Podcasts
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 35: Morgan Gautrat Interview, Racing Louisville Rewind, Angel City Preview, and More
A heroic road result on opening day, a battle coming against Angel City, and a chat with Morgan Gautrat.
The 2024 season did not get off to a fast start for the Orlando Pride. Just 20 minutes into the season, the Pride found themselves down two goals on the road. A while later, while still trailing, Orlando then found itself short one player when Kylie Strom was shown a second yellow card. Things looked bad.
But the Pride pulled themselves together, fought back valiantly, and earned a 2-2 road draw against Racing Louisville in their NWSL season opener. It was the first point for Orlando in four visits to Kentucky, and although the Pride still haven’t won on opening day, they at least took a point from a losing (and, at the time, hopeless-looking) position.
We break down the match, check in on our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.
After our Louisville rewind, we were joined by midfielder Morgan Gautrat. The USWNT veteran was kind enough to spare some time to talk about her experiences with the club so far, how she’s settling in with her Orlando teammates, playing for Seb Hines, learning from a tough situation in Week 1, and more. Big thanks to Morgan for her time ahead of the Pride’s home opener on Friday against Angel City.
Our mailbagbox asked us questions about some of the Pride players who didn’t appear on opening day, the most meme-able moments from Saturday’s draw at Louisville, and more. Remember, 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. We’d also appreciate any ratings reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.
Finally, we presented our key matchups and score predictions for the Pride’s home opener this Friday. Angel City’s lineup presents a lot of familiar faces, including Messiah Bright, who will no doubt want to show Orlando what it’s missing without her. It should be an interesting match and it will be interesting to see what Seb Hines does with his back line with Strom unavailable and other key players injured or just returning from injury.
Here’s how Episode 35 went down:
0:15 – The Pride dove into the deep end of the adversity pool in Louisville but were able to overcome all of it and bring home a point.
22:30 – Morgan Gautrat joins us the Pride’s new veteran midfielder expertly puts up with our questions.
42:37 – The mailbagbox has questions and we’ve got answers, as well as our key matchups and predictions for Orlando vs. Angel City.
Podcasts
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 66: Gotham Rewind, Orlando Pride News, and More
The Pride drop their second straight game as the team heads into the international break.
One road loss became two as the Pride turned in a disastrous performance against Gotham FC on Sunday. Seb Hines went back to his starters to get try to regain the team’s momentum as the regular season winds down, but unfortunately, things went from bad to worse for the defense, which was substandard and reminiscent of some of the bad Orlando teams from the past. It was not the response Pride fans wanted to see after the team’s first loss all season in Portland, but it is what it is.
We break down the Pride’s second straight loss. I don’t even remember if we checked our score predictions from last week, because the weekend destroyed us, but we did make our selections for Player of the Match.
Our mailbagbox this week asked us if Rafaelle will be healthy this season and if she’ll get to start if she is. Remember, 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. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.
After the mailbagbox, we spent some time discussing recent Orlando Pride news, including Emily Sams getting a call-up to the United States Women’s National Team, the Pride and Summer Yates exercising the midfielder’s option year for 2026, and the date of Orlando’s first-ever home playoff game. I misspoke about what day of the week it was, but I realized it and gave the right day, so please stop yelling at me. Or at least stop yelling at me about that.
Here’s how Episode 66 went down:
0:15 – The Pride have not yet regained their mojo.
15:10 – Our mailbagbox wants to know about Rafaelle.
23:17 – Miscellaneous Orlando Pride news to take us into the international break.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 452: Atlanta Rewind, OCB at Chicago, Charlotte Playoff Preview, and More
Lions lose season finale and enter the playoffs against Charlotte, while OCB is already out of the postseason.
Orlando City looked a little off Saturday against Atlanta United in the final match of the regular season. The Lions had plenty of chances but it was the defensive lapses early that made the difference in a 2-1 home loss. Still, it appeared as if Duncan McGuire had provided another Cardiac Cats moment, only for the ugly spectre of video review to deliver the sucker punch that paved Atlanta’s way into the postseason.
We didn’t enjoy talking about this game at all, but we discussed all the key talking points, and if you’re wondering about our predictions, it didn’t even occur to us to check them until almost the end of the show. We did, however, make our unanimous decision for Man of the Match.
This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about Don Garber and which OCB iron man might someday be one for the MLS squad. 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, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we looked back at OCB’s road playoff game at Chicago Fire II. The Young Lions continue to look for their first-ever postseason win after a 1-1 draw and a 5-4 penalty shootout loss. A bad decision by a center back going forward gave the hosts their only goal and ultimately contributed to the end of OCB’s 2024 season.
Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City’s series with Charlotte FC, giving you the tale of the tape. The bottom line is the North Carolina-based side is great defensively, so Orlando will need to find its shooting boots to survive a best-of-three series. We provided our key matchups and score predictions for Sunday’s opener in Orlando.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 452 went down:
0:15 – Orlando City was not good and neither was video review on Saturday.
27:27 – The mailbagbox asks about stuff and we provide answers.
37:33– OCB is out of the playoffs after another shootout loss and we preview the senior Lions against Charlotte in the MLS postseason.
Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 451: OCB Prepares for Playoffs, Atlanta United Preview, and More
International Lions, OCB set for Chicago, and the Lions host Atlanta on Decision Day.
Orlando City and OCB were both off over the weekend during the men’s international break. However, not all of the Lions were off. We briefly discuss Pedro Gallese and Peru getting the better of Facundo Torres’ Uruguay on Friday. We also touched on Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT managerial debut. But the main point of discussion for the first segment was OCB.
The Young Lions are headed north to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire FC II on Sunday as the MLS NEXT Pro postseason gets underway. Orlando got the better of the Fire’s developmental squad recently in the only meeting of the season between the teams. Chicago, however, is a much better home team and that previous meeting was in Kissimmee. The Young Lions will need a heroic road effort to claim the club’s first-ever playoff win.
This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about Oscar Pareja’s toughest choice for Saturday’s starting XI and a trivia question about the Lion with the fewest minutes this season. 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, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.
After the mailbagbox, we busted out our Atlanta hate and tried to figure out what might happen on Decision Day. Can the Lions get the better of a team that has been a tremendous pain in their collective rear ends and send them packing into the off-season? We preview the game, choose our key matchups, and make our final score predictions.
Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.
Here’s how No. 451 went down:
0:15 – Orlando City players’ national teams faced off, the new USMNT coach debuts, and OCB is set to head to Chicago for its postseason opener.
12:21 – The mailbagbox gives us a regular question and a trivia question.
27:44– The Lions have a chance to solidify a top-four spot in the standings and kill off Atlanta’s season. Our preview.
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