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Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave: Final Score 1-1 as Winning Streak Ends at 8 Games

The shorthanded Pride scored first but had to split the points on the road with yet another different starting lineup.

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6 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The NWSL-record win streak is over but the team remains unbeaten in 2024 after a 1-1 draw against the San Diego Wave at Snapdragon Stadium. Orlando (8-0-4, 28 points) got a first-half goal from Julie Doyle and withstood ferocious attacking pressure by San Diego (3-4-4, 13 points) throughout the second half, conceding a deflected goal by Makenzy Doniak but holding on for a road point.

Orlando remains unbeaten in San Diego (2-0-1) and stays atop the NWSL standings, three points ahead of Kansas City, albeit with one more game played than the Current. The Pride are already within three points of their total for all of last season.

“Overall, I think it’s a good away point,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said after the match. “It keeps our unbeaten streak going as well. It’s always a tough place to come, San Diego away. You look at the personnel they have on the field, you know, internationals all over, but I thought we stood up to the challenge really well.”

Hines did not have a full-strength squad for the contest, with Brazilian internationals Rafaelle and Adriana out of the matchday roster and Marta on the bench after the trio played Tuesday night in Brazil. Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Brianna Martinez. The midfield in the 4-4-2 consisted of Cori Dyke — her first NWSL start — Morgan Gautrat, Haley McCutcheon, and Doyle, with Barbra Banda and Ally Watt up top.

The Pride were sloppy out of the gate, turning the ball over repeatedly in the first five minutes. The hosts couldn’t produce any clear-cut chances off of those turnovers, however. The first decent look came in the sixth minute when Strom tried to shepherd the ball out of play but instead turned it over. The ball ended up with Mya Jones in the box and Strom recovered to block her first shot attempt. The rebound came back to her and she sent the follow-up shot off target.

Abello got muscled off the ball in the 11th minute, allowing Jones to get a cross from the right to the far post. Maria Sanchez was there and got her header on target, but it was right at Moorhouse for the comfortable save.

Orlando’s first look at goal came in the 16th minute when Abello stole the ball and sent it to Doyle on the right. Doyle fired her shot near post but missed wide into the outside netting, wasting the opportunity. Two minutes later, Banda tried a curling shot from outside the area on the left but sent it fizzing just wide of the right post.

Doyle took a pass from Watt and got into the box on the right in the 26th minute. Cutting back to her left, she sent a left-footed effort on goal but it was a weak dribbler right at Kailen Sheridan for an easy scoop.

Alex Morgan was sent in deep by Jaedyn Shaw in the 29th minute on the right side. Moorhouse perhaps could have gotten to the ball first, but she hesitated and had to make a big save from point-blank range to keep the game scoreless.

Banda sent in a good cross for Watt from the right in the 31st minute. Watt went down under contact but the referee wasn’t interested in making a call. The Pride won a corner out of it and Strom sent a weak header right at Sheridan.

Moments later, Strom slipped while defending Morgan, who was able to get a clean look at goal but fired her shot right at Moorhouse.

In the 34th minute, Banda got loose on the right and tried a cross that deflected out to the top of the area. McCutcheon ran onto it and fired but the shot was wide.

The Pride broke through two minutes later. Orlando countered off a San Diego set piece and the ball ended up with Banda on the right after a nice play by Martinez. Banda took on Naomi Girma and sent a cross into the middle for Doyle, who contorted her body and stuck out a leg to redirect the ball past Sheridan to make it 1-0 in the 36th minute.

“I definitely wasn’t satisfied with just one goal, and I knew that one goal wasn’t going to win the game. I think once you get one in, your confidence just goes up, and so I’m hoping that that was the start of more to come, but yeah, we’ll see. I’ve just got to keep shooting, and trusting my teammates, and being committed to getting in the width of the goal.”

“I thought we took our goal exceptionally well. It was great to see Julie get on the score sheet,” Hines said.

Banda nutmegged a defender and got in down the left in the 41st minute but her cross for Watt was tipped away by a defender’s toe.

The last chance of the half fell to San Diego, with Danielle Colaprico firing a dipping shot toward goal that Moorhouse tipped over the bar.

San Diego dominated the possession in the first half (65%-35%) and had the advantage in shots (8-6), shots on target (6-3), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (86%-74%), but the Pride had the only goal.

Marta came on for Banda — who Hines said was on a minute limitation for the match — to start the second half, making her 100th NWSL appearance. The substitution emboldened the hosts, who pressed forward without the fear of Banda’s pace and scoring threat. As a result, the hosts were on the front foot throughout the second half and the Pride’s block dropped deeper as they went back to their play of the first five minutes, repeatedly turning the ball over in their own half.

“It’s very difficult, because there’s not another player like Barbara,” Hines said. “She is always going to put fear in defenders. She’s going to keep defenders honest with starting position. I think if that scenario presents itself again, we still have quality players, and it may look a little bit different.”

The first chance fell for the Wave in the 54th minute when Morgan broke down the left with two teammates in the area and only one defender. Abello was the one defender, and she was able to knock the cross out for a corner. Gautrat cleared the ensuing set piece cross.

Watt got up the right in the 57th minute, with one of her limited second-half touches, but she sent either a cross or a shot attempt right at Sheridan.

Marta had a tight-angle shot in the 60th angle, but the effort was no trouble for Sheridan, who knocked it aside for a corner.

Two minutes later, the hosts equalized. Martinez gave too much space on the right side and it allowed a cross to find second-half sub Doniak. Moorhouse may have stopped the shot, but it deflected off of Abello and in to make it 1-1 in the 62nd minute.

“To be honest, I couldn’t see (the ball), because Kerry was stood right in front of me,” Moorhouse said. “It’s just one of those things. I think on a different day, Kerry can block it.”

“Obviously disappointed with the equalizer, but to see the game out and get a point away from home is pleasing for the staff and the players,” Hines said.

Two minutes after the goal, the Pride survived a scare. Moorhouse came off her line to get to a ball over the top, but she sent her clearance off an opponent and it deflected to Kyra Carusa, who tried to fire into the empty net from distance. Fortunately for the Pride, Carusa didn’t make good contact and sent her shot too low, where Moorhouse could catch it.

A poor giveaway in the defensive half led to a Carusa shot in the 71st minute but it was over the crossbar. The Pride immediately gave the ball back and Savannah McCaskill sent a cross to a wide-open Sofia Jakobsson at the back post, but she sent her header off target.

Substitute Mariana Larroquette nearly got in behind in the 79th minute on a good through ball but she didn’t have enough pace to stay ahead of Abby Dahlkemper.

Two minutes later, Jakobsson sent a dangerous cross to the near post for Doniak but it was just over her head and Moorhouse caught it.

Pride forward Alex Kerr, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, made her professional debut late, coming on in the 83rd minute for Watt.

San Diego survived a rare mistake by Sheridan in the 88th minute. The goalkeeper came off her line to catch a Marta set piece cross, but she spilled the ball and it laid in the box teasingly, but no Pride players could get to it. The ball was sent out of the box where Martinez gathered it and sent a poor cross out of play.

Nothing came of the six minutes of stoppage time for either side, with neither getting a clear-cut opportunity. Marta made a nice move to keep a ball in at the end line but sent a screamer out in front that was too close to Sheridan, who covered it. On the other end, a deflected cross fell to Kristen McNabb outside the area and the fullback sent a shot that sailed well off target.

That was it, and the teams had to split the points.

San Diego dominated the stat sheet, finishing with the advantage in possession (65%-35%), shots (19-9), shots on target (13-6), corners (6-2), and passing accuracy (85%-74%).

It wasn’t the kind of performance the Pride have shown during much of the unbeaten streak so far, but considering the unavailability of key players and a difficult road environment against a determined opponent, the draw isn’t the worst outcome in the first of four road games in the final five matches before the Summer Cup break.

“I think the players (were) coming off the field disappointed (with the draw) that they put themselves in a position to win the game,” Hines said. “Unfortunate not to see it out or get that second goal. But you know, every game has its challenges. I think there’s elements of our game that we can continue to improve on. I think we can control the game more in possession, find connections and our links, but again it’s a good away point. Last year we probably would have taken that, but the players have set high standards for themselves and so have we as staff.”

Moorhouse confirmed Hines’ observation.

“I think the biggest thing is disappointment,” the goalkeeper said about the game. “I definitely thought we defended well. We attacked well as well. I think we were very disappointed to come away with a point and not all three.”

The Pride will finish their two-game road swing on Saturday, June 15 at North Carolina.

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Orlando Pride Sign Goalkeeper Kat Asman

The Pride have signed goalkeeper Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 NWSL season.

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2 hours ago

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December 11, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed Kat Asman to a two-year contract through the 2026 season. The Portland Thorns selected Asman in the 2024 NWSL Draft.

“Kat is a phenomenal addition to our goalkeeping corps and is someone we expect to provide competition and push this group to be even better than they have been,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “We are so excited for what she brings to the group both on and off the pitch and are confident she will play an important role in our upcoming season. Kat is a great fit for our club, and we look forward to providing her the atmosphere and tools to grow her game and make an impact in Orlando.” 

Asman was selected by the Thorns with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. The Thorns needed a goalkeeper due to starter Bella Bixby’s pregnancy, which would cause her to miss significant time. While the rookie was on the roster, she was behind Shelby Hogan, Mackenzie Arnold, and Lauren Kozal. As a result, she didn’t make any NWSL or NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup appearances in 2024.

The Roswell, GA, native was already fourth-choice goalkeeper and Bixby will likely return to her starting position in 2025, leaving the rookie with no place in the squad. The Pride came to her rescue by signing the 24-year-old to a two-year contract.

“I am extremely excited to join the reigning NWSL champions,” Asman said in the club’s release. “A big reason I felt so drawn to joining the Pride is their drive to creating a connected team culture that thrives on building relationships off the field in order to cultivate results on the field. Over the last season, I’ve been able to watch Orlando have an unforgettable season, and I feel very blessed that I get to be a part of everything this team will continue to build in the future.”

Prior to being drafted by the Thorns, Asman spent four years starting for the Penn State Nittany Lions, where she was a teammate of Pride defenders Kerry Abello and Cori Dyke. She played 87 games in State College with 323 saves and 27 clean sheets. Additionally, she became one of four women in Penn State history to win 50 games.

Internationally, Asman has participated in training camps for the USWNT U-14 through U-18 youth teams.

What It Means for Orlando

This signing may not have much of an impact on the Pride in 2025, although the addition may bring into question Sofia Manner’s future with Orlando. Anna Moorhouse started all 26 regular-season games and all three playoff games in 2024, while McKinley Crone was the backup in all of those games. Manner was only on the team sheet for the Summer Cup matches, playing the second game and being an unused sub in the other two.

The Pride will likely have three goalkeepers on the roster for 2025, meaning one of the four currently under contract is likely on their way out. The club signed Crone to a new contract through 2026 on Sept. 6, indicating she’s part of the Pride’s future plans. With Moorhouse under contract next season, it might mean Manner is departing. The Finnish shot-stopper signed a two-year deal on Dec. 1, 2023, with an option for 2026. But with her lack of ability to lock down even the primary backup role this year, we could see a corresponding move in the coming days.

Regardless of who makes way for Asman, it’s likely she’ll be third string. The club seems content with Moorhouse and Crone as the top two goalkeepers and Asman has yet to make a professional appearance. There isn’t much for Carter to do this off-season to beef up the team, but determining who will be the third goalkeeper next season will be something to watch.

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2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Haley McCutcheon

The veteran midfielder spent her third year in purple and contributed to the team’s run to glory.

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3 hours ago

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December 11, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Haley McCutcheon was still known as Haley Hanson when she joined the Orlando Pride on Aug. 18, 2022 in a midseason trade with the Houston Dash. The Pride gave up $75,000 in Allocation Money and a second-round draft selection. She joined Orlando for the stretch run, making her debut with the Pride on Aug. 20 in a 2-1 win over Gotham FC. Following the 2022 season, the Nebraska product signed a new contract through 2024 on Oct. 26 of last year. The Pride extended McCutcheon’s stay in Orlando on Dec. 20, 2023 by inking her to a deal through 2026.

Once again, the versatile veteran contributed in a number of different roles on the pitch, but she saved her best for last, scoring her first goals of the season in the Pride’s playoff run, helping Orlando get past Chicago and Kansas City and into the NWSL Championship against Washington.

Let’s look back at McCutcheon’s third year with the Pride.

Statistical Breakdown

McCutcheon appeared in 22 games during the regular season, starting 18 and logging 1,700 minutes, which was the sixth-most playing time among all outfield players behind three of the team’s defenders (Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, and Emily Sams), and attackers Marta and Barbra Banda. Of her 18 starts, the first two games of the season saw her at left back, while she was in the midfield for her last 16 starts, although there were a few moments here and there where she moved around as needed when subs were made.

She did not score a goal or provide an assist in the regular season, largely due to a lack of clinical finishing, as she put only two of her 18 shot attempts on frame. She completed 80.4% of her passes, but tallied no key passes and completed just three crosses and 12 long balls on the season. Defensively, however, she shone brightly with 31 tackles and 23 interceptions, winning 69 headed duels. She committed 16 fouls, drew eight, and was booked twice.

In the NWSL playoffs, McCutcheon started in all three games, logging 270 minutes. She scored two goals, finishing the two of her three shots that hit the target, but did not record an assist or a key pass in the postseason. The midfielder connected on 62.8% of her 75 postseason passes. She contributed three tackles and three interceptions on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, did not draw one on the opposition, and was booked once.

McCutcheon made two appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup (both starts), playing 162 minutes. She did not have a goal contribution or attempt a shot, but she was successful on two of three dribble attempts and completed 84% of her 55 passes, albeit without a completed cross or key pass and only one successful long ball. Defensively, she won four of her five tackle attempts (80%), recorded no interceptions, and won a headed duel. She committed two fouls, drew none on the competition, and was not booked. She attempted one penalty shot but saw her potential winning effort saved against North Carolina.

Best Game

There were a few decent options for McCutcheon’s top match of the year, but the standout for me is the Pride’s 3-2 playoff semifinal win over the Kansas City Current on Nov. 17. Ironically, it was one of her poorest passing performances of the season at just a 49% completion rate, but she managed to contribute in important ways on both ends of the pitch.

Her most important contribution came in the 41st minute with Orlando trailing 1-0. Ally Watt took the ball to the end line up the right channel and cut a pass back into the middle of the penalty area. With Adriana and Barbra Banda occupying the defenders, McCutcheon made a smart late run into the box, splitting her two teammates to get into an open area just as the ball arrived. McCutcheon’s first touch was a hard shot close to the goalkeeper, but the movement was too quick for Almuth Schult to recover and keep it out. With her second goal of the postseason, McCutcheon pulled the Pride level and they kicked on to take a 3-1 lead, ultimately winning 3-2 and advancing to the NWSL Championship.

That wasn’t McCutcheon’s only contribution, although it was her only shot attempt of the match. Her 51 touches in the game showed how involved she was, and her two tackles and two interceptions illustrate her importance to the defensive effort as the Pride held off the Current’s desperation rally attempt. She picked up one foul in the game and was booked in the 12th minute of stoppage time after Danielle Chesky awarded Kansas City a penalty, perhaps trying to give Vanessa DiBernardo a little more time to think about it. Aside from her stats and her goal, McCutcheon showed leadership, often pointing out assignments like an extra coach on the field. She was solid throughout Orlando’s postseason run, but this match was probably her biggest contribution to the three-game postseason sweep.

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gives McCutcheon a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season. This is an improvement over the 6 we gave her last year and the 5 out of 10 grade she received in 2022. She was in the lineup nearly every game, missing just four games from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. She sat out two of those (officially) with a knock and the last of those was an extra day of rest after the Pride had clinched the NWSL Shield. Other than that, she was on the field.

2025 Outlook

I don’t expect McCutcheon’s role to change much next season, although Seb Hines might like to get her more rest in 2025. With Luana’s illness and injuries to Angelina and Morgan Gautrat, McCutcheon ate up minutes in the Orlando midfield in 2024. Fewer injuries to that position group and/or adding depth in th off-season — and potentially the development of Ally Lemos — could help McCutcheon manage her minutes next year. Regardless of how much time she spends on the pitch, she will likely be one of the key, and vocal, veteran leaders pushing the Pride forward as they try to defend their NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.

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Orlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2024 NWSL Season

There aren’t many surprises in the Pride’s roster status update following the 2024 NWSL season.

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1 day ago

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December 10, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride updated the team’s roster status today following the 2024 NWSL season and announced some off-season decisions. The team is well intact for the 2025 season with 25 players currently under contract and only four players officially departing.

The players under contract for 2025 or beyond include forwards Amanda Allen, Barbra Banda, Simone Charley, Julie Doyle, Mariana Larroquette, Adriana, and Ally Watt; midfielders Kerry Abello, Angelina, Luana, Grace Chanda, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon, Viviana Villacorta, and Summer Yates; defenders Cori Dyke, Brianna Martinez, Carson Pickett, Emily Sams, Rafaelle, and Kylie Strom; and goalkeepers McKinley Crone, Sofia Manner, and Anna Moorhouse.

The long list of players under contract is largely due to the work done during the season to sign several players to new contracts. Yates, Doyle, Gautrat, Crone, Watt, Villacorta, Dyke, Martinez, and Abello all re-signed midseason before their contracts expired.

Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco announced their retirements from professional soccer during the season, effective at the end of the year. Additionally, Evelina Duljan is out of contract and the club has decided not to bring the young attacker back.

Probably the biggest news from the updates is that the club is in discussions for club captain Marta to return for the 2025 season. The Brazilian saw her two-year contract expire, but had a resurgence at 38 years old, resulting in being named an NWSL MVP finalist.

Just as important to re-signing players were the midseason contract extensions of Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter. The pair that led the Pride to the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship signed new deals earlier this year through the 2026 season with options for 2027.

What It Means for Orlando

There weren’t going to be any major surprises because 25 of the 30 players were already under contract and three had announced their retirements. Duljan’s departure is a little surprising because she’s only 21 years old and was a highly-touted addition prior to the season. However, she only played in 11 games in all competitions and didn’t appear to be a major factor going forward with the young players in the squad.

The other big news is that the club is in discussions about a return for Marta. The captain has been with the Pride for eight seasons and lost a step after suffering a torn ACL two years ago. However, she was excellent this year, scoring 11 goals and leading the team to the double. The question was whether the club would want to re-sign the attacker — who will be 39 in February — or if she would want to ride off into the sunset with the most successful season in Pride history. The Brazilian sports icon has repeatedly said when asked that she would like to play one to two more years. That being the case, the most likely place for her to do that was in Orlando.

Regardless of the Marta decision, the Pride are in great shape moving forward. They have nearly all of their key players returning next season, setting them up for potentially another run at an NWSL Championship. However, Carter has vowed to continue trying to make the squad better, so having a lot of returning faces doesn’t mean there won’t be some activity this off-season.

Post-2024 Orlando Pride Player Contract Statuses

(Current club players in italics)

  • Kerry Abello — Under Contract
  • Amanda Allen — Under Contract
  • Adriana — Under Contract
  • Angelina — Under Contract
  • Barbra Banda — Under Contract
  • Grace Chanda — Under Contract
  • Simone Charley — Under Contract
  • McKinley Crone — Under Contract
  • Celia — Retired
  • Julie Doyle — Under Contract
  • Evelina Duljan — Out of Contract
  • Cori Dyke — Under Contract
  • Morgan Gautrat — Under Contract
  • Mariana Larroquette — Under Contract
  • Carrie Lawrence — Retired
  • Ally Lemos — Under Contract
  • Luana — Under Contract
  • Sofia Manner — Under Contract
  • Brianna Martinez — Under Contract
  • Haley McCutcheon — Under Contract
  • Megan Montecusco — Retired
  • Anna Moorhouse — Under Contract
  • Marta — Out of Contract
  • Carson Pickett — Under Contract
  • Rafaelle — Under Contract
  • Emily Sams — Under Contract
  • Kylie Strom — Under Contract
  • Viviana Villacorta — Under Contract
  • Ally Watt — Under Contract
  • Summer Yates — Under Contract

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