Orlando Pride

2021 NWSL Draft: Recapping Orlando Pride’s Draft

Published

4 years ago

January 14, 2021

The Orlando Pride continued to rebuild their roster on Wednesday night, selecting four players in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The completely virtual draft took nearly five hours, but the Orlando staff came away pleased with the team’s draftees.

“Stressful,” Orlando Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said of the draft. “Still, a lot of fun. I think we came away with some really great young players that we can build around for the future.”

For the second time in team history, the Orlando Pride had at least one pick in each round of the NWSL Draft. The Pride had four picks, one in each round, which is the second most Orlando has ever had. The 2020 draft saw Orlando select seven players.

Orlando seemed focused on improving the middle of the field. With the ninth overall pick, Orlando selected midfielder Viviana Villacorta from UCLA. While Villacorta plans to play her senior year before joining the Pride, she should add some much-needed depth to the midfield when she arrives. She is a possession-oriented player who appears to fit in well with Marc Skinner’s system.

Skinner described Villacorta as a “metronome.” He said that she has the ability to maintain the tempo and can also dictate the game.

In addition to Villacorta, the Pride drafted a second attacking midfielder in Mikayla Colohan. Colohan is a BYU product who described herself as “a possession-style player that loves to attack.”

“With Mikayla,” Skinner said. “She just has so much energy, and she’ll get to the box. I’ve always been looking for an eight to kind of mix our styles between attack and defense and transition quickly. So, she has that ability.”

The Pride look determined to remold the team around Skinner’s vision. In addition to drafting two possession-oriented midfielders, Orlando re-signed Marisa Viggiano and traded for Meggie Dougherty Howard this off-season. All these players are good at keeping possession, an area where the Pride have struggled. During the draft, Skinner said Orlando is “finally starting to feel like [his] team.”

The Pride selected Kerry Abello in the third round. The forward from Penn State can play in multiple positions. This versatility will be an important factor for the Pride. Skinner said he will look for her to help change formations quickly and provide services to the forward line.

Orlando drafted Kaylie Collins with its final selection of the night. Collins is a young goalkeeper who appears to have a high ceiling. She will be given plenty of time to learn and grow as Ashlyn Harris is the clear first-choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.

The Pride lack depth all over the field. These draft picks are an important start, but there is still more work to do. Orlando has a mixture of stars, veteran players, and unproven youngsters. This will be an issue when the internationals leave for the Olympics and the younger players are forced to play a bigger role.

Orlando needs to bridge that gap and bring in some more experienced role players. Players such as Dougherty Howard, who are quality NWSL starters that are not on their respective national teams. The coaching staff recognizes this, and more moves are expected before the season begins.

“I want it to be a balanced squad,” said Fleming. “We have a team right now that has a great set of veterans — fantastic group — a good set of young players as well. We want to continue to have balance across the squad in terms of positions, age groups, and qualities that they bring to the team. It’s about being competitive. It’s about balancing the squad. It’s about being able to look to this season, try to win games, but also have a long view of how we’re going to build for the future.”

Ultimately, the goal is to build a team that could win both this year and in the future. Orlando has always been a team that has set high goals, and this year is no different. The 2019 season was the worst yet for the Pride. Last season, Orlando only played in four matches. So 2021 is a crucial year to get the team back to winning ways.

“We’ve been building, and we will continue to build, and I have every faith in our team that we will do exactly what we said we’d do in the first year,” said Skinner. “We’re aiming to be as successful as we possibly can be to put a real good product on the pitch. And you can imagine the frustration that was built last year, all the pent-up energy. And when you add our players back in, and we redefine the squad going into the start of the season, I think you’ll really start to see the Orlando team that we wanted to put out.”

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Viviana Villacorta

Viviana Villacorta returned to the field late in the 2024 season. Let’s see how she performed this year.

Published

19 hours ago

December 2, 2024

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride selected Viviana Villacorta with the ninth overall pick of the 2021 NWSL Draft out of UCLA. The defensive midfielder opted to remain in school for her senior season, but tore her ACL shortly after, which kept her out of action for the 2021 NWSL campaign. She suffered an ankle injury in the 2022 season that required surgery and tore her ACL for the second time late in the 2023 season.

Villacorta didn’t re-enter the team until late in the year in 2024, making some league appearances and a playoff appearance as the season wound down. While she didn’t have a significant impact on the championship run, the fact that she got back onto the field was an accomplishment.

Let’s take a look at how Villacorta did in the few minutes she received in 2024.

Statistical Breakdown

Villacorta was in the team for the first time this season on Sept. 28, coming on as a substitute at home against the Houston Dash. She made three regular-season appearances in 2024, starting one — the last game of the season against Seattle Reign FC. She played 69 minutes in the regular season without a goal or an assist, completing 31 of 35 passes (91.2%). Villacorta attempted one shot but it was not on frame. Defensively, she recorded one tackle and two interceptions, commited three fouls, and was not booked.

She also came on as a substitute in the first playoff game against the Chicago Red Stars, making her professional playoff debut. The midfielder played three minutes in the match without a goal contribution, helping to see out the game. She completed four of her five passes (80%).

Best Game

The 25-year-old’s best game has to be her lone start against Seattle on Nov. 2. She had a season-high 26 touches, completed 95% of her 18 passes, and recorded one of her two interceptions in 45 minutes of action. She also took her only shot of the season in that game, though it was off target. She was replaced by regular starter Angelina at halftime.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Villacorta a 5.5 for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but she didn’t play enough minutes (400 across all competitions) this year to get a grade. As a result, she receives an incomplete grade for the 2024 NWSL season.

2025 Outlook

Despite suffering multiple season-ending injuries, the Pride continue to believe in Villacorta, signing her to a new contract on July 16 that runs through the 2025 season with a mutual option for 2026. The defensive midfielder has shown her quality when healthy, but she’s been unable to remain on the field for long periods of time. The Pride have also strengthened that position, adding Angelina and Morgan Gautrat to the roster, as well as Luana, who is attempting to work her way back from cancer treatment. As a result, it will be hard for Villacorta to get significant minutes, even if she is able to remain healthy. With her experience, however, she can be a key depth player at the position.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
Sofia Manner (11/30/24)
Mariana Larroquette (12/1/24)

Orlando Pride

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.

Published

2 days ago

December 1, 2024

Michael Citro

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.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Amanda Allen (11/28/24)
McKinley Crone (11/29/24)
Sofia Manner (11/30/24)

Orlando Pride

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.

Published

3 days ago

November 30, 2024

Michael Citro

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.