Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride play their second game in less than a week with a chance to climb into a playoff spot.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (7-8-1, 22 points) welcome San Diego Wave FC (7-6-3, 24 points) to Exploria Stadium. This is the second and final time the Pride and Wave will meet during the 2023 NWSL regular season.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The San Diego Wave joined the NWSL last season and have only faced the Pride three times in their existence. The Pride have yet to lose in those three games, posting a record of 2-0-1. The first meeting this year was at Snapdragon Stadium on April 29 after a 0-4-0 start to the season. It looked like it would be a fifth straight loss when Jaedyn Shaw gave the hosts the early lead. But Adriana assisted Mikayla Cluff on the equalizer and Haley McCutcheon scored just before halftime to give the Pride the lead. Adriana got her first goal of the season in the 69th minute to put the game away as the Pride won 3-1.
The first-ever meeting was on Aug. 13, 2022 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 first half. 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 have gotten hot in regular-season play and have done so at the right time. Despite missing Adriana and Marta, the Pride beat the Washington Spirit 3-0 and OL Reign 1-0, leading into the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup break. Sunday night was their first game back in regular-season action, and they dominated the Chicago Red Stars, 5-0.
The winning streak has made tonight’s game one of the biggest in team history. The Pride currently sit just two points behind the Wave for the final playoff spot. Three points tonight would put their opportunity for a postseason berth in their own hands.
The biggest surprise recently has been the play of the back line. The Pride’s 21 goals conceded this season is the sixth most of the 12-team league. But three consecutive clean sheets and outscoring their opponents 9-0 in the past three games has brought the Pride to within a goal of evening their goal differential.
The Pride made two signings prior to the World Cup break, bringing in defender Rafaelle and forward Mariana Larroquette. Both additions scored on their debuts, but the return of Adriana and Marta from the World Cup are the biggest impact. The pair of Brazilians make the team much more dangerous in the attack, creating space for Julie Doyle and Messiah Bright to score goals.
Despite sitting in sixth, tonight’s opponent has been impressive this season. The Wave’s 23 goals scored are second in the league and their 19 goals conceded is tied for fifth fewest. They’ve returned most of the team that made the playoffs last year and made some additions in the midfield, most notably Dougherty Howard and Danielle Colaprico.
The Wave are in a similar position as the Pride tonight, needing to take something from this game. They’re led by U.S. international Alex Morgan, who has five goals and four assists on the season. Teenager Shaw has had a breakout second season, with four goals and two assists, becoming an integral part of the Wave attack.
The Wave are coming off a 2-1 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. They won with backup goalkeeper Shae Yanez in goal after Canadian starter Kailen Sheridan was sent off in her last league game prior to the World Cup. Yanez had a good performance, making three saves, but Sheridan will be back in the net tonight.
“It is another exciting and competitive game and comes around quickly,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “The highs of our last performance and we are right back at it on Friday against San Diego, who are a good team. They are in the playoff position that we want to be in, so we expect nothing less than a competitive game. We will be more than ready for it.”
The Pride remain healthy heading into this key clash. The only player unavailable is Carrie Lawrence (knee), who suffered a season-ending injury during preseason. The Wave will be without starting left back Kristen McNabb (hip), Kornieck (excused absence), and Kelsey Turnbow (excused absence).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kylie Strom, Emily Madril, Rafaelle, Haley McCutcheon.
Defensive Midfielders: Kerry Abello, Viviana Villacorta.
Midfielders: Adriana, Marta, Julie Doyle.
Forward: Messiah Bright.
Bench: Carly Nelson, Erika Tymrak, Celia, Ally Watt, Mariana Larroquette, Jordyn Listro, Megan Montefusco, Mikayla Cluff, Summer Yates.
San Diego Wave FC (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan.
Defenders: Kaleigh Riehl, Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Christen Westphal.
Defensive Midfielders: Danielle Colaprico, Meggie Dougherty Howard.
Midfielders: Makenzy Doniak, Jaedyn Shaw, Rachel Hill.
Forward: Alex Morgan.
Bench: Amirah Ali, Melanie Barcenas, Belle Briede, Kyra Carusa, Chai Cortez, Giovanna DeMarco, Sierra Enge, Madison Pogarch, Shae Yanez.
Referees
REF: Matt Thompson.
AR1: Rhett Hammil.
AR2: Jennifer Garner.
4TH: Marie Durr.
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal.
AVAR: Kaili Terry.
How to Watch
Match Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Exploria Stadium — Orlando.
TV: None.
Streaming: Paramount+ (U.S.), NWSLsoccer.com (International).
Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the match. Go Pride!