Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (2-2-2, 8 points) head back out on the road to face the Houston Dash (2-1-2, 8 points). It’s the first of two games between the teams this season, with the return game at Exploria Stadium scheduled for July 8.
Here’s all you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Pride and Dash have played 16 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. They’ve played 14 times in the NWSL regular season, with Orlando going 5-7-2 and 2-4-1 in Houston. They also played a pair of games during the 2020 Fall Series, with Houston taking both games.
The two teams played twice last season, once in each city. The first meeting was on June 26 in Houston. Maria Sanchez and Veronica Latsko gave the Dash a 2-0 lead with goals in the 18th and 26th minutes, respectively. Gunny Jonsdottir got one back for the Pride in the 49th minute, however, it wasn’t enough as the Dash won 2-1.
The teams met again on Sept. 5 at Exploria Stadium. Rachel Daly gave the Dash an early 10th-minute lead and the visitors held onto the advantage for 69 minutes. But Taylor Kornieck equalized in the 79th minute, allowing the Pride to come away with a 1-1 draw.
The Pride withdrew from the 2020 Challenge Cup due to a COVID outbreak in the team. But the two teams were matched up in the Fall Series, playing twice. On Sept. 26 in Houston, Nichelle Prince gave the Dash a 27th-minute lead before Marisa Viggiano responded in first-half injury time. Sophie Schmidt and Shea Groom put the game out of reach in the second half as the Dash won 3-1.
The return game was on Oct. 9 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee — the only game the Pride have played at the venue. Groom scored again in this game, giving the Dash a 13th-minute lead. Latsko made it 2-0 in the 29th minute before Sydney Leroux answered in the 47th minute. The Pride were unable to find an equalizer as Houston won 2-1.
The teams met three times during the 2019 season with the Pride going 0-2-1. The first game was on May 5 in Houston. The Pride only got a single shot on target but Houston could only muster one goal from Kealia Ohai, whose seventh-minute strike lifted the hosts to a 1-0 win. The second game was also in Houston on June 15 and resulted in a 2-2 draw. Joanna Boyles scored her first professional goal to give the Pride an early lead, but the Dash scored two unanswered goals to flip the scoreline. Fortunately, Danica Evans equalized in the 71st minute.
The final meeting in 2019 was on Aug. 10 in Orlando and resulted in the Pride finishing with nine players. Julie King was the first sent off in the 61st minute, reducing the Pride to 10. Marta was then sent off with a straight red card in the 85th minute. Daly converted an 87th-minute penalty and the Dash came away with a 1-0 win.
The first 2018 meeting between the two teams came on April 22 in Orlando. Chioma Ubogagu’s 65th-minute goal was the difference as the Pride won 1-0. In Orlando on June 27, Alex Morgan gave the Pride a 22nd-minute lead and the Pride took that advantage into halftime. But goals by Ohai in the 79th minute and Sofia Huerta in the 83rd minute saw the Dash claim a 2-1 win. The third and final game between the teams that year was on July 11 in Houston. A Daly brace led the Dash to a 3-1 win.
The teams only played twice in 2017 with the visiting team taking both games. The first was on June 17 in Houston. A Marta brace and goals by Camila and Alanna Kennedy put the Pride up 4-0. The Dash attempted a comeback with goals by Poliana and Prince, but the Pride won 4-2. A week later, the Dash got their revenge in Orlando as Carli Lloyd and Daly lifted Houston to a 2-0 win.
The Pride’s inaugural 2016 season saw them play every team twice, except Houston, and the two teams played four times that season. The first-ever meeting between the teams was Orlando’s first regular-season home game on April 23. The first goal was an Andressa own goal just after halftime. Lianne Sanderson and Morgan then made it 3-0 before Andressa got one back to make it a 3-1 Pride win. The first meeting in Houston was on May 20. Kristen Edmonds scored the lone goal in the 81st minute as the Pride won 1-0.
On June 23, the teams met for the second time in Orlando. It appeared to be headed for a scoreless draw until Jasmyne Spencer scored a minute into second-half injury time to lift the Pride to a 1-0 win. The final meeting that year occurred on Sept. 3 in Houston. The Dash took a commanding 3-0 lead with goals by Janine Beckie, Polina, and Ohai. Morgan and Edmonds got two back to make it a one-goal game before Ohai scored her second to complete a 4-2 Dash win.
Overview
The Pride enter this game after a late comeback against the Washington Spirit last weekend. Goals by Trinity Rodman and Ashley Hatch put the Spirit up 2-0 after 66 minutes, but the home team made a furious comeback late. Mikayla Cluff scored five minutes into second-half injury time and Darian Jenkins equalized three minutes later, resulting in a 2-2 draw. While the team has shown resilience by not giving up, the Pride are still looking for consistency in putting full 90-minute games together.
The Dash come into this game on a four-game undefeated streak (2-0-2), which includes wins against the Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns and draws against Racing Louisville and the North Carolina Courage. However, Houston is winless at home this year (0-1-1), losing to San Diego Wave FC and drawing the Courage last weekend.
The Dash have been led offensively by Rachel Daly — who has three goals and an assist — and Nichelle Prince — who has scored once and assisted the last two Daly goals. The other goal scorers for Houston this season include Bri Vaselli and Sophie Schmidt.
“(Houston is a) very confident group. They’ve gotten some results recently and just seem to be playing very unified,” Pride Head Coach Amanda Cromwell said about tonight’s opponent. “Against the last two teams they played a different formation, but we’re trying to see if that’s because the team they played against had a two front. We have some question marks just based on what system they might be playing. But, in the end, we know where their threats are. We know Daly and Prince have been playing very well with (Shea) Groom underneath them. They defend well, they’re scrappy, and above all else right now, they’re very confident.”
Orlando is shorthanded again. In addition to Marta (knee), and Caitlin Cosme (D45) continuing to be out, the Pride will be without Carrie Lawrence (ribs) and Meggie Dougherty Howard (COVID protocol), while Erika Tymrak (left foot) and Celia (illness) are questionable. Houston will be without Cali Farquharson (right leg), Lindsey Harris (left elbow), Kelcie Hedge (right knee), and Annika Schmidt (SEI – right knee).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Erin McLeod.
Defenders: Gunny Jonsdottir, Megan Montefusco, Toni Pressley, Kerry Abello.
Midfielders: Mikayla Cluff, Viviana Villacorta, Jordyn Listro.
Forwards: Sydney Leroux, Leah Pruitt, Darian Jenkins.
Bench: Anna Moorhouse, Kylie Strom, Julie Doyle, Parker Roberts, Angharad James, Chelsee Washington, Courtney Petersen, Kaylie Collins.
Houston Dash (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Jane Campbell.
Defenders: Allysha Chapman, Katie Naughton, Ally Prisock.
Midfielders: Maria Sanchez, Marisa Viggiano, Sophie Schmidt, Haley Hanson.
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Shea Groom, Nichelle Prince.
Bench: Michaela Abam, Michelle Alozie, Joelle Anderson, Julia Ashley, Ella Dederick, Elizabeth Eddy, Ryan Gareis, Emily Ogle, Bri Visalli.
Referees
REF: Luis Guardia.
AR1: Francisco Bermudez.
AR2: Zach McWhorter.
4TH: Estefania Estrada Sanabria.
How to Watch
Match Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: PNC Stadium — Houston, TX.
TV: None.
Streaming: Paramount+ (U.S.), Twitch (International).
Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, following along at @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the match. Go Pride!
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.
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)
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.
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)
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.
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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