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Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Lose Second Straight

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3 years ago

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The Orlando Pride (2-4-2, 8 points) fell 1-0 to the Chicago Red Stars (4-1-3, 15 points) in Bridgeview, IL, on Mallory Pugh’s 10th-minute goal. The strike, which came off a Pride turnover in their own defensive half, held up for 80 minutes as the Pride suffered their second straight loss and third in the last four games.

Pride interim head coach Seb Hines was forced to make a few changes to the starting lineup in this game due to injury. Mikayla Cluff (left foot), Sydney Leroux (right ankle), and Leah Pruitt (right knee) were all out or questionable. Additionally, Kerry Abello and Jordyn Listro were on the bench after starting in the 5-0 loss last weekend.

The back four in front of Erin McLeod included Kylie Strom, Megan Montefusco, Toni Pressley, and Courtney Petersen. Gunny Jonsdottir moved up to defensive midfield with Viviana Villacorta after playing defense in Houston. Angharad James, Julie Doyle, and Abi Kim made up the attacking midfield behind Darian Jenkins.

The game started evenly, with both teams having trouble maintaining possession. The first chance of the game didn’t come until the ninth minute when Pugh sent a cross into the box from the left, looking for the head of Sarah Luebbert. The ball was a little high and behind the forward, so she wasn’t able to get much on it. As a result, the ball rolled slowly wide of the far post and out of play.

A minute later, Luebbert got behind the Pride back line, chasing a ball sent through by Pugh. However, McLeod did well to come off her line and beat Luebbert to the ball.

The Red Stars opened the scoring in the 10th minute from the best player on the field. It started with a bad giveaway by Strom to Bianca St. Georges on the Pride half of the field. Receiving the ball from the defender, Pugh took a couple of steps toward the Pride box. But neither Montefusco nor Pressley closed down the dangerous attacker, so the U.S. international took a shot on goal. It was perfectly placed into the top right corner, beyond the reach of McLeod, to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Red Stars almost doubled their lead in the 12th minute with a nearly identical play, but from Vanessa DiBernardo. Another giveaway provided an opportunity for a quick give-and-go between DiBernardo and Chelsie Dawber. Like Pugh two minutes earlier, DiBernardo took a shot on goal. But fortunately for the Pride, this one was off the crossbar.

“Obviously, the goal came from a turnover. And then I think the other shot that hit the crossbar came from a turnover,” Hines said after the game. “I mean, we’ve had a couple of sessions and it’s something that we need to work on.”

“Great goal from Mal Pugh,” Strom said. “But the main focus of this game was to stay tight defensively, not let them play through the middle. And for the most part we were successful in that. Yeah, great goal by her and we just need to, you know, step up and make sure we get pressure on the ball and don’t give the ball away.”

The Pride didn’t get their first chance until the 14th minute and it wasn’t a very good one. Montefusco received the ball from outside the box and took a shot towards goal but it was blocked.

The best first-half chance for the Pride came in the 35th minute. Montefusco sent a long ball up the right side for Jonsdottir. The midfielder quickly sent a cross in for Kim, who was darting towards the near post. However, Tatumn Milazzo did well to track the run and blocked the ball out of play. The ensuing corner was caught by Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, her first real action of the day, ending the attack.

The final chance of the half was for the hosts a minute into injury time. In her first NWSL game, Dawber sent a dangerous ball through the Pride back line for St. Georges. As the defender reached the end line, McLeod came out to block it out of play.

While the Pride had a couple of chances in the first half, it was a dominant 45 minutes for Chicago. They ended the first period of play with more possession (58.7%-41.3%), shots (6-2), shots on goal (2-0), corners (2-1), crosses (3-2), and more accurate passing (83.2%-76.5%).

The Pride got off to a much better start to the second half and created their first chance inside two minutes. Jonsdottir got the first shot of the half, but it was blocked out of play by Amanda Kowalski.

The Pride continued to pressure the Red Stars back line, creating three corner kicks inside the first five minutes. The third corner by Strom found the head of Pressley at the near post. The Orlando captain redirected the ball towards goal but sent it just wide.

“You can see that we started the second half more aggressive,” Hine said. “Won some corners and set pieces and created more turnovers from Chicago. It’s just the final piece of making them turnovers into goal-scoring opportunities.”

The first second-half chance for Chicago came via a free kick after Pressley fouled Ava Cook just outside the box. Pugh sent a dangerous ball in for Yuki Nagasato. The former Japan international was unmarked at the top of the six, but couldn’t get her head on the cross as it went through the box.

In the 64th minute, the Pride escaped a dangerous situation when Zoe Morse found Pugh on the right side. The midfielder sent a cross to the back post where Milazzo was left completely unmarked. With McLeod covering the other side of the goal, Milazzo had a wide open net but couldn’t get her foot on the ball.

After the early second half flurry of chances, the Pride had trouble finding a rhythm offensively. They did get a chance in the 73rd minute through substitute Abello. Receiving the ball on the right side, the attacker did well to turn Rachel Hill and create some space for a shot. It was an ambitious attempt, but just missed a little high.

Chicago had another great chance in the 76th minute when St. Georges beat Petersen to a long ball by Hill at the end line. The defender’s first touch was back for Pugh, who was charging into the box. But Pressley did really well to get in front of the shot and block it.

Each team had chances to add to the scoring near the end. Pugh had an opportunity in the 89th minute, but the Pride defense did well to stay in front of her, forcing her into an off-balance shot that was easily collected by McLeod.

The Pride sprinted the other way, looking for an equalizer. The attack ended with Erika Tymrak taking a long-distance shot, but she didn’t get anything on it and it caused no trouble for Naeher, who easily caught it. It was Orlando’s first, and only, shot on target in the match.

It was a much better second half for the Pride, but they didn’t scare the hosts after the header by Pressley. The visitors had more shots in the second half (7-4) but only managed to get one of those shots on target. 

“During halftime, we made a few adjustments. Talked about how to exploit them, what was working, what was not,” Strom said. “So yeah, we had a clear idea going into the second half of how we could expose them and get the equalizer. Especially in the last minutes, we created a few opportunities.”

Despite a better second 45 minutes by the Pride, the Red Stars ended the game with more possession (56.6%-43.4%), shots (10-9), shots on goal (4-1), and passing accuracy (79.3%-75.8%).

“I feel like it’s come down to one moment of brilliance from a brilliant player,” Hines said. “That goal is whatever you’re putting in any game and it’s very apparent that she’s on form right now and she’s playing well. And it’s come down to the fine margins. You know, we stuck to the game plan, we didn’t want to give anything up early in the game. The way that Chicago play, they like to play through the lines so we kind of clogged the middle up and were really disciplined with our pressing to win the ball in transition with the speed of Abi Kim and Julie Doyle. So the game plan was there, but like I said, it came to a moment of brilliance to find the result.”

Defensively, it was the first time that the Pride haven’t conceded multiple goals in five games. Only giving up an excellent goal after conceding five last weekend against the Houston Dash was something the team focused on coming into this one.

“Obviously, after what happened in Houston, we knew we had to come in and make a point and let everybody know that that will never ever happen again,” Strom said. “We put up a good fight. We came in really prepared. It’s unfortunate always to lose but I think we definitely made some steps forward.”

While there were obvious defensive improvements in this game, the lack of finishing or even generating clear-cut chances remained a problem. It was the second straight game that the Pride were held scoreless and the third straight game they were held scoreless before injury time.

“It’s the hardest part of the game, right? Putting the ball in the goal,” Hines said. “We’ve struggled of late to score goals, but I think the main focus was not to concede. We’ve conceded way too many goals this season. And that was the main focus going into the game.”

With the defense seemingly on the right path, the Pride will now work on the other end. That starts next Sunday when the team ends its three-game road trip in Portland.

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Orlando Pride Loan Forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women

The Argentine forward is going home to get some minutes until July 1.

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2 days ago

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January 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride announced today that forward Mariana Larroquette is going on loan to Newell’s Old Boys Women in her native Argentina until July 1. The move will keep the seldom-used attacker out of the Pride lineup until midseason, but she’ll be able to get some playing time that could prove beneficial to Orlando in the season’s second half.

“We’re excited to find an opportunity for ‘Larro’ to gain meaningful minutes while also being an ambassador for the women’s game in her home country Argentina, as they get set to host the CONMEBOL Championships this summer,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “This will be a great move for her both professionally and personally, and we’re excited to see what she achieves while on loan.” 

The Pride signed Larroquette on July 6, 2023 — just prior to her involvement in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — on a contract through 2025. The former Club León, Sporting CP, and Kansas City forward and Argentine international was expected to bolster an Orlando attack that was in need of more goals. It hasn’t worked out that way, even though she scored her first Pride goal and added an assist in her first appearance with Orlando in a 5-0 destruction of the Chicago Red Stars at home on Aug. 20, 2023. That remains her only NWSL goal since joining Orlando.

The 32-year-old made just four appearances during the 2024 regular season — all off the bench — logging 48 total minutes. She did not contribute a goal or an assist or even attempt a shot. Larroquette completed just 41.2% of her 17 passes. She started once in three appearances in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, playing 107 minutes without a goal contribution and attempting three shots. Larroquette did not appear in the Pride’s postseason run to the NWSL Championship.

In her Pride career so far, Larroquette has made just 12 appearances in all competitions, starting just one time, scoring one goal, and contributing one assist.

What It Means for Orlando

Ultimately, this is a chance for Larroquette to get some minutes and perhaps improve her form. Although she provided depth last season, she was rarely used. Playing for the Lepers (seriously, that’s the team’s nickname, which is even stranger than Newell’s Old Boys Women) will get Larroquette playing time in the Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino close to home. This could be the precursor to her departing Orlando for good if she isn’t a good fit for Seb Hines’ tactical approach. At 32, Larroquette is unlikely to bring a windfall to the Pride in a transfer, but she has shown she can be a useful player off the bench when needed in recent years, and has been able to contribute on the international level for Argentina.

This is a move that can help Larroquette re-establish her game and show whether she is still capable of providing offense to her club — whether that ends up being the Pride or another team. As she has not been seeing the field much, there shouldn’t be a big impact to Orlando while she’s away, and it is possible we’ve seen the last of her in a Pride uniform.

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Pride Transfer Goalkeeper Sofia Manner to AFC Toronto

The Pride have sent the Finnish goalkeeper to Canadian side AFC Toronto for an undisclosed fee.

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4 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Sofia Manner era with the Orlando Pride is over. Orlando transferred the Finnish goalkeeper today to AFC Toronto of Canada’s top flight, the Northern Super League, for an undisclosed fee.  

“This move offers an all-around win for Orlando and Sofia, and we are thrilled for her new opportunity at AFC Toronto,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “This transfer allows her to compete for more consistent playing time, while also contributing to the growth of women’s soccer in North America. Sofia will always be a member of our Pride family, and we want to thank her for everything she contributed on and off the pitch during our historic 2024 season.” 

The Pride signed Manner, 27, for an undisclosed fee from Finnish top flight side FC Honka on Dec. 1, 2023. At the time, Manner’s acquisition gave the Pride four goalkeepers under contract — along with Anna Moorhouse, Carly Nelson, and Kaylie Collins — and Carter indicated at that time that she expected a battle for the starting spot between the Finn and Moorhouse.

“Sofia is a tremendous addition to our goalkeeping corps and one we expect to challenge for the starting position,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said. “She brings an underdog mentality and gritty work ethic and fits every aspect of the profile we have built for our goalkeepers. Her size, aerial ability, shot-stopping prowess, and distribution are world class. She brings international experience and has led the Kansallinen Liiga in nearly every goalkeeping metric. Her nominations for Goalkeeper of the Year and Best Player are indicative of her winning mentality and drive to be the best. We are excited to bring her to Orlando and to give her an opportunity to prove herself in our environment and in the NWSL.” 

Manner’s signing led to Nelson’s departure just 11 days later, as the Pride sent the backup goalkeeper to the Utah Royals on Dec. 12, 2023, along with $65,000 in Allocation Money, in exchange for an international roster spot. Orlando entered the 2024 season with three goalkeepers under contract, but Collins was on loan in Australia with Western Sydney Wanders. Former Pride practice player McKinley Crone was signed through the 2024 season on March 11, 2024, and the club subsequently waived Collins on April 16. Crone ultimately claimed the primary backup spot to Moorhouse, leaving Manner out of the match day squad.

If Manner was ever truly close to securing a top-two spot at Orlando’s goalkeeper position, it never materialized publicly. Moorhouse started every NWSL match in the regular season and playoffs, playing every minute and achieving ironwoman status. Crone dressed as Moorhouse’s backup. Although the Pride were set at the position following the team’s NWSL Championship in November, Orlando signed former Portland Thorns backup Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 season on Dec. 11, 2024. Once again, Orlando had four keepers under contract, and it always seemed likeliest that Manner would be the player departing from that point, which has now happened.

Manner made only one appearance during her stay in Orlando. She started and went the distance in Orlando’s second game in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenina Summer Cup, 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. She 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. The Pride claimed the extra point in the Summer Cup standings as a result.

What It Means for Orlando

With Manner’s departure, Moorhouse is currently written in Sharpie on Seb Hines’ list of starters whenever she’s healthy. Crone and Asman will battle for the primary backup role, but would likely only play in case of an injury or during a non-league competition like the Summer Cup and in preseason. Even the NWSL Challenge Cup is a likely start for Moorhouse, as there will be a trophy on the line and it is a competitive tuneup for the 2025 NWSL regular season.

Moorhouse has had some shaky moments in her Pride career — even as recently as the 2024 NWSL playoffs against Chicago — but she has limited those over the last year. The hope is that she will continue to improve the areas in which she has sometimes struggled, which include her decisions on when to come off her line to intervene in a play or when and how to deal with high crosses. She can also sometimes struggle with spilling her catch attempts, whether on crosses or shots. However, as stated above, she cut down significantly on those errors in 2024, and helped the Pride concede the fewest goals in the NWSL.

Manner’s departure makes her lone game in purple stand out, and barring a return it will be her final legacy as a Pride player. Orlando is positioned well at goalkeeper in terms of numbers, although not experience, behind Moorhouse. Asman has yet to make her professional debut after being drafted No. 39 overall by the Thorns ahead of the 2024 season. Crone, however, was at least impressive in her lone 2024 match, which was a 1-1 draw in the Summer Cup, and a pair of saves in the subsequent shootout loss at North Carolina.

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Orlando Pride Sign Defender Zara Chavoshi to One-Year Deal

The Pride have signed rookie defender Zara Chavoshi to a one-year deal.

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5 days ago

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January 13, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride announced this morning that the club has signed former Wake Forest defender Zara Chavoshi to a one-year deal through the 2025 NWSL season. Chavoshi is the first player the Pride have signed directly out of college since the NWSL abolished the college draft.

“Zara is a quality defender and someone we can expect to provide depth and additional competition to our back line this year,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “She has provided stability and high-level defending to the Deacons’ back line throughout her collegiate career, and we are excited to help her grow at the next level. We are looking forward to providing her with the tools she needs to continue to develop her game and make an impact in this league and for our club.”

The Potomac, MD, native spent the last four years at Wake Forest University, playing center back and right back for the Demon Deacons. A regular starter all four seasons, Chavoshi played 74 games with 70 starts and recorded 6,341 minutes of action. She scored two goals and added four assists from her defensive position.

Chavoshi helped the Wake Forest back line set a new program record for fewest goals conceded in a season during her freshman campaign, a record the team broke during her junior season. Last year, she played and started a career-high 24 games, helping the Demon Deacons to 10 shutouts and the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA College Cup, where they lost to in-state rival North Carolina in the championship game.

“The Orlando Pride showed the entire country last season that they are an incredibly hard working and talented team, deserving of an NWSL title. I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to their continued success,” Chavoshi said in the club’s press release. “I am also grateful to those who have contributed to my growth and development so far and for the Pride for believing in me.”

In addition to her collegiate career, Chavoshi has represented Canada internationally on the youth level. She made her international debut in 2022, playing at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride are in the envious position of bringing back their entire starting lineup from 2024. That includes starting goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and the back line that led the league in fewest goals conceded. With nearly the whole roster intact for 2025, the goal this off-season was to improve the depth in certain positions.

One problem the Pride had following last season was a lack of depth at the center back position. Megan Montefusco and Carrie Lawrence retired after the 2024 campaign, leaving a lack of numbers in the middle of the back line. The only experienced center backs were Kylie Strom, Rafaelle, and Emily Sams, with Rafaelle coming off an injury that kept her out much of last season.

Prior to the signing of Chavoshi, two injuries at the center back position would force the team to start Kerry Abello, who has played primarily attacking midfield and left back but has filled in at center back when needed. While it’s unlikely Chavoshi will see much playing time during her rookie season, the young defender can now slide into that position in case of an emergency, providing much-needed depth at the position.

This probably won’t be the only defensive signing the Pride make this off-season. Their depth is well set in the other positions, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they looked to add some more defensive players in case the injury bug hits during the 2025 season.

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