Podcasts
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 7: Spirit Rewind, Emily Madril Interview, and Chicago Preview
First-year Pride defender Emily Madril joins us for an exclusive interview.

The Orlando Pride have done what seven other NWSL teams failed to do — beat the Washington Spirit. The Pride’s 2-1 home victory over the Spirit on Saturday night raised eyebrows all over the NWSL, but it is exactly what Seb Hines and his players expected to happen. The Pride have shown a remarkable amount of confidence over the course of the last four games — all without a loss (3-0-1) — and it suddenly doesn’t seem implausible that the team that began the season 0-4-0 could actually make a playoff run in 2023. But then again, it’s the hope that kills you.
For the time being, let’s just bask in the glow of an unbeaten run that at least has Orlando in a respectable position after a poor start to the season. The main difference seems to be a much stouter defense, combined with a reinvigorated Anna Moorhouse in goal. It didn’t hurt that Marta provided some much-needed offensive help on Saturday. We break down a win that we didn’t anticipate against the previously unbeaten Washington side and select our Player of the Match.
One of the players responsible for the Pride’s improved defense joins us for this show. Defender Emily Madril is spending her first season wearing Orlando purple and she has overcome an inconsistent and sometimes shaky start to the season to grow into the team. We spoke to the former Florida State Seminole about her assimilation into the Pride, overcoming that slow start, what she’s learned about the NWSL since joining the league, and more.
After our chat with Emily, we had quite a few mailbagbox questions to answer, and we appreciate all who wrote in. You can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form.
Finally, we gave our key matchups and score predictions for the Pride’s trip to play the Chicago Red Stars this Saturday night.
Here’s how Episode 7 went down:
0:15 – The Pride stretched their unbeaten streak to four, having had to go through league leaders Gotham and Washington to do so, which is a good sign.
14:06 – Emily Madril joins us and tells it like it is.
30:22 – Our mailbagbox was far from empty, and we provided our key matchups and score predictions for Saturday’s game at the Chicago Red Stars.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 351: Colorado Rapids Preview, the Miami Messi Mess, and More
Burgundy Wave’s Matt Pollard joins us to preview the Lions vs. the Rapids, and Inter Miami is apparently going to sign some guy.

It’s PawedCast time again, and yes, we went over an hour (by 16-ish minutes), we had a big story to cover and a guest!
Since there was apparently only one news story in the entire world this week, we’ve spent actual minutes of our show discussing the as-yet-unsigned Lionel Messi. What does his addition mean for MLS, for Miami, and for Orlando if and when that signature happens? As with any signing, we’ll have to wait and see, but it will at least solve Inter Miami’s attendance issues. As with most things involving MLS, there are positives and negatives, and we’re here to discuss both.
Matt Pollard has been busy repositioning former SBNation Colorado Rapids blog Burgundy Wave into a Patreon-funded site and he joins us to help us preview Saturday’s opponents from the Western Conference. Big thanks to Matt for giving us the inside scoop.
Our mailbagbox allowed us to steal a player from any rival team, which is kind of a neat idea, and MLS should just let us do it. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.
Finally, we dove into our key matchups and score predictions for the Colorado Rapids’ visit to Central Florida this weekend.
Here’s how No. 351 went down:
0:15 – Inter Miami plans to sign yet another DP.
31:35 – Matt Pollard joins us to tell us what’s up with the Rapids this season.
52:04 – The mailbagbox and what we think will happen on Saturday vs. Colorado.
Podcasts
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 9: Houston Rewind, Gotham & Thorns Previews, and More
A second shutout loss on Saturday was not an optimal result heading into a tough, two-game week.

The Orlando Pride were shut out for the second straight match when they faced the Dash in Houston on Saturday night and this time it wasn’t a case of wiping the floor with the opponents except for failing to score. This time the Dash were clearly better on the night and the Pride slipped back into some of their poor habits from last year. But hey, rebuilding is a process and the mentality of the team seems to be strong. It will need to be in order to deal with the two matches coming up this week.
We discussed the 2-0 loss to Houston and selected our Player of the Match, which was not easy. We also discussed Kylie Strom being honored with a selection on the NWSL Team of the Month for May.
After that, we looked deep into our mailbagbox and found…nothing. No questions to answer this week, but get yours in for our next show. You can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form.
Finally, we gave our key matchups and score predictions for a difficult, two-game week. The Pride face Gotham FC tonight at Red Bull Arena in the NWSL Challenge Cup, and we’re expecting a lot of squad rotation. Orlando will then come home to face the Death Star (a.k.a. the Portland Thorns) on Sunday evening at Exploria Stadium.
Here’s how Episode 9 went down:
0:15 – Our breakdown of the loss to the Houston Dash and a monthly NWSL honor for Kylie Strom.
19:37 – The mailbagbox was empty but we’ve got our key matchups and score predictions for both upcoming games this week.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 350: Red Bulls Rewind, OCB at Toronto, and More
A look back at a big road win for the Lions and a horrible road loss for the Young Lions.

It’s early June, so technically it’s still time to do some spring cleaning. Speaking of which, the Lions got their brooms out and swept the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, NJ. Ivan Angulo, Facundo Torres, Wilder Cartagena, and Robin Jansson starred on a night when Orlando City’s strategy was to stay organized against New York’s chaotic press and wait for opportunities to punish the Red Bulls on the counter. That’s pretty much what the Lions did on Saturday and it resulted in a 3-0 win against a team that hadn’t given up more than two in a match all season.
We broke down Orlando’s win in the Garden State and selected our Man of the Match. We also touched on several Lions who were honored for their performances in that game. Oh, and Mikey Halliday is coming home, which is good, but it’s because the U-20 USMNT lost in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinals, which is bad.
After our review of Saturday’s match, we opened up the mailbagbox. Among this week’s topics were Targeted Allocation Money and buying down Designated Players, along with home form vs. road form. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.
Finally, we discussed a disjointed Orlando City B performance north of the border against Toronto FC II. The Young Lions never seemed in this game and the warning bells were chiming loudly just 17 seconds into the match. It was not a fun night for OCB.
Here’s how No. 350 went down:
0:15 – The Lions didn’t have their sharpest passing night, but they put the ball in the net three times, which is always a welcome sight.
33:42 – OCB had a very bad night in Canada.
42:31 – The mailbagbox beckons and we don’t claim to be experts on the weird player-signing mechanisms in MLS.
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