Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Preseason Creates Talking Points

Published

5 years ago

April 1, 2019

The Orlando Pride are in transition. After only one playoff appearance in three seasons, they come into 2019 with a new head coach and renewed vigor. Fans will get a chance to see the team for the first time under new boss Marc Skinner when the Pride take to Orlando City Stadium for their final of three preseason outings. Reigning Liga Puerto Rico Femenino champions Puerto Rico Sol will visit for a friendly open to the public for free next Sunday, April 7 (tickets here). It’s been a tough preseason to assess so far, but it hasn’t been without its talking points.

New Philosophy

NWSL preseason camps officially started on March 4 and senior internationals have been in and out with national team duty, something that will continue to be a factor across the entire NWSL season with the impending FIFA Women’s World Cup and preceding warm-up fixtures. The missing players don’t make for ideal conditions for implementing an entire new philosophy. Skinner, when asked about his playing style at media day, said he doesn’t put any great emphasis on shape or formation but instead sets his team up to play in a way that “makes people want to come and watch” and one the players will “enjoy playing.”

He has cited Maurizio Sarri and Pep Guardiola as influences, admiring their sides’ positional fluidity, high press, and control of space on the field. Despite the world class talent among the ranks, the Englishman has warned that it may take time to get it right and it is as much about creating good habits as it is being talented — as seen in Orlando’s 4–0 defeat to the North Carolina Courage, a game where the score line doesn’t tell the story and was ultimately decided by Pride mistakes rather than Courage quality according to Skinner and his players.

The team had a much better showing in the 6–0 victory over USF, the biggest margin of victory across the four preseason meetings between the sides over the years. Regardless of the opposition, putting the principles into practice to such a clinical extent is good to see. The Pride’s highest competitive goal total to date is five and no player has ever scored a hat trick, something Rachel Hill managed in five minutes at the weekend. Remember, it was only last year that the Pride lost to college opposition in the preseason.

Learning Process

It is not just the players who are learning. Skinner comes to the NWSL for the first time and is still getting used to the league. Playing the reigning NWSL champions, who have a league-leading 2.208 points per game average over the last two seasons where they appeared in consecutive championship games, was called a litmus test at Media Day by both Skinner and new Pride General Manager Erik Ustruck. It also gave Skinner a chance to see his opposition in person instead of on tape and provided all the staff with the experience of the type of travel involved in the league. While others may have seen the result as a setback, Skinner and the Pride only saw it as valuable learning experience against the toughest opposition they could find.

Transfer Business…or Lack Thereof

On the surface, it had seemed worryingly quiet this off-season with the head coach position remaining vacant until after the NWSL College Draft in January. However, contact had been made with Skinner (who was still under contract with Birmingham City at the time) before Christmas. Perhaps the lengthy hiring process, coupled with many players heading out to Australia to compete in the W-league, delayed any player movement. It wasn’t until March 4, the opening day of preseason camp, that we found out the five remaining players who were not yet under contract, had been re-signed. But so far those are the only signings the team has made, although Skinner was keen to emphasize his role in the draft, saying, “the players that were selected were my players. I selected them. I was part of everything. I made the decisions.”

Currently, rookies Erin Greening and Marisa Viggiano, although neither have signed with the club yet, along with the seven trialists, remain the only prospective additions in an off-season that saw three regular starters depart (although defender Mônica is not only still training with the Pride, but also started in the friendly over the weekend — more on that below). Heading into a season with a team that missed the playoffs and one that will see the team decimated by international call-ups, it’s a risky strategy to say the least.

However, Skinner has already said that he doesn’t want to rush, bring in bodies to fill gaps, and have them be the wrong players. He wants to assess what he has already and eventually select the right players to improve the squad, also likely hinting that he will wait to sign at least one player he is familiar with from his time in England, especially given the acquisition of a 2019 international roster slot in the Christine Nairn trade, but only after their season ends on May 11.

Youth Movement

Skinner spent a lot of time in youth development and coaching prior to his senior appointment in England, which should be a boost to the younger members of the squad, particularly given the chances that will be presented to them this year. Rachel Hill (23) and Dani Weatherholt (25) are both coming off the back of successful spells in Australia with their confidence high and they are likely to be given more senior roles in their third and fourth seasons, respectively.

Of the seven trialists currently with the team, Lainey Burdett, Leah Mohammadi and Caitlin Farrell are undrafted rookies, while Bridget Callahan, Abby Elinsky, and Joanna Boyles all graduated in 2018 and enter their second years as professionals. A trademark of Birmingham City is its productive youth setup and Skinner wasn’t shy in bringing that through. A former goalkeeper coach, he entrusted teenagers with the starting goalkeeper job on two separate occasions to great effect following the departure of his first choice. Add to that the increased roster size and additional supplemental roster now available and it might be worth remembering a few names if Skinner’s Media Day response was anything to go by: “The name of today isn’t the name of tomorrow”.

Reigniting a Spark

It’s a colloquialism of today’s coaching carousel, but many believe a lot of coaches only have a shelf life of two or three seasons before their message grows old and players start to tune out. Jose Mourinho was the perfect example of the so-called third season syndrome and there are many more tales of a sophomore slump. Obviously, there are logical arguments in favor of long-term stability and building for the future but perhaps the departure of Tom Sermanni, although never pleasant, has renewed the fire and hunger in the squad.

Veteran defender Ali Krieger, newly engaged to Pride teammate Ashlyn Harris and back with the U.S. Women’s National Team for the first time since 2017, said the following on opening day of training camp: “I feel like I’m 25. I feel good. I’ve been training my ass off this whole off-season and am really preparing for this day.”

Alex Morgan has already sung the new man’s praises following a two-hour conversation they had over coffee: “It was pretty exciting to see a coach just so eager to dive in and really coach, and I’m looking for that in my club team. I think he’s going to be the perfect fit.”

Skinner also takes a physiological and humanistic approach to coaching, publicly reminding the media that his players are first and foremost normal people and he must treat them as such. He also sent short questionnaires to each of his players prior to his arrival in order to get a better sense of what makes the person behind the athlete tick.

Mônica

The Brazilian center back and three-year Pride veteran said her goodbyes to Central Florida in the off-season as she decided to decline Orlando’s contract offer with reports suggesting she was moving back to Brazil. As mentioned above, the club confirmed she has been training with the Pride, something not unusual for out-of-contract players as they like to keep their fitness up and teams find it useful to have extra players to play training matches with.

However, the major talking point was that Mônica unexpectedly earned minutes in the victory over USF — significant minutes in fact, playing the full 90. With the Pride currently at risk of losing four of their six listed defenders to international duty, defensive reinforcement is essential, but Mônica would not be a solution as she too will also be in France, so it’s confusing to say the least.

Orlando Pride

2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Madril

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

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2023

Michael Citro

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.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Defender Emily Madril to New Contract

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

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2023

Sean Rollins

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.

Orlando Pride

2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse

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

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2023

Sean Rollins

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.