Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride head to San Diego looking for their first points of the 2023 NWSL regular season.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (0-4-0, 0 points) travel west to face San Diego Wave FC (3-1-0, 9 points) looking for their first points of the 2023 NWSL season. This is the first of two games between the two teams this season with the return game at Exploria Stadium scheduled for Aug. 25.
Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The San Diego Wave joined the NWSL last season and have only faced the Pride twice in their existence. The first meeting was on Aug. 13 in San Diego. The lone goal in the game came from the penalty spot after a Julie Doyle cross hit the arm of Kaleigh Riehl in the 23rd minute. Meggie Dougherty Howard stepped up and buried the penalty. The Pride held on for 67 minutes to beat one of the top teams in the league, 1-0 away.
The second meeting was on Sept. 25 in Orlando and the Pride got off to a great start. Doughety Howard opened the scoring in the first half and Gunny Jonsdottir doubled the advantage in the second. It looked like the Pride were headed for six points out of six against the expansion side, but San Diego came storming back. Makenzy Doniak cut the lead in half and former Pride attacker Taylor Kornieck equalized late, resulting in a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Overview
The Pride continue their rough start to the 2023 NWSL season, taking no points from their first four games. Last weekend, the Pride were outplayed by a Kansas City Current team looking to turn around their own poor start, with Orlando falling 2-0.
The offense has been a big problem for the Pride, with Messiah Bright’s goal against Angel City being the only conversion in the first four games. The young back line, featuring a center back pairing of 23-year-old Emily Madril and 24-year-old Caitlin Cosme, has conceded multiple goals in all four league games.
Part of the defensive struggles have been the lack of a starting goalkeeper. Anna Moorhouse started the first two games with Kaylie Collins and Carly Nelson taking over in goal during the two most recent. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said the change in goal was due to injuries, but nobody has shown themselves to be worthy of the number one shirt yet.
The Pride are still in search of their first points of the 2023 season, but it’s tough to see them getting anything tonight. The Wave are among the best teams in the league on paper and on the field. They’ve won three of their first four games, with their lone loss coming away against OL Reign, another one of the league’s top teams.
As expected, the Wave attack is led by U.S. international and former Pride star Alex Morgan. She’s joined by fellow former Pride players Rachel Hill, Emily van Egmond, Dougherty Howard, and Kornieck, all of whom have started games this season. However, van Egmond, Dougherty Howard, and Kornieck are all injured and Morgan is dealing with a thigh issue.
The Wave have recorded shoutouts in their two most recent games.. The back line in front of Canadian international goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan features Kristen McNabb, Naomi Girma, Kaleigh Riehl, and Christen Westphal, with all five having started the team’s four league games this season. A struggling Pride offense will find it difficult to beat one of the best defensive units in the NWSL.
“Another competitive game. Obviously their form at home is good. It’s an opportunity to win another game of football for us,” Hines said about the game. “It’s going to be a difficult game. They have some good players, but in this league now, anyone can win on any day. So we’re hoping to go there and put a really good team performance out there and hopefully come away with three points.”
The Pride are getting healthier, as Haley Bugeja and Celia are back from injury and Amanda Allen is back from international duty. Only Carrie Lawrence (knee), Julie Doyle (ankle), and Kerry Abello (hip) are listed as out heading into tonight’s game.
The Wave are without several key players for this game, including Abby Dahlkemper (back), Dougherty Howard (thigh), Giovanna DeMarco (knee), Kornieck (abdomen), and van Egmond (back). Additionally, Morgan (thigh) is listed as questionable.
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Haley McCutcheon, Megan Montefusco, Emily Madril, Kylie Strom.
Defensive Midfielders: Viviana Villacorta, Mikayla Cluff.
Midfielders: Erika Tymrak, Marta, Adriana.
Forwards: Messiah Bright.
Bench: Carly Nelson, Caitlin Cosme, Summer Yates, Jordyn Listro, Tori Hansen, Brianna Martinez, Amanda Allen, Ally Watt, Thais Reiss.
San Diego Wave FC (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan.
Defenders: Kristen McNabb, Naomi Girma, Kaleigh Riehl, Christen Westphal.
Midfielders: Jaedyn Shaw, Danielle Colaprico, Belle Briede.
Forwards: Rachel Hill, Makenzy Doniak, Sofia Jakobsson.
Bench: Alex Morgan, Kelsey Turnbow, Sierra Enge, Amirah Ali, Madison Pogarch, Melanie Barcenas, Mia Gyau, Cheyenne Shorts, Lauren Brzykcy.
Referees
REF: Brad Jensen.
AR1: Bennett Savage.
AR2: Matthew Schwartz.
4TH: Adam Zarrin.
VAR: Shawn Tehini.
AVAR: Tony Obas.
How to Watch
Match Time: 10 p.m.
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium — San Diego, CA.
TV: CBS Sports Network.
Streaming: NWSLsoccer.com (International).
Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the Match. Go Pride!