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Orlando Pride vs. OL Reign: Final Score 2-0 as Pride Fall for Fourth Time in Five Games

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2 years ago

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The Orlando Pride (4-4-4, 16 points) fell to OL Reign (4-6-1, 13 points) 2-0 at Exploria Stadium tonight. An early goal in each half by the visitors saw the Pride lose their fourth in five games and extend their winless streak to five straight (0-4-1).

In Carl Green’s first and only game as head coach of the Pride, he made some changes to the starting lineup. As expected with the absence of Ali Riley, Ali Krieger moved into her former right back position. This was also the first game that we saw the new partnership of Phoebe McClernon and Amy Turner. Regular starting left back Courtney Petersen moved into the defensive midfield and Jodie Taylor made her Pride debut, starting up top with Sydney Leroux and Taylor Kornieck.

The Pride got off to a better start than they did in Portland Sunday night, creating multiple chances inside the first five minutes. In the opening seconds, Petersen found Leroux at the back post but a poor first touch got too far away.

The Pride had another good chance in the fifth minute when Krieger found Kornieck in the box. The tall attacker got her head to the ball and directed it toward the far post, but it was just wide of the target.

The Reign woke up after those two chances and began to put the Pride on their back foot. In the seventh minute, the Reign were given a golden opportunity when McClernon sent an ill-advised ball back to Ashlyn Harris. With attackers closing in, the Pride goalkeeper fell on it and the referee immediately called for a Reign indirect free kick inside the box.

It was an uncommon scene as the Pride placed 10 players on the goal line and the 11th player at the top of the six-yard box. The defensive strategy worked as Harris made the initial save, the Reign had another shot blocked and the Pride were able to clear.

Three minutes later, another defensive miscue gave the Reign another golden chance. Krieger lost the ball near the right touchline, allowing Tziarra King to take possession with space at the top corner of the Pride box. King found Jessica Fishlock, who also happened to be wide open, and the midfielder put it past Harris for the opening goal.

The Pride did have several chances, primarily with Petersen and Krieger looking for Kornieck or Leroux. However, the majority of those balls were just off the mark, allowing the Reign to clear.

A controversial moment occurred in the 39th minute when Taylor sent a long ball for Leroux on the opposite side. The assistant referee immediately called her offside, though replays appeared to show that Leroux was onside. The NWSL doesn’t have VAR, so the decision was final.

“I felt we had a really challenging moment in the game and we should’ve had a goal, which was wrongfully disallowed,” Green said about the play. “Certainly, from the iPad replay that I was watching. And you know, we all know goals change games. We come in at halftime, level, you know it’s a completely different second half.”

The Pride did get another opportunity in the 45th minute to equalize. Marisa Viggiano sent a ball across the box, which Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi came out to collect. However, the goalkeeper missed the ball and it fell to Petersen on the far side. The defender playing in the midfield shot on the open goal but the ball was struck poorly and flew back across the box, ending the chance.

The Reign doubled their lead in the 51st minute and it came from another Krieger giveaway in her own end. Attempting to dribble out of trouble, Krieger lost the ball to Eugenie Le Sommer, who quickly found King at the top of the box. The ball was well struck by King, beating Harris to the far post.

Eight minutes later, it appeared as though the Reign would get their third goal. Le Sommer received the ball in the box and got behind Turner. The Pride center back attempted to win it back as Le Sommer charged in on goal, but the late tackle from behind caused Le Sommer to go down and referee John Matto pointed to the spot.

There were questions about whether Turner actually got the ball. As Harris was receiving treatment prior to the penalty, Turner appealed to the referee to watch the replay on the video board. But the decision had been made.

Whether it was the delay or Harris’ recent success with penalties, it was a poor attempt by Fishlock. It was at a perfect height for Harris, who was able to block the shot for her fifth consecutive penalty save.

A bad giveaway by Turner gave the Reign another great opportunity in the 69th minute. The center back was too nonchalant with the ball, allowing Bethany Balcer to challenge her. Attempting to avoid the turnover, she played it softly in front of Le Sommer, giving the French striker a golden chance. However, Krieger did well to get her body on Le Sommer in the box, forcing her to take a poor touch wide of the goal.

Just 10 minutes later, Green made an attacking sub as the Pride looked to get back into the game. As Abi Kim came on for Kylie Strom, the Reign mounted yet another attack. Substitute Balcer set up Sofia Huerta at the top of the box, with the latter firing on goal. It was a low, strong shot on target, but Harris was able to get down and make the one-handed save.

While the Reign dominated the chances in the second half, the Pride did have some opportunities to get back into the game. In the 74th minute, Marisa Viggiano sent a lovely ball towards the head of Kornieck. The midfielder got her head to it but sent it over the crossbar.

They had another good chance in injury time when a Meggie Dougherty Howard free kick flew into the box. Gunny Jonsdottir headed it on for Kim, who was charging on goal, but she was unable to control it. The ball bounced off her chest and went wide of the post. That was the final chance for the Pride as they fell 2-0.

“For starters, I want to say I’m really proud of this group,” team captain Harris said after the game. “We fought to the very end. And even though we didn’t get the result, and that’s clearly disappointing, I’m very proud of the way the team has reacted to this week and the last few weeks.”

The possession in this game was quite even, with the Reign holding a slight advantage (50.8%-49.2%). The teams also had an almost identical number of passes, with Pride completing three more (388-385). The difference in this game was the number and quality of chances created by each team. The Reign dominated the Pride in shots (18-7) and shots on target (12-0). If not for the 10 saves made by Harris, the final score could’ve been much worse for the hosts.

“I think overall structure,” Harris said about the team’s lack of chances created in the game. “And preparation is key. I don’t know that we’ve necessarily been prepped and I think confidence is based on preparation. And I think we’re lacking that.”

The loss sees the Pride continue their current slide, which includes four losses in five games. It’s a shifting situation with new ownership taking over this week and a new interim coach arriving in the near future to replace Marc Skinner, who resigned on Friday.

“I’m looking forward to someone coming in with new energy and new guidance, a new perspective to help carry this team for the rest of the season,” Harris said about the coaching change. “Because we have an incredible group of female players, an incredible staff and ownership.”

“These kids have been tremendous,” Harris said of her teammates. “They have had a tough week, to say the least. And they showed up every single day and they put their head down and they wore it like professionals.”

While it was a tough week for the players, it was also tough for Green. Skinner’s immediate departure meant that Green, who had also resigned, would lead the team for the only time against the Reign.

“I think what they showed was togetherness as a set of players,” Green said about the team. “You look at the end of that game and how hard they worked for each other. And the spirit they showed. I just think it will bode so well for the team going forward for the rest of the season.”

The Pride will look to rebound next Saturday when they travel to North Carolina to take on the Courage at 7 p.m.

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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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11 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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3 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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