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Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC: Final Score 2-0 as the Pride’s Scoring Difficulties Continue

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6 years ago

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The Orlando Pride traveled to Sandy, UT, and it was much of the same story. Orlando (0-6-1, 1 point) struggled in the final third, lacked creativity, and was outplayed by the Utah Royals. Amy Rodriguez and Makenzy Doniak both scored as the Royals (4-1-1, 13 points) won 2-0 and moved into first place. Orlando, meanwhile, remains winless and at the bottom of the table, one point behind Sky Blue FC. 

It was a much different lineup for the Pride with all of the international players gone — one that was highlighted with youngsters. The back four remained the same from Orlando’s 3-1 loss to Portland. Bridget Callahan returned to the starting XI for the first time since the opening match and struggled to make an impact. Dani Weatherholt wore the captain’s armband, but was also quiet.

It was the Abby Elinsky show in the first half. The midfielder was all over the field and doing everything for the Pride. She was up and down the field, putting work in on both ends, and looked like the only player who wanted to play. The first half itself was rather dull, and there was little action. Both teams could have gone ahead early on, but the game settled itself pretty quickly. 

In the second minute, Becca Moros sent a ball to Amy Rodriguez, who tried a shot from distance. Kopmeyer was forced to make a one-handed save that just barely stayed out of the back of the net. 

A minute later, Rachel Hill had a chance on the opposite end. The striker took a shot from distance, and Utah ‘keeper Nicole Barnhart was forced to make a save. A few minutes later, Katie Stengel almost opened the scoring, but Kopmeyer kept the game goalless. 

In the 27th minute, Hill should have put Orlando up 1-0. Greening sent a through ball over the top and Hill had a great look on goal. Her shot was aimed to the near post, though, and it was an easy save for Barnhart. 

The breakthrough finally happened in the 31st minute. Callahan took out Vero Boquete from behind in the box and was lucky to walk away without a card on the challenge. Rodriguez took the penalty kick and nailed it into the top corner. 

Utah held onto the ball very well for the rest of the half and Orlando struggled to get back into it. All the momentum was with the home team and, other than Elinsky, there was very little movement from the Pride. The midfielder nearly got on the board as the half was drawing to an end. She had the ball in the box but had no help. With three Utah defenders on her, Elinsky had no choice but to take them on and ended up winning a corner. 

Most of the halftime stats were close except for possession. Orlando held the ball for just 34% of the half but did manage more shots (6-5). The Pride had seven corners, but no good looks came from any of them. 

The second half was much of the same for the Pride. Orlando struggled to get anything going forward and had nothing in the final third. Utah did well in possession, and the Pride found it challenging to break the Royals down. 

Directly after halftime, Callahan had an awful giveaway that nearly gifted Utah a goal. Orlando was able to clear the chance, though. 

It looked certain that Rodriguez would get her brace. She finished with six shots but had a tough time getting the majority of them on target. In the 49th minute, her shot went just high. 

Carson Pickett went down in the 53rd minute. Fighting for a 50/50 ball with Lo’eau Labonta, Pickett won the duel. Labonta then deliberately kicked Pickett’s shin, and the fullback immediately went down injured. The deliberate attempt to injure should have been a sending off to Labonta, but the referee did not even call a foul. After getting helped off the field, Pickett was eventually able to return to the game. 

There really wasn’t much else happening in the match. Utah controlled the ball, finishing with 60% possession, and Orlando lacked creatively without its star international players. Danica Evans and Caitlin Farrell both entered late in the game but did not have a significant effect on the match. Evans’ flip throws put the ball into dangerous positions, but no one could get on the end of them. Farrell had a shot in the box in the 88th minute that was blocked. 

Following that block, Doniak scored for Utah to make it 2-0. There is no video of how the goal happened though. The game was showing a replay during the play after a possible handball shout in the Utah penalty area, and the replay only shows Doniak putting the ball in the back of the net. 

Orlando tried throwing everyone forward after that. The Pride won a few corners, but nothing came of them. Utah controlled most of the stats, including shots (16-12), shots on goal (4-3), possession (59.3%-40.7%), passing accuracy (78.1%-66.4%), and clearances (29-10).

The Pride play one more game before the World Cup break. Orlando hosts the North Carolina Courage on June 1 at 7:30 p.m.

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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.

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1 day ago

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December 1, 2024

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

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.

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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.

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2 days ago

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November 30, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

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.

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Orlando Pride Defender Carrie Lawrence Announces Her Retirement

Pride defender Carrie Lawrence has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

Published

3 days ago

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November 29, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

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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