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Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Final Score 0-0 as Pride Open Challenge Cup with Draw

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The Orlando Pride (0-0-1, 1 point) kicked off the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a scoreless draw against the Washington Spirit (0-0-1, 1 point) at Exploria Stadium. The visitors had the better chances, but poor finishing kept the hosts in the game.

Amanda Cromwell’s first lineup as Pride head coach was a mixture of familiar faces and recent additions. Amy Turner, Courtney Petersen, Gunny Jonsdottir, Marta, and Sydney Leroux were regular starters from last season. Megan Montefusco, Angharad James, and Darian Jenkins are veterans who made their debuts for the Pride, and highly touted draft pick Mikayla Cluff made her professional debut in the starting lineup.

The first half hour of the game was all Washington as the Pride struggled to maintain possession and get the ball out of their half of the field. It started just three minutes in when Tara McKeown played a ball into the box. Ashley Sanchez’s backheel was right to Trinity Rodman on the far side, and she put a shot on goal. However, Erin McLeod got her hand to it, knocking it out of play.

In the fifth minute, Andi Sullivan sent a cross into the box, which found the head of center back Sam Staab. Fortunately for the Pride, the header went just right of the target.

In the 14th minute, Dorian Bailey won the ball off Petersen and set up McKeown at the top of the box. The attacker quickly fired on goal but it was right at McLeod, who knocked it down for the easy collection.

The best first-half chance for the Spirit came in the 16th minute, when a Rodman cross ended up at the feet of Staab. The center back was open a mere feet from goal but sent the shot over the top of the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

“I think we didn’t start well because we were a little bit too spread,” Cromwell said about the opening minutes. “And we needed to force the issue a little bit, a little bit more pressure on their backs. And when we do that, you see we win the ball in some good spots higher up the field.”

The Pride were able to create some sustained possession late in the first half for the first time in the game. In the 28th minute, Cluff set up Jonsdottir in the box but the shot was blocked by Kelley O’Hara. Before the Spirit could clear, Marta set up Petersen for a second shot in two minutes, but once again it was blocked.

The best chance in the game for the Pride came in the 30th minute. Jonsdottir sent a low cross into the box. It looked as though Jenkins would fire, but she heard Leroux behind her and let it go. Leroux lost her defender and took a wide open shot on goal. However, she got too far under the ball and the shot sailed high of the target.

The Pride had another excellent chance in the 40th minute when Marta’s cross found the head of Jenkins in front of goal. The newly acquired forward directed the ball on target, but it was right at former Pride goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. After 40 minutes, it was the Pride’s first shot on goal.

The start of the second half was very reminiscent of the first half. The Pride were immediately on their back foot as the Spirit created multiple chances on goal. Rodman got down the left side and cut back a cross that skipped outside the top of the area. O’Hara ran onto it and struck it well. The ball was heading just inside the right post but McLeod made a diving save moving to her left to keep it out. The Spirit redirected the ensuing corner kick just wide of the far post.

In the 48th minute, Ashley Hatch won the ball on the Pride’s half of the field. After receiving a pass from Hatch, Bailey played it across for O’Hara sprinting to the top of the box. However, the right back sent the ball wide of the target, allowing the Pride to clear.

Bailey was involved in the buildup again in the 51st minute. Quick feet allowed her to send an aerial cross into the box but, despite having teammates in the box, it was too high and hard as the ball went harmlessly out of play.

The Pride’s attack again got more into the game as the half went on. In the 65th minute, Jenkins found second-half substitute Meggie Dougherty Howard in front of goal. Dougherty Howard flicked the ball by Kingsbury with the outside of her right foot, but she couldn’t beat the post as the ball rattled the woodwork and the flag came up anyway.

In the 70th minute, the Pride were granted a free kick outside of the box. Marta took the kick, attempting to beat Kingsbury to her far post. However, the ball went just wide right and out of play for a Spirit goal kick.

Leroux had a difficult night in the attack, but nearly set up the opening goal in the 81st minute. After nearly playing the ball over the endline, the forward sent a low ball into the box for Erika Tymrak, who had just come on. The substitute received the ball just to the left of goal and fired on target. However, Kingsbury was able to block the shot, keeping the game scoreless.

Marta once again shot from distance two minutes into injury time. Washington was unable to clear a free kick sent into the box by the Pride, allowing the Brazilian to fire from distance. She was able to get over the ball on the volley, but sent it just over the crossbar.

The Spirit dominated play during the first 30 minutes of both halves. However, the Pride played their way back into the game, maintaining more possession and creating more chances as time wound down. As a result, the visitors weren’t as statistically dominant as they were during large portions of the game.

“I would say it was a rollercoaster of a match.” Cromwell said. “It didn’t start particularly well, but we found our way into it and I think we ended the first half with some momentum. It kind of switched again to start the second half. Both teams you can see had tired legs early on.

“We’ve been training hard with high loads to build them up to 90 minutes. So we knew because of that there were going to be some tired legs today. But then I think we got the momentum back with our substitutes. Our reserves came in and I think raised our level. We created some chances and I was really proud of the defensive effort.”

In the end, Washington ended up with more shots (15-11), shots on target (4-2), corners (8-4), passes (437-389), and possession (53.2%-46.8%). The draw gets the Pride off to a good start to the Challenge Cup, just two points behind the North Carolina Courage in the East Division.


The Pride’s second game will be against the Courage when they travel up to North Carolina to take on the division leaders next Saturday, March 26.

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.

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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.


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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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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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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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