Orlando Pride

Interim Coach Seb Hines Gets First Pride Win Under Difficult Circumstances

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2022

The Orlando Pride finally got their first home win of the NWSL season in Friday night’s 1-0 victory over the Houston Dash. The win was also the first under Seb Hines’ watch, as the interim manager got the club its second consecutive result.

While it would be easy to pick holes or downplay the match as a success or reason for celebration, that would be an injustice to the difficulties that Hines and his team have had to endure. Sure, Houston was down several players who were on international duty. But the Pride aren’t exactly at full strength themselves. The team’s leader, Gunny Jonsdottir, is with Iceland for the European Championship, superstar Marta is out for the season, and Angharad James and Leah Pruitt were also out. You have to play the team that’s in front of you and the Pride have been in Houston’s position many times in the past without anyone feeling sorry for them.

One could point at the own goal being fortunate, but those are the kinds of things that can happen with sustained pressure and set pieces. Carrie Lawrence sent a good secondary ball into the area and Kylie Strom did well to time her run and get under it, getting a head to it to keep it alive. Had it gone where she wanted it, instead of off of Ally Prisock, Mikayla Cluff probably would have scored anyway.

The Pride were simply the better side throughout the match. While there were still issues with too many misplaced passes, some rushed attacks that broke down, and a lack of precision in front of goal, Orlando nearly doubled Houston’s shot total and tripled the Dash’s number of shots on target. The Pride’s five shots on target in the first half may have all been right at Jane Campbell — one of the league’s top goalkeepers — but that’s an improvement over the off-target chances the team has wasted in previous games.

But besides all that, Hines led his team to three points vs. Houston and four points out of a possible six in the last two games under conditions that would give any coach pause. The former center back took control of the team a month ago on June 7, when Head Coach Amanda Cromwell and key assistant Sam Greene were placed on administrative leave. While a joint investigation into whether the two violated league policy on player treatment got underway, the thought was that Hines would serve as interim coach with the help of the rest of the Pride’s coaching staff working with him.

That hasn’t been the case. Assistant and Player Development Coach Michelle Akers and Goalkeeping Coach Aline Villares Reis haven’t been around. While neither was placed on administrative leave with Cromwell and Greene, both are officially taking paid time off. As the soccer season is a highly unusual time for coaches to take paid time off, these are highly unusual times.

“The environment, what is going on with our coaches (Cromwell and Greene) is very personal to them as well,” Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said. “Any personal time that they need off right now is time that they’re going to get.”

Without Akers and Reis, Hines has made do. He brought in former Orlando City forward Giles Barnes, who lives in the area, as an interim assistant. OCSC broadcaster and former USL-era Orlando City goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo has helped replace Reis’ absence to lend a hand as well.

“Giles came in at the beginning of last week, and the reception to him has been great, and to his credit, he has jumped in sort of headfirst and is doing a wonderful job as an interim assistant right now,” Fleming said. “He’s got a really good head on his shoulders for the game, has taken to the group really quickly, understands the landscape of the league actually much more than I ever would have anticipated, coming into this environment, and he’s been a really positive influence so far.

“Miguel Gallardo is out working with the goalkeepers right now. He’s doing so on a voluntary basis, but the feedback so far on Miguel as well has been really great. So, it’s something that everyone is working extremely hard through right now. Certainly not an easy situation for anyone, but I really feel like everyone is doing an incredibly admirable job right now.”

The recent results, including the win Friday and last weekend’s 2-2 comeback draw against Racing Louisville, show the team is willing to work hard for Hines, who is a fledgling coach. The past four matches have been his first in charge. Things are rarely easy for any first-time coach, but Hines has handled more adversity than most. His squad is young and in the early stages of a rebuild. Orlando has jettisoned veteran defender Amy Turner and star forward Sydney Leroux since he took over. His best midfielder is away on international duty and arguably his second-best midfielder, Angharad James, has been excused for personal reasons the past couple of matches.

Through it all, Hines has remained relaxed while wearing his ever-present smile. Under his watch, young midfielder Viviana Villacorta continues to develop her game — she was one of the best players on the field for either side on Friday.

“Seb has stepped up to the plate in a really, really great way. The response to Seb so far has been wonderful,” Fleming said.

How long Hines has to step up for as the Pride’s interim coach is still anyone’s guess. Despite the NWSL now having had ample time to interview every Pride player, coach, and staff member, as well as any other human even remotely linked to Cromwell, nothing continues to happen and it’s logical to think nothing will change until after the season. All one has to do is read between the lines of the past month.

Cromwell has gone from coaching to not coaching, and Leroux, one of the team’s star players — who was not shipped off in the rebuild as other aging veterans were — suddenly picked up a knock but was immediately available for her new team the moment she was traded. The NWSL front office doesn’t seem authoritative in the best of times, and with a recent, less-than-stellar history of coaching improprieties around the league, it won’t be quick to side with Cromwell against a star player, even if no evidence of wrongdoing is found. That’s bad optics, because — unfairly or not — Cromwell has already been convicted in the court of public opinion to some degree and lumped in with previous coaches around the league.

Neither NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman or Orlando City President of Business Operations Jarrod Dillon had any comment about the investigation when asked at the Daytona SoccerFest last week. Fleming didn’t offer much either in our talk with him on Wednesday.

“We can’t really talk about that much right now,” he said. “The most important part is just that the joint investigation does their job thoroughly and that they come to the right conclusion. There’s not a lot more to say about it than that at this point. I just want to make sure that what comes out of this is right and fair.”

With a tougher schedule on the horizon, it’s going to be difficult for the Pride to continue to get results — not impossible, but it’s going to take a lot of effort and the squad must minimize mistakes. Orlando has yet to play either of its two matches against league-leading San Diego Wave FC or fourth-place OL Reign. In addition, another meeting with the Portland Thorns awaits.

Hines will take each game ahead that he has left in this uncertain season the way he always does — with a smile on his face and an intent to get a result. Even with the most seasoned coach, it’s not easy to win with a young, unfinished team. But he will be getting reinforcements. The addition of 18-year-old Malta international Haley Brugeja could be a boost to the club’s struggling offense. And, very quietly, first-round draft pick Caitlin Cosme is getting healthy for the first time. The Pride have had a few games recently without a single center back on the bench, but with Cosme’s return, they’ve had two the last couple of matches. Additionally, Carrie Lawrence had her first start Friday since sustaining an injury to her ribs, helping her team shut out Houston.

A better defense, another scoring threat, and the continued development of Villacorta and Cluff in the midfield might be enough to keep this Pride team at least in contention for a playoff spot. The Pride entered today just two points behind sixth-place Angel City, although the expansion side has a game in hand — that will take place tonight at home against San Diego — and three points behind fifth-place Houston.

If Hines can continue to work on his team’s fundamentals and keep his players believing, it just may be enough.

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Angelina

Angelina was a key player during her first season with the Pride.

Published

21 hours ago

December 16, 2024

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride signed defensive midfielder Angelina on Dec. 13, 2023 as a restricted free agent. It was a three-year deal through the 2026 season and the Brazilian international quickly became a key part of the starting lineup. A surgical procedure early in the season kept her out for five games and she played for Brazil at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but she was present for the final stretch of the season.

Let’s take a look at Angelina’s first season in Orlando.

Statistical Breakdown

Angelina was a key player in the Pride’s starting lineup, taking up her spot in the defensive midfield. She played most of the regular-season games, but missed the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup because she was with Brazil at the Olympics.

The midfielder made 21 appearances in the NWSL regular season, starting 16 games and recording 1,487 minutes. Of her 11 shots, six were on target and she scored two goals. Additionally, she completed 82% of her 849 passes, including two assists, three key passes, and three crosses. Defensively, Angelina had 39 successful tackles, 21 headed duels won, and 14 interceptions on the year. She committed 19 fouls, suffered 22, and was booked once.

In the playoffs, Angelina started all three games, recording 266 minutes. She put one of her four shots on target and didn’t score, but completed 80% of her 116 passes and assisted Barbra Banda’s game-winning goal in the NWSL Championship. She was also active defensively in the postseason, completing 10 tackles and making seven interceptions. She committed two fouls in the playoffs, suffered one, and was booked once.

Best Game

Angelina had several games where she was a force going forward, assisting in the buildup to goals and completing a high percentage of her passes. However, her best game was in the NWSL semifinal against the Kansas City Current and it was because of her defensive play. The midfielder only completed 64% of her 41 passes — a low number for her — and took one off-target shot. However, she played a strong defensive game.

The Pride went down a goal in the 33rd minute, but equalized shortly before halftime. A Banda goal early in the second half gave the Pride the lead and they had to stand tall defensively. That’s when Angelina made her biggest impact, touching the ball 61 times while recording three tackles and a season-high six interceptions. Her play in the defensive midfield had a significant impact on the Pride holding on for the win and reaching the NWSL Championship for the first time in club history.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Angelina a composite grade of 8 out of 10 for her first season with the club. She helped the Pride control the midfield all season, a major reason why they were unbeaten in their first 23 regular-season games. Her contributions to the attack helped the Pride outscore opponents when needed, and her defensive prowess contributed to the best defense in the NWSL. She brought stability and a sense of calm to Orlando’s midfield all season. For these reasons, we considered her one of the best players on the team for 2024.

2025 Outlook

Angelina signed a three-year deal prior to the 2024 NWSL season, keeping her in purple through the 2026 NWSL season. She proved herself to be an essential part of the starting lineup, often serving as the team’s best defensive midfielder and a key link between the back line and the attackers. Provided she is healthy, the Brazilian will remain a regular starter and a key player in the team moving forward.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Kerry Abello (12/15/24)

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Kerry Abello

A switch from midfield to left back led to a place on the NWSL Best XI Second Team for Abello. Vamos!

Published

2 days ago

December 15, 2024

S. Andrew DeSalvo

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride selected Kerry Abello 24th overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft, but didn’t sign her to a contract until Jan 28, 2022, because Abello decided to return to Penn State for a fifth season. On Feb. 23, 2023, the Pride re-signed Abello to a new two-year contract through 2024 with an option for 2025, and on March 1, 2024 they re-signed her to a new three-year contract through the 2026 season.

When writing about Abello, there is of course only one way to get started, and that is to say, “vamos!“

Statistical Breakdown

After two seasons playing primarily as a midfielder Abello moved to the starting left back for the 2024 season and played in every game during the NWSL regular season, starting all but one and playing 2,122 minutes. Offensively, she took nine shots, putting five on target and scoring one goal. Abello completed 78.2% of her passes, with two key passes and two assists, completing seven crosses and 36 long balls. She was also one of only two defensive players in the NWSL to have more than 50 progressive carries (carries of more than 10 yards in the attacking half of the field) and more than two goal contributions during regular-season play. On the defensive side, she won 35 tackles, had 26 interceptions, and won 28 headed duels. She committed 19 fouls and suffered 15 fouls, earning two yellow cards.

In the NWSL playoffs, the Penn State product started all three games, playing 266 minutes. She did not register a goal contribution, took one off-target shot, completed 74.4% of her 90 passes. Defensively, Abello won four tackles and intercepted the ball once. She committed four fouls and was fouled once. She earned one yellow card, which came in the 31st minute of the championship match.

Abello played in two of the Pride’s three NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup matches, starting one game and coming off the bench in the other, logging a total of 94 minutes. She did not score a goal but assisted on one while not taking any shots in the competition. Abello completed 86.3% of her passes, completing one key pass, two crosses, and three long balls. On the defensive side, she won one tackle, one interception, and one headed duel. Abello committed two fouls, suffered none, and was not booked.

Best Game

After opening the season with three consecutive draws, the Pride finally got their first win of the season on April 12, defeating the Utah Royals 1-0. The team went on to win a club-record eight consecutive games, and it all started with an assist from Abello in the 68th minute against Utah, as the left back ventured all the way forward to the byline to play a cross into the danger zone in front of the goal to Marta, who did what Marta does and put it away for the game-winning goal.

The 200th goal in club history belongs to Marta

The @ORLPride take the lead! pic.twitter.com/u0A3TMj7Kn
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 13, 2024

“I saw that Ally (Watt) was getting into a crossing position and I knew that I had to make that back post,” Abello said about the play. “So I got up there and she hit it back post and I knew that we had other players in the box. So my only thinking was just to put it back across and let them do their thing. Someone almost got to it which opened up that path to Marta who put it away.”

Abello went the full 90 minutes in the Pride’s first clean sheet of the 2024 season, playing solid defense (blocking three shots, winning two tackles and making one interception), and contributing offensively as well, with a team-leading five progressive carries and four completed passes into the attacking third, along with two successful take-ons and the aforementioned one game-winning assist. Marta may have scored the goal, but I thought Abello was the player of the match, and that this was her best overall performance during the 2024 season.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gives Abello a composite rating of 7 out of 10 for the 2024 season. This is a big improvement over the 5.5 we gave her last year and the 5 she received in 2022. She established herself as a critical part of an outstanding defense, and she was one of only four Pride players (along with fellow defensive players Anna Moorhouse, Emily Sams and Kylie Strom) to play more than 2,000 NWSL minutes during the 2024 season.

2025 Outlook

For much of the 2024 season, the Pride did not have a natural left back to compete with Abello for minutes, due to Strom moving inside, but the late season acquisition of Carson Pickett, who is signed through the 2025 season, means that there will be increased competition at left back next season. Abello made the NWSL Best XI Second Team, and was a rock on the left side for the Pride, so it is likely her position to lose when the season starts next spring. The former midfielder adapted extremely well to the left back role in 2024, making darting runs up the left side of the field and showing her offensive acumen when she was on the ball. She developed a good partnership with Adriana on the left wing, staying wide when Adriana would cut inside or using her dribbling ability to cut inside herself.

Abello’s ability to get forward and participate in the attack did sometimes lead to her being slightly out of position when tracking back on defense, but for a player in her first full season as a left back at the NWSL level, I thought she was excellent, and I expect another solid season from her in defense in 2025. I can only hope that she also delivers another viral commercial that we can enjoy and talk about all season long as well.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Orlando Pride

2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Anna Moorhouse

The Pride’s starting goalkeeper improved during her second season as the team’s number one.

Published

3 days ago

December 14, 2024

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride acquired goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse from French D1 Feminine side Bordeaux on Jan. 31, 2022. Her first year in Orlando was spent as the backup behind Canadian international Erin McLeod. When McLeod moved to Iceland following the 2022 NWSL season, Moorhouse was promoted to starting goalkeeper.

The English shot stopper was inconsistent during her first year as a starter, but played well enough to earn the spot for this year. It was a historic season that saw her set new club and league records for most clean sheets in a season. She also got her first call-ups for the England Women’s National Team.

Let’s take a look at how Moorhouse did in her third season in Orlando.

Statistical Breakdown

Moorhouse started every game of the regular season, making 26 appearances and recording 2,340 minutes. She faced 107 shots, making 87 saves (81%), and conceded 20 goals. Her 13 clean sheets set a new league record for the most single-season shutouts and lifted her to the most in Pride history. Additionally, Moorhouse completed 72% of her 824 regular season passes. As she started every game, her record as a starter in the regular season was 18-2-6.

The Pride’s number one started all three playoff games, going 3-0-0 and recording 270 minutes in the postseason. She faced 12 shots on target in those three games, making nine saves (75%), and conceded three goals, with one of those on a penalty kick. Her lone clean sheet was in the NWSL Championship when the Pride beat the Washington Spirit 1-0. Her distribution was worse than in the regular season as she only completed 54% of her 46 passes, and her lone booking came in the playoffs, receiving a yellow card in the semifinal against Kansas City.

Moorhouse was on international duty for the first NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup game and was an unused sub in the second game. She started the third and final matchup against Racing Louisville FC, playing all 90 minutes. She saved two of the three shots she faced (66.7%) in that game, conceding once in a 1-1 draw. She completed 77% of her 42 passes out of the back, helping to keep the Pride unbeaten in all competitions.

Best Game

The Pride’s stellar defense this season meant Moorhouse often had little to do. However, there were some games in which she had to be solid between the sticks, and one of those games was on June 30 in Los Angeles when the Pride defeated Angel City 3-0 to remain unbeaten on the season.

Moorhouse made a season-high seven saves in back-to-back games, beginning with the Angel City matchup. But while she conceded a goal in Kansas City the following weekend, Moorhouse claimed her third consecutive clean sheet in LA. Her distribution was also solid in this game, completing 17 of 21 passes (81%).

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Moorhouse a grade of 7 out of 10 for the 2024 NWSL season. That’s an improvement from her 2023 grade when she was given a 6 out of 10. It’s hard to give anyone in the Pride’s defensive unit a poor grade when they conceded the fewest goals in the NWSL and were on pace to set a new league record for fewest goals conceded until the final three games. They also recorded 13 clean sheets in an outstanding season.

The grade might seem a bit high to some because Moorhouse made some mistakes that cost her team goals. On April 26 in Washington, D.C., Moorhouse failed to catch an easy-to-handle shot by Ashley Hatch, watching it go through her hands and in. Fortunately, the Pride were already up 3-1, so it didn’t cost them the game. She made another mistake against the Chicago Red Stars in the playoffs, taking too long to clear the ball and allowing Jameese Joseph to block the attempt. While the block resulted in a Red Stars goal, the Pride were already up 4-0 and the game was out of reach.

Despite a few errors, it was a solid year for the goalkeeper, who made great strides in reducing the frequency of those types of mistakes. She was better than 2023 and will likely remain the Pride’s starter in net for the foreseeable future.

2025 Outlook

Moorhouse signed a new contract on Oct. 5, 2023, keeping her in Orlando through the 2025 season. The deal meant that Haley Carter didn’t need to worry about re-signing her starting goalkeeper after the season and could focus on more pressing matters. However, Moorhouse will undoubtedly be a priority in 2025.

In addition to Moorhouse, the entire back line will also return for 2025. While Moorhouse was solid in the net, Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke, along with the other defenders who were pressed into action, made sure to limit her workload. The pressure will be on the goalkeeper next season to see if she can improve and help the Pride remain the best defensive team in the NWSL.