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Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City: Final Score 3-1 as Sydney Leroux Brace Lifts Pride Over Kansas City

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3 years ago

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The Orlando Pride (4-0-3, 15 points) traveled west this week for a midday, midweek battle with Kansas City (0-5-2, 2 points). A brace by Sydney Leroux and a near midfield shot by Marta led the Pride to a 3-1 win as Orlando swept the season series from Kansas City.

After playing Sunday night in Orlando, Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner made several changes to the starting lineup. The only differences in the back were Erin McLeod in goal and Gunny Jonsdottir moving to right back, replacing Ali Riley. Marta was placed on the bench, while Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris were left out of the team altogether.

The quick turnaround gave Skinner a chance to show what the team might look like when Morgan and Marta are away at the Olympics. Abi Kim made her first appearance of the 2021 NWSL season, while Erika Tymrak and Chelsee Washington were given their first starts of the year.

“For some reason, we have to then travel to Houston at the end of the week, which is a team that has only played one game,” Skinner said about the lineup after the game. “I’m going to have an eye on both of them. And the players that came in to start the game with their team have that freshness…that energy.”

The Pride got off to a fast start, creating multiple chances in the opening minutes. It started in the third minute when Washington got her head to a Courtney Petersen cross, but the shot knocked off the post. Four minutes later, Tymrak set up Leroux at the top of the box. However, the shot was right at Kansas City goalkeeper Abby Smith, allowing her to make an easy save.

It looked as though Kansas City had taken the lead in the eighth minute when Lo’eau LaBonta’s shot was deflected in by Amy Rodriguez. The celebrations were cut short when Rodriguez was judged to be offside, keeping the game scoreless.

Two minutes later, Mariana Larroquette nearly gave the hosts the lead when she sent a long shot flying towards the goal. The ball went high of the goal, though it appeared as though McLeod had it the whole way.

Kansas City had another chance in the 29th minute when the Pride were unable to clear the ball off a set piece. Back from international duty, Rachel Corsie found herself with the ball in front of goal but McLeod did well to come off her line and make the stop.

The hosts finally broke through in the eighth minute of first-half injury time. A corner kick found its way to the back post where Larroquette was waiting for it. The usual set piece taker didn’t miss her opportunity and put it past McLeod for the game’s first goal.

The Pride didn’t wait long to respond and it was an individual effort from Leroux. The Pride striker carried the ball into the box, weaving between defenders, and fired on goal. Smith seemed to have the near post covered, but the ball deflected off of Corsie and got past Smith for the equalizer.

The offensive and defensive struggles during the first half convinced Skinner that some changes were needed. Coming out of the break, the Pride brought on regular starters Ali Riley, Taylor Kornieck, and Marta for Marisa Viggiano, Tymrak, and Kim.

“We were looking for a little bit more of the experienced players that have played more often,” Skinner said about the halftime changes. “Just to give us that focus and emphasis on finishing the attacks.”

After scoring just before the half, Leroux struck again shortly after the break. In the 49th minute, Jonsdottir found Leroux across the field with a long ball. Dribbling toward the box, Leroux was able to create some space and sent a rocket toward the far post. Smith had no chance and the striker had her second goal of the game.

“Syd’s (goal) was truly delicious,” Skinner said after the game. “The way she couldn’t see and she was changing the pace, finds that far corner.”

Once the Pride took the lead, the game slowed down considerably. That was partly because the Pride were attempting to see out the game and partly due to the hot day causing fatigue.

While there weren’t many chances throughout most of the second half, Marta decided she’d put the game away. In the 81st minute, the Brazilian playmaker weaved through traffic and got a shot on goal. But Smith got down to the near post and blocked the shot out of play.

Five minutes later, Marta spotted Smith well off her line from near midfield. The midfielder took a shot from the center circle and beat Smith from long distance, doubling the Pride lead and securing the three points.

The Pride out-shot the hosts, 14-13 (10-4 on target). Both teams earned four corners, and the hosts led in possession (51.2%-48.8%) and passing accuracy (69%-63.3%).

“I think we battled our way back,” Leroux said following the game. “We took a lot of pressure in the last 15 of the first half and we were able to come back and tie it up and I think that allowed us to come in and play in the second half and that’s exactly what we did.”

“We were able to put players into a team, able to rotate, and able to show that we can be competitive,” Skinner said about the performance. “Also, show that whenever the chips are down, we can be counted.”

Apart from the goals, injuries were a story in this game. The Pride saw Kim, McLeod, and Jonsdottir go down and receive treatment. While Jondottir was down in the second half, trainers had to help Ali Krieger stop an apparent bloody nose. With about 10 minutes left, Kornieck went down pointing at her knee. She was immediately replaced by Crystal Thomas.

While there were several injuries throughout the game, none seemed to be too serious so it shouldn’t cause any problems for the Pride going forward.

With the win, the Pride remain unbeaten in the 2021 NWSL regular season through seven games. They’ve also yet to concede multiple goals in a regular-season game, having only let in two goals in Louisville during the team’s first Challenge Cup match.

The two goals by Leroux drew her even with Alex Morgan for the league lead, with four. The two assists for Jonsdottir launched her to the top of the league with two on the year.

After playing two games in four days, it  will be another quick turnaround as the Pride will travel to Houston to take on the Dash Saturday night.

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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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24 hours 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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