could only block the attempt over the crossbar for a Pride corner kick.

Banda redirected a hard pass by Lemos forward for Sams in the 61st minute, allowing the center back to get into the box. She passed the ball thorugh the box for Pickett on the far side, but her shot was right at Smith.

Hines made another substitution in the 62nd minute, replacing Watt with Marta.

Banda was sent into the box in the 64th minute, twisting and turning Natalie Jacobs to get a shot off. The striker opened up to put it around Smith, but hit it directly at her.

Ryan Gareis sent Ryan behind the back line in the 65th minute. Moorhouse was indecisive, standing in place until the ball bounced. She then rushed out, but Ryan got there first, tapping it past the goalkeeper and in. However, the flag went up for offside. There was a pause for a review, but the attacker was clearly a step offside.

The Pride’s final change came in the 72nd minute, when Chilufya came on for Oihane in an attacking move.

Chilufya tried to make an immediate impact in the 73rd minute, dribbling to the end line and finding Banda in the box. The Zambian tried to turn a shot on goal, but sent the attempt wide of the near post.

Marta sent a cross into the box in the 82nd minute that found the head of Banda. The striker turned the attempt on goal, but it went off Lind’s arm and out of play. The referee waited as the video assistant referee checked for a possible hand ball in the box, deciding the arm was in a natural position.

Marta sent another cross into the box in the 85th minute. McCutcheon was waiting for the ball, but Nadaner attacked it first, sending her header off the hands of Smith. McCutcheon went after the free ball, sending it wide.

In the 88th minute, Yates fouled van Zanten from behind near the top of the Pride box, earning a yellow card. Ryan’s short free kick to van Zanten resulted in the Jamaican’s shot going off Chilufya.

The Dash kept possession, sending it wide for Graham. The Dash’s leading goal scorer sent a cross into the box that went off the shin of Paige Nielsen and right to Moorhouse.

Dyke sent Chilufya down the right in the second minute of stoppage time and the attacker played a hard cross across the box. However, Smith got a piece of it before it reached Yates charging in at the back post.

Chilufya’s cross in the seventh minute of stoppage time found the head of Yates making a back-post run. But it was a little behind her and the midfielder couldn’t turn it on goal.

A minute later, Lemos’ cross into the box fell for McCutcheon. The defensive midfielder’s shot was blocked by the arm of Lind. The Pride players appealed for a penalty, but the referee determined Lind’s arm was in a natural position.

The Pride had one more attack as the game neared the ninth minute of stoppage time. Yates made a run into the box and sent a cross that went through Smith. It bounced out to Dyke just beyond the top corner of the six-yard box. The defender fired the ball off Sophie Schmidt and past Smith to give the Pride the late lead.

“Shout out Summy for, you know, she’s so good at that, getting to the end line, beating her players, putting a great ball in,” Dyke said.  “And I think I just saw that space in the back side and wanted to get in there. I knew it was the last play, so I was like, let’s take a chance on it. And then when it fell to me, I just was, all that was going through my head was just stay composed and get it on frame.”

“Great finish as well from a defender,” Hines added. “I don’t think defenders get enough credit for their finishing ability. So, yeah, she took her goal really well.”

As soon as Houston restarted play, the final whistle blew, making Dyke’s goal nearly the last kick of the game.

At full time, the Pride had the advantage in possession (56.2%-43.8%), shots (21-8), shots on target (8-4), crosses (30-10), corner kicks (11-1), and passing accuracy (87.1%-83.9%).

“A roller coaster of emotions, but managed to get the job done tonight,” Hines said. “You know, one thing I’ll give credit to this team — we’ll go until the final whistle. And we’re so pleased that we managed to get that goal towards the end and come away with three points.”

“That was crazy,” Nadaner added. “You know, we were pretty much in control of the game. We had a feeling we were going to score, like it was coming. We were putting it on them. They were playing great defensively. Their back line, their keeper made some unbelievable saves. So, they were a tough opponent, for sure. And had to have Cori come in and have the game winner. I’m so pumped for her. That was so big time.”

The Pride went on a three-game skid with two losses and draw leading into their May 23 win in Utah. They’ve now won two straight with two games remianing until the summer break that lasts until Aug. 3.

“Momentum is massive. I think we showed that last year, but I think it’s a different type of challenge this year,” Hines said. “Obviously, we’ve said it at the start of year, we’ve got a target on our backs. You know, teams can come to Inter&Co Stadium and maybe be content with the 0-0. That’s where we’re at. Teams may have a completely different game plan against us in those two recent other games. So, we know that that’s the challenge. We know that winning in this league is incredibly difficult, no more so than having a team come here and sit everyone back and be content with 0-0. So, like I said, early on in this the players are giving absolutely everything. They’re not leaving a drip of sweat off the field, and so they are putting absolutely everything into it. And you can see, when you do that, you can get the rewards that you aspire to do at the start the game.”

“We talked about going into the Utah game,” Nadaner added. “Our form wasn’t great, so we knew how important that Utah game was leading into the international break. And now these three games leading into the even longer break for the Euros. So yeah, we want to get that momentum back and yeah, just keep growing and learning each game.”

The game marked Nadaner’s 100th appearance with the club. The center back became the second Pride player to reach 100 appearances, following team captain Marta. With Marta on the bench, Nadaner — the club’s vice captain — wore the armband to start the game.

“It’s a surreal moment for sure,” Nadaner said about her 100th appearance for the club. “To be honest, it’s something I never thought I would achieve. My journey has been kind of crazy, even before here. Even since I got here. So, to achieve that and to have my family and my husband and all my teammates here, it was a really special moment to celebrate with the fans and everybody. It’s up there in my career for sure. And I have to thank Cori Dyke for putting the cherry on top, because it wouldn’t have been as sweet without the win. Without the win, I don’t enjoy that half as much as I did. So thank you Cori.”

“She epitomizes this club. She epitomizes what this team’s about,” Hines added about his vice captain. “It’s been an amazing experience to be part of Kylie’s growth, to see her when she first came in to where she’s at now. And she probably won’t mind me saying this, it’s been night and day. She really took a leadership role when I took over. She stays true to our values, our core values. She’s had buy-in from it. We’ve put faith in her, and she’s rewarded us with the performance she’s put in. And she’s such a great role model to any player that comes into our environment. I just can’t believe that it’s been 100 games. It’s just flown by. My credit to her, because she has put her head down, she’s got on with it, she’s made herself available, and hopefully she can get a lot more games moving forward. But there’s not enough words to describe how great she has been for myself and for this club.”

The Pride will look to carry this momentum into a two-game road trip before the looming summer break that will last more than a month. It starts with a long trip to San Jose, CA, where the Pride will face Bay FC on Friday night.

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