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Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Player Grades and Player of the Match

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4 years ago

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The Orlando Pride slogged through wet conditions to take all the points in a 4-3 victory against the Washington Spirit Saturday night and remain undefeated when they score four goals or more. Now that we know what the winning formula is, it shouldn’t be too hard to replicate it, right?

It was a performance the Pride can definitely build on, and part of that will be breaking down the match to find out what went right, and what went wrong. Time to add our two cents and share our perspective on how each player performed.

Starters

GK, Haley Kopmeyer, 6.5 — Due to wet conditions it seemed like Kopmeyer chose to punch the ball more, and a few of those weren’t good clearances. But as the match wore on, she appeared to get more comfortable with the conditions. As for the goals, she couldn’t do anything on the first two, and I can’t find a good enough view of Washington’s final goal to tell if it weren’t just perfectly placed to beat her on the near post. All things considered, she had a good shift with a great save in the 63rd minute.

D, Carson Pickett, 5 — Not my favorite Pickett performance for sure. I just thought she was a little slow getting involved, and when she did, it often got messy. A couple of moments of brilliance were sprinkled in a match she’ll want to move on from.

D, Toni Pressley, 5.5 — Pressley almost added a fourth goal early when she got on the end of a Rachel Hill cross to put Aubrey Bledsoe to the test, but the former Pride goalkeeper was up for the challenge. She did lead the team in tackles, along with Chioma Ubogagu at three apiece, but I did take her down a notch for getting burned by Matthews on the opening goal.

D, Shelina Zadorsky, 5.5 — Zadorsky didn’t have a lot of involvement in her first game back from the World Cup. Her 24 touches were the lowest among the starters, but she did connect on her distribution 85.7% of the time. I was going to knock her for that second goal, but I’ll give credit where it’s due — Cheyna Matthews brought down and controlled that long ball perfectly, keeping herself between the ball and Zadorsky.

D, Erin Greening, 5 — Greening led the team in touches with 70, and completed 71.1% of her passes. I think she could have done better on Washington’s first and last goal though. On the first, she peeled off of Bayley Feist to go far post, which Joanna Boyles was already moving to cover, and on the final goal, she was one of the five players who watched Jordan Dibiasi dribble around them in the box and slot it in.

MF, Alanna Kennedy, 6.5 — Kennedy had a team high of 89.2% passing, a header just wide of the net, and only a killer stop by Bledsoe kept her from adding a goal in the 34th minute. Aside from the numbers, I thought she was generally solid in closing down lanes and forcing the Spirit out of their comfort zone.

MF, Joanna Boyles, 6.5 — A good outing for sure, but there were moments where Boyles seemed frozen after making a pass instead of creating opportunities to help move the ball forward. I’ve only seen her goal that got called off once, but she just didn’t seem offside to me. Good control and effort on it though.

MF, Emily van Egmond, 6.5 — Van Egmond and Kennedy came back to Orlando and hit the ground running in my opinion. I thought all three midfielders did well in controlling the space against a very pass-heavy team like Washington. She had a great through ball to Hill to get the Pride back in the lead in the 26th minute.

F, Rachel Hill, 7 — Speaking of Hill, it took her slightly over 900 minutes to get her first goal of the season, but hopefully this means the monkey is officially off her back and we won’t have to wait as long for the next one. Aside from that, she was often there to create several dangerous moments and keep Washington on the back foot.

F, Marta, 8.5 (PotM) — Something I haven’t mentioned yet is that Washington was tied with the Utah Royals for fewest goals allowed (at seven) before Saturday. Marta was a huge part of the Pride putting up four against such a solid defense. Besides getting the first brace of the year for the Pride, she was directly involved in the possession that led to the other two goals. Throw in four chances created, and this will most likely be one of the top performances of the year. (But hey, I won’t mind at all if I’m wrong about that.)

F, Chioma Ubogagu, 7 — Every once in a great while, it feels like Ubogagu gains access to the Matrix and everything works out just the way she wants it. That was the case on her goal the made things even in the 21st minute. She could have had an assist late in the game when she found Marisa Viggiano with a great cross, but it didn’t work out. I’ll always admire her work rate.

Substitutes

MF, Marisa Viggiano (77’), 4 — A missed chance at an open net and a bad turnover in stoppage time helped give hope to Washington. These are not the things you want to see from a sub.

MF, Dani Weatherholt (82’), N/A — It was nice to see Weatherholt back out there after her injury a couple of weeks ago. It’ll be interesting to see what Head Coach Marc Skinner decides going forward in regards to personnel, especially if the Aussies keep playing well in the midfield.

MF, Abby Elinsky (90’) N/A — Elinsky was just a substitution to help wind down the clock. To add on to the above, I look forward to seeing how things shake out in the coming weeks as the choices get tougher for who makes the game day 18.

That one felt pretty good, and I accidentally made my three-year-old cry when I scared him cheering (yelling) at Hill’s goal. Totally worth it. Now give me your vote on the Player of the Match and let me know what you saw in the comments below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Haley Kopmeyer0
Rachel Hill3
Marta12
Chioma Ubogagu1
Other (comment below)0

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2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Madril

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

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9 hours ago

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December 6, 2023

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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.

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Orlando Pride Sign Defender Emily Madril to New Contract

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

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1 day ago

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December 5, 2023

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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.

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2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse

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

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2 days ago

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December 4, 2023

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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.

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