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Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Final Score 1-1 as Pride’s Winless Streak Reaches Eight Games

The Pride again failed to take advantage of a team lower down the standings, drawing with Bay FC at home.

Published

8 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

The Orlando Pride (8-7-5, 29 points) played to a 1-1 draw with Bay FC (4-10-6, 18 points) at Inter&Co Stadium this evening, extending their winless run in the league to eight games. Racheal Kundananji gave the visitors the lead just before halftime and Ally Watt equalized in the 70th minute. The Pride tried to find a late winner, but they weren’t able to ripple the back of the net a second time.

The draw was Bay FC’s first result in the series and the visitors scored their first-ever goal against Orlando in this match.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made five changes to the starting lineup that lost 5-2 to the Chicago Stars on Sunday. Kylie Nadaner and Carson Pickett had excused absences, and Emily Sams was questionable with an arm injury. Anna Moorhouse, Cori Dyke, and Simone Charley were all on the bench. McKinley Crone, Zara Chavoshi, Oihane, Jacquie Ovalle, and Watt entered the starting lineup.

The back line in front of Crone in goal was Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Chavoshi, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were in the defensive midfield behind Ovalle, Ally Lemos, and Marta, with Watt up top.

The Pride were much better in this game than in Chicago, especially defensively. They were able to hold Kundananji relatively quiet, other than her goal just before halftime. Attacking-wise, the Pride were the aggressors in the second half as Bay FC tried to hold onto its 1-0 lead. Orlando hit the post multiple times and had two goals called back — one for offside and one for a handball on Marta before her shot went in. As a result, the Pride were unfortunate not to get the win but claimed a potentially valuable point.

Bay FC created the first chance in the fourth minute when Karlie Lema was sent down the left. The forward entered the box and was looking for teammates making runs into the six, but her cross was blocked out by Rafaelle for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece found Taylor Huff on the left, who played the ball to former Pride attacker Rachel Hill making a run. Hill volleyed the ball on target, but Crone was there to tip it wide.

Kundananji made a run into the box in the eighth minute before finding Hill, who made another run. Again, Hill ended up with the ball from an advantageous position. However, she hit this one over the crossbar.

The Pride had their first chance in the 10th minute when Oihane played a long ball across the field for Ovalle. In her first start with the Pride, the high-priced signing created space for a shot, but she hit it right at Bay goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz.

In the 12th minute, Ovalle sent a cross that was too long, just missing Watt at the far post. Oihane collected the ball before it went out of play, sending it towards the top of the box where McCutcheon was arriving. The defensive midfielder fired, but she sent her attempt well off target.

The Pride nearly opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when an Ovalle cross to the far side of the box found Marta. The captain’s first touch was a shot that was past Silkowitz, bouncing off the post and traveling across the face of the goal.

Marta received a pass at the top of the box in the 30th minute and the Brazilian created some space from the defender before firing from the top of the box. However, it took a deflection over the top, giving the Pride a corner kick. The Pride created a chance right after the restart when Abello received the ball with enough space to take a shot on target. Unfortunately, her shot was right at Silkowitz, who made the stop.

Kundananji was sent down the left in the 36th minute, using her speed to get behind the back line. The striker beat Crone, but her shot hit the far post, keeping the game scoreless.

On the other end, Marta played a great ball into the box in the 38th minute that skipped over the foot of Ovalle right in front of the goal. It would’ve been a tap-in if she’d gotten a foot to it but it went out of play instead.

The Pride thought they’d scored in the 39th minute when Marta found Watt right in front of the goal and the attacker put it in. But the flag went up for offside. Bay FC quickly restarted, sending Kundananji long and behind the Pride back line. This time the striker converted, placing the ball past Crone, however, the referee had been holding up play for video review to look at the offside call.

In the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Crone tried to play the ball out of back, but her pass was off line, giving it right to Caprice Dydasco in the Pride third of the field. After taking a couple of dribbles forward, the right back played a long ball to Kundananji approaching the goal. The Zambian attacker headed it past Crone to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Pride went the other way, looking to find an equalizer before the break, but it wasn’t to be. Marta’s last shot in the dying seconds was right to Silkowitz, who made an easy save.

At halftime, the Pride had the advantage in possession (53%-47%), shots (11-7), and crosses (10-9). Bay FC had the edge in shots on target (4-3), corner kicks (5-3), and passing accuracy (80%-77%).

“It was all positive stuff. You know, we didn’t want to dwell too much on the goal conceded,” Hines said about his halftime talk. “It (the goal) happened. We moved on. It wasn’t a theme of the game. It’s just a moment in the game. And there was just a couple of things that we wanted to talk about, you know, switching the play, getting numbers in the box when we’re in crossing positions, be mindful of the transition because they’re very good in transition with the likes of Kundananji. And just continue to do what you’re doing. You know, first half wasn’t a bad performance. I know it looks bad because you’re 1-0 down, but I felt we were very structured in our press. I thought we caused some problems with Bay’s press as well, getting in some really good, threatening positions. And it was all very positive things, outlooks of the first half. And just keep going.”

“I know it was definitely a positive locker room,” Watt added. “It was just, they capitalized on one opportunity. But we just knew that we were dominating most of the game. We were getting really good chances. We kept hitting freaking posts. We got those goals called back. So, it was just good energy in the locker room, and we knew that we could get back into this. And we did. So it was just very positive, and we knew we just had to fight every minute. That’s what we’re gonna have to do for the rest of the season.”

Watt was sent long in the 48th minute, turning halftime substitute Kelli Hubly. The defender pulled Watt’s arm back, resulting in a foul and a booking for Hubly. Lemos and Ovalle stood over the set piece with the latter taking the free kick. The Mexican international went for goal, but Silkowitz was there to knock it wide with a great save.

The Pride thought they’d found their equalizer in the 55th minute when Oihane sent a cross to the back post. Marta attempted to head the ball, missing it. However, it went off of her body as she stumbled into it and knocked it over the goal line. The play went to video review for a potential handball, and it did hit the Brazilian’s arm., so the goal was overturned.

The Pride had a great chance to equalize again in the 60th minute when McCutcheon’s cross found Ovalle near the far post. Ovalle’s first shot was saved by Silkowitz and she hit the second off the post. The ball was eventually cleared over the end line for a corner kick. Lemos sent the set piece to the back side of the post, where Chavoshi was called for a foul, ending the threat.

Bay FC had its first decent chance of the second half in the 68th minute when Dydasco found Dorian Bailey open in front of the goal. Fortunately, the ball was a little behind her. Bailey tried to backheel it on frame, but she couldn’t get anything on it, and Crone made the save.

A McCutcheon blocked cross in the 70th minute gave the Pride a throw-in that resulted in the equalizing goal. Ovalle received the ball, sending it into the box. Watt outjumped her defenders to get her head on it, placing it past Silkowitz and into the corner to even the game at 1-1.

“She (Ovalle) just has a gorgeous service all the time. So, I think I kept cheating near post on some of her service,” Watt said. “So that time, I knew I needed to stay more central and just put anything I could on it, always prepping for me to get demolished by a goalkeeper or something. But, no, just a gorgeous ball in. Our services the last couple games have been really good, so we just know that we’ve been needing to finish it.”

“It’s very easy in those moments to feel like it’s not your day. But they carried on. They carried on pushing,” Hines said. “We scored the equalizer, which was, again, a really good goal from a crossing position, well taken by Ally putting herself in that position to score.”

In the 73rd minute, the ball popped out where Lemos was making a run. The ball landed perfectly on the foot of the midfielder, who volleyed it towards goal. However, it was straight into Silkowitz’s arms.

Bay FC created a chance when Huff received a pass at the top of the Pride box. However, the attacker’s shot went wide.

In the 89th minute, Bailey won a corner that Bay played short to Dydasco. The fullback found Bailey near the top of the box, and she sent a curling shot towards goal, but Rafaelle got in front to head it away.

The fourth official showed 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time and the Pride created a chance in the fifth extra minute when second-half sub Simone Charley played the ball wide for Ovalle. The Mexican attempted a cross into the box but it was off of Dydasco’s head and out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece by Ovalle found the head of Rafaelle, but her redirection was over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Caroline Conti sent a cross into the Pride box that Chavoshi got her head to. Unfortunately, the header went straight to Huff in space. The attacker tried to turn the ball on target but was unable to get around it, sending her attempt over the target.

In the 10th minute of stoppage time, Charley used some nifty footwork to create some space for a cross. But Maddie Moreau got back to block the attempt out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece found Chavoshi at the far post. The center back tried to head the ball on goal, but she didn’t get much on it. As it bounced around the six-yard box, Yates attempted an acrobatic shot that was Silkowitz saved. Eventually, the ball was cleared over the line for another corner kick.

There was a brief delay for an injury before Luana took the final set piece of the game. However, she sent the attempt over everyone and to the far side of the field.

At full time, the Pride led all major statistical categories with the advantage in possession (51.7%-48.3%), shots (22-14), shots on target (8-5), crosses (18-9), corner kicks (9-7), and passing accuracy (75.1%-74.3%). But they couldn’t find a second goal and only came away with one point.

“Similar story, really. You know, going down one goal in a really pivotal moment in the match, Hines said. “But the players showed a lot of heart to come back. Never (lost) their attitude, their desire, their passion. They were relentless in that second half of the game. We were unfortunate on a couple of the calls as well. You know, we felt there was moments where the ball went in, but that’s kind of where we’re at. But we were persistent. And we took our goal really well. And I felt as the game went on, we created more opportunities, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

“We just had a lot of fire and a lot of fight out there today,” Watt added. “Unfortunately, you can’t control some of the stuff that the refs do in this league, like always, but just proud of this team. We’ve been in a hole, we’re getting out of it, and we’re doing it together, and that’s all that matters.”

This draw extends the Pride’s winless run in NWSL action to eight games, dating back to the team’s 2-0 loss to Racing Louisville on June 20. The last Orlando win was the game before, a 1-0 victory away against this very same Bay FC team. However, they had Barbra Banda in that one.

On the positive side, the Pride ended a three-game losing streak in the league. While they beat LD Alajuelense 3-0 on Sept. 2 in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, they had lost their last three games against NWSL competition.

The draw sees the Pride sit in sixth in the NWSL standings as they continue to slide down towards the playoff line. They’re now only three points above the eighth and final playoff spot and four points ahead of the North Carolina Courage for ninth. However, they’re only one point behind the San Diego Wave and NJ/NY Gotham FC for third, having played the same number of games. So they can still end the season in a good spot if they can find a way to win games.

It will be a short turnaround for the Pride as they head back out on the road Tuesday night for their second Concacaf W Champions Cup game against Chorrillo FC in Panama.

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Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Final Score 2-1 as Pride Blow Second-Half Lead in Loss

The Pride fell to Boston Legacy FC in one of the most disappointing results in team history.

Published

16 hours ago

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May 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (3-4-2, 11 points) fell to league bottom-dwellers Boston Legacy FC (2-5-2, 8 points) 2-1 tonight at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Marta gave the Pride the lead from the spot in the 14th minute, but a 72nd-minute goal by Aleigh Gambone and an Amanda Gutierres penalty in stoppage time sealed Boston’s second win of the year. 

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made three changes to the team that beat the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Friday night. Ally Lemos, Solai Washington, and Barbra Banda were replaced by Julie Doyle, Marta, and Simone Jackson.

“We put a lot into the last game against North Carolina. Some of the players had minor injuries,” Hines said about the changes. “Didn’t want to rule them out of this game, so had to rotate Barbra out of the lineup. Solai was forced with an injury. I thought Julie at the 10 did really well, running in behind, getting in some dangerous areas. SJ, getting her first start today, did well also.”

The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Hailie Mace. Angelina and Haley McCutcheon were the defensive midfielders behind Doyle, Summer Yates, and Jackson with Marta up top.

On paper, this should’ve been a win for the Pride. They’ve been one of the top teams in the league the last three seasons and were playing an expansion side with only one win. But Boston was the better team throughout the 90 minutes. The Legacy controlled possession and chances, but some poor decision-making left little to do for Moorhouse.

Allowing the hosts to control the game came back to haunt the Pride as they conceded two goals in the final 20 minutes. They’ll feel aggrieved as Boston should’ve had a player sent off right before its first goal and a video review on the late penalty that the Pride weren’t provided. But it never should’ve come to that, even with the changes to the starting lineup.

The hosts had the first attack in the third minute when Oihane lost the ball to Nichelle Prince in her own third. Aissata Traore took possession and attempted to cross, but Angelina knocked it out of play. The ensuing corner kick was sent to the back post where Lais Araujo took the game’s first shot. However, it was blocked and the Pride were able to clear.

The Pride created their first attack in the fourth minute when a poor touch by Araujo allowed Yates to take control. She played Marta into the box, but Emerson Elgin did well to shield the attacker, allowing Casey Murphy to collect it.

Annie Karich tried to surprise Moorhouse in the 10th minute with the goalkeeper slightly off her line. The shot from well outside the box was on target and caused Moorhouse to tip it over the crossbar. The corner kick was headed away by McCutcheon, ending the threat.

Mace played the ball over the top on the right sideline in the 11th minute for Doyle. The midfielder played the ball through the legs of Araujo before firing on target, forcing Murphy to block the ball out of play.

As the ensuing set piece went into the box, Traore pushed Rafaelle over near the far post. While Murphy caught the ball, referee Ekaterina Koroleva blew her whistle and pointed to the spot.

Angelina and Marta stood at the penalty spot as the Boston players argued the decision. Unsurprisingly, it was Marta who took the spot kick. The Pride captain placed the ball under Murphy’s arm on a diving save attempt to give the Pride the early 1-0 lead.

Boston tried to beat Moorhouse from distance again in the 17th minute when Bianca St-Georges received a pass from Karich at the top of the box. The Canadian international’s second touch was a shot that was easily handled by Moorhouse.

Jackson played a beautiful ball down the right in the 25th minute for Doyle. The attacker got behind her defender and sent a cross toward the penalty spot where Yates was making a run. It looked like she might have a free shot on goal, but Jorelyn Carabali stuck her foot in to tap it away.

Boston quickly went the other way, earning a corner kick when St-Georges’ shot was blocked out of play. The ensuing set piece bounced around the box before Traore turned to shoot. However, her attempt was blocked and the Pride were able to clear.

Down a goal, Boston held the majority of possession, continuing to look for a breakthrough. However, nearly all of its chances came from low-percentage attempts from outside the box. Prince sent a shot from outside that sailed over the target, and Karich shot from even further out a minute later, which also went over everything.

Boston had one of itsr few close-range chances in the 34th minute when Carabali made a run to the top of the Pride box before finding Alba Cano making a diagonal run. The attacker turned to shoot, forcing Moorhouse to make a save.

Barbara Olivieri played the ball through Cano to Prince on the right side, creating one of Boston’s best chances of the half. Prince’s first touch was a ball to Olivieri, who continued her run into the box. The Venezuelan had space for a shot but sent her attempt over the top.

Boston had one last attack in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Olivieri made a strong run to the end line before her cross was blocked out of play by Mace. The corner kick to the near post was knocked down by Prince for Traore, whose shot was blocked into the side netting. Cano’s second corner kick skipped off the head of St-Georges, the last chance for either team.

After 45 minutes, Boston had the advantage in possession (61%-39%), shots (14-3), shots on target (3-2), crosses (17-3), corner kicks (6-2), and passing accuracy (80%-74%). But the penalty was the difference as the Pride took a one-goal lead into the break.

Hines made three changes at halftime. Banda, Lemos, and Hannah Anderson came on for Marta, Angelina, and Rafaelle.

“Really, just stay with the game. Don’t, don’t overthink. Don’t overcomplicate,” Raabe said about the message to the substitutes. “Go in, do your thing, work with the team, work together.”

Rafaelle’s departure was due to a concussion, so the teams were given a sixth substitution.

Boston continued to hold possession, but it also continued to shoot from long range. In the 47th minute, Karich played the ball square for Olivieri. The Pride left the attacker alone, daring her to shoot from distance. Olivieri took the opportunity and put the shot on target, but it didn’t cause any trouble for Moorhouse.

Banda made her presence felt in the 48th minute when she shielded Araujo and drew a foul in the Boston third of the field. Lemos’ set piece was initially headed away by St-Georges, but it went to Banda, who turned to shoot. The attempt was off Doyle to McCutcheon, who sent a weak shot to Murphy.

While neither attempt caused any problems for Boston, they were the Pride’s first shots since Marta’s 14th-minute goal.

Jackson intercepted a poor pass in the 52nd minute and played it forward for Doyle. The attacker initially looked to lay the ball off before seeing Banda one-on-one with Araujo. The Zambian did well to shield the defender, forcing Elgin to leave Mace making a run from the back. Banda found her teammate with plenty of space for a shot, but the right back sent it wide of the target.

Hines made his fourth change in the 57th minute. Doyle, who was on a yellow card, came off for Luana.

Luana immediately made an impact, drawing a foul on Josefine Hasbo in the Boston third. Lemos sent the set piece into the box, finding the head of Banda. The striker tried to tuck the shot inside the far post but missed wide.

In the 62nd minute, Yates went down as Mace shielded Sammy Smith to earn a goal kick. As Yates limped off the field, she was replaced by Seven Castain.

The Pride should’ve been a player up in the 69th minute when Carabali went studs up over the ball on Banda. The forward went down and received attention, though she was able to continue. Koroleva didn’t even call a foul on a play that should’ve been a red card.

Hines made his final change of the night in the 71st minute, replacing Jackson with Reagan Raabe.

A minute later, Boston found its equalizer. A long ball into the Pride box was headed back nicely by Gutierres for Gambone making a trailing run. The second-half substitute struck the ball cleanly past Moorhouse to even the game at 1-1.

The Pride quickly went on the attack, nearly finding their second goal in the 74th minute. Castain sent a long ball down the field for Banda, who collected it in a seemingly innocuous position. But the striker cut back and fired for the far post. The ball took a deflection off a defender, likely keeping it from going in.

The ensuing set piece found Castain, who headed it wide.

In the 79th minute, Gutierres sent a long ball forward for Smith. But Oihane knocked it out for a corner kick. The corner kick by Gambone was to the top of the box where Gutierres was waiting. The attacker volleyed the ball just wide of the post, keeping the game even.

The Pride felt they should’ve had a second penalty in the 86th minute when Banda dribbled into the Boston box and sent a cross towards the penalty spot. The ball hit the arm of Karich as she attempted to tuck it behind her. Banda’s arm went up, but Koroleva decided Karich didn’t make herself bigger.

The fourth official showed five minutes of stoppage time and the Pride nearly found a winner in the third minute. Banda used her physicality to win a long ball that Elgin looked to have under control. She dribbled into the box before firing at the near post.

Murphy blocked the ball and it appeared to be heading out of play, but Raabe kept it in. She sent a very dangerous ball across the face of goal with Castain approaching it, but it was just beyond her reach.

Boston went to the other end and won a corner kick when Oihane cleared the ball over the end line. The ensuing set piece went beyond the far post where Karich collected it. The midfielder took a touch inside before firing on goal. Anderson blocked the attempt, though Moorhouse was in position to make the save.

The next time the ball went out of play, Koroleva signaled for a video review. The corner kick went off the hand of Luana, whose arms were above her head. As a result, Boston was awarded a penalty.

Gutierres stepped up to take the spot kick. The Brazilian sent Moorhouse the wrong way and tucked the ball into the corner to give the hosts a late 2-1 lead.

With only a minute added onto added time, the Pride were unable to create anything on the attacking end and came away with a devastating loss.

At full time, Boston had the edge in possession (62%-38%), shots (22-11), shots on target (7-4), crosses (31-8), corner kicks (11-4), and passing accuracy (79%-72%). The Pride defended for nearly the entire game, a strategy that came back to haunt them.

“Frustrated. Disappointed. Never like losing, especially in the manner that we lost the game,” Hines said. “It was a tough game, physical game, took the lead. Going into halftime, lots of positives. Trying to maintain that defensive structure, not give them too many opportunities. A lot of their opportunities in the first half came from distance. I felt in moments we could have been more threatening in transition, making sure that we have the willingness to run and support the attack. Obviously had to make some changes at halftime that were forced on us. And then, obviously, overall, we’re not happy with the defeat.”

The biggest surprise about this game was how much Boston controlled it. The hosts were the aggressors throughout the game, putting the Pride on their heels. Chances for the visitors were few and far between, even in the second half when they brought on Banda.

“We knew what we were going into. We knew that they were aggressive. We knew that they, at times, want to press individually,” Hines said about the gameplan. “So how do you create that space when the team is so aggressive in those moments? You have to pull them out of positions and then exploit the space that they’ve left in behind. And I think that’s where we had a lot of joy in the first half, with Marta as the nine dropping down and Julie as the 10 running in behind. I would have liked to see that a little bit more with other players, other than Julie running in behind as well.”

The loss sees the Pride tied with Seattle Reign FC on 11 points for the eighth and final playoff spot after nine games. It’s a crowded group as the Houston Dash and Bay FC are one point behind and one point behind the Kansas City Current.

The Pride will have to shake this loss off as they stay out on the road against expansion sides, facing Denver Summit FC in Colorado Saturday night.

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Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride look to build on their home win against North Carolina against Boston Legacy FC tonight in a midweek contest.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (3-3-2, 11 points) take on Boston Legacy FC (1-5-2, 5 points) in Foxborough, MA. This is the first of two games between the teams this year, with the return game in Orlando scheduled for July 15.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

Since this is the first year in the existence of Boston Legacy FC and the first time the two clubs will meet in 2026, there’s no history between the teams. However, Boston’s roster does include forward Amanda Allen, who played for the Pride from 2023 to 2025. Additionally, the Pride will be familiar with several of the opposing players as they have extensive experience in the league.

Overview

This has been an up-and-down season for the Pride so far. It began with a disappointing start as they fell 2-1 to Seattle Reign FC and drew 1-1 with Denver Summit FC. They bounced back from the homestand with an impressive 3-0 win over the Chicago Stars, a scoreless draw with defending NWSL champion NJ/NY Gotham FC, and a 2-1 win over Angel City FC.

Unfortunately, those highs didn’t last long. Orlando fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC and 4-2 to the Washington Spirit, before defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Friday night.

The Pride have been carried offensively by striker Barbra Banda, who has eight goals and has scored the team’s five most recent goals. All five have come in the last three games. The team has only played two games in which other players have scored. Jacquie Ovalle and Hannah Anderson converted against Chicago and Haley McCutcheon had a surprising brace against Angel City.

The team got off to a good start defensively, conceding just four goals in the first five games, including two clean sheets. But the Pride were torn apart by Louisville and Washington, giving up seven goals in those two games.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines responded by making adjustments to the back line Friday night. While it was the same back four, Cori Dyke moved from left back to center back, Oihane moved from right back to left back, and Hailie Mace moved from center back to her natural right back position. The changes resulted in the team’s first clean sheet in five games.

They’ll look to build on their most recent result tonight against a team that sits at the bottom of the NWSL standings. Through five games, Boston has just one win, a 3-2 victory over fellow newcomers Denver at home. However, they sandwiched that win with a 2-2 draw against the Courage and a 1-1 draw with Gotham away from home on Saturday.

With only seven goals this season, there hasn’t been much of a threat from this new team. Aissata Traore and Alba Cano lead the way with two goals each, while Bianca St-Georges, Sammy Smith, and Nichelle Prince have one goal each. Prince also has a team-leading two assists.

Defensively, Boston is led by league veteran goalkeeper Casey Murphy, who spent the last five seasons with the Courage and has made her way into the U.S. National Team setup. The team has seen several defensive units and formations since the start of the season as it looks to find the best lineup.

Tonight’s hosts face a tough challenge as they welcome the league-leading goal scorer in Banda. Meanwhile, the Pride will undoubtedly see this game as an opportunity to create some momentum as the schedule creeps closer to the FIFA World Cup break.

“I think it is going to be a tough game. I think any game in this league is tough, regardless of where the standings are,” Hines said ahead of tonight’s game. “Boston are in good form right now. I think they are unbeaten in three games, so we are looking to build on our performance this last week against North Carolina. Hopefully, get three points away from home and start that journey on our away form as well. Always expect a tough match. They have some tough players as well, and we have to put our best game forward.”

The Pride will take the field tonight without Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Jacquie Ovalle (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Solai Washington (knee). Boston will be without Kaka (ankle) and Fauzia Najjemba (thigh), while Nicki Hernandez (thigh) is listed as questionable.

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace.

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Haley McCutcheon.

Attacking Midfielders: Julie Doyle, Summer Yates, Marta.

Forward: Simone Jackson.

Bench: Cara Martin, Hannah Anderson, Nicole Payne, Ally Lemos, Reagan Raabe, Luana, Seven Castain, McKinley Crone, Barbra Banda.

Boston Legacy FC (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper: Casey Murphy.

Defenders: Emerson Elgin, Lais Araujo, Jorelyn Carabali.

Midfielders: Josefine Hasbo, Annie Karich, Barbara Olivierei, Alba Cano.

Forwards: Bianca St-Georges, Aissata Traore, Nichelle Prince.

Bench: Laurel Ivory, Amanda Allen, Sammy Smith, Amanda Gutierres, Ella Stevens, Chloe Ricketts, Aleigh Gambone, Nicolette Hernandez, Laurel Ansbrow.

Referees

REF: Katja Koroleva.
AR1: Sharon Gingrich.
AR2: Kristin Patterson.
4TH: Jeremy Scheer.
VAR: Brad Jensen.
AVAR: Matthew Seem.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Gillette Stadium — Foxborough, MA.

TV: None.

Streaming: Victory+.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win on Banda’s Late Goal

North Carolina hadn’t allowed a goal in the second half all season until Banda’s breakthrough.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 8, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda celebrating her winning goal against the Courage.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

A sloppy first 85 minutes finally gave way to a moment of brilliance from Barbra Banda as she worked her way free for the one and only goal to get the Orlando Pride (3-3-2, 11 points) back to their winning ways. Banda’s eighth of the season led to a 1-0 Pride win over the North Carolina Courage (2-3-3, 9 points) at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are still waking up from the international break, having lost the last two to Racing Louisville, a team well below them in the standings, and the Washington Spirit at home. Banda has scored five goals in the last three games, leading the NWSL in goals, but she’s the only one scoring.

“We’ve met as units. We watch film, we go over things,” Pride forward Simone Jackson said in preparation for this game. “We’re talking to each other. We’re working on shifting faster and covering splits and making change for this North Carolina game and making sure that our press is matching their style of play.”

Head Coach Seb Hines put the same lineup on the field as the previous game against the Spirit, with Anna Moorhouse in goal. The only changes were in where the players started. Cori Dyke moved from left back to right center back, with Oihane and Rafaelle to her left and Hailie Mace at right back. Additionally, Haley McCutcheon dropped into central midfield with Ally Lemos, while Angelina joined Summer Yates and Solai Washington in the attacking midfield with Banda up top.

“We felt we had conceded seven goals in two games and we needed to make a shift in the back line,” Hines said after the game. “Cori Dyke has played center back for me and Hailie Mace is a new player to the club and just finding a bit more comfort with her playing right back. We just felt we needed to shift a bit — not change the personnel but shift the personnel.”

The Pride opened the match with a free kick from 40 yards out that Lemos sent straight to Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. North Carolina was able to get to the end line four minutes later but the cross went straight to Moorhouse. At the eight-minute mark, Angelina intercepted a long ball and headed it to Yates at the top of the box, whose first touch failed her and snuffed out the counter.

Banda got her elbow up high in the 10th minute and caught Natalia Staude in the chin. That prompted a delay as the video assistant referee evaluated it for a red card offense but eventually play resumed without incident. Banda then showed her immense talents three minutes later, outracing and outmuscling center backs, Staude and Uno Shiragaki for 40 yards, but the double team eventually won out.

Moorhouse and Lemos collided defending a free kick at the 18-minute mark, which caused Lemos to take a moment to gather herself. Yates picked up a yellow card in the 21st minute for sliding under Riley Jackson and catching her with her studs in the fallout of a foul she herself had drawn on the play. Washington slipped by Jackson with a great move in the 25th but the play ended up with a corner that turned into nothing.

As a light rain (that eventually turned into a full-on downpour) settled in with 18 minutes to play in the half, the Pride definitely had shown more promise on offense but no real threats. It was a good start for a team that had fallen behind early previously but more precision was going to be needed on the offensive side. Washington worked herself free in the box but, again, the shot went wide.

The first real threat from the Courage came in the 31st minute as Manaka Matsukubo got on the end of a deflected corner and pushed it just wide of the far post. Yates went to the ground a minute later after she took a shot to the ribcage by Lauryn Thompson.

Whether it was the rain picking up or a tactical adjustment, the game flowed to where North Carolina started owning possession but without any real threats. The Pride couldn’t get out of their own end until the 40th minute when a pass from Lemos to Banda at the top of the box allowed her to open up enough space to rocket a shot just wide of the near post.

Thompson tried to chip a cross towards the Pride goal but ended up skying it into the stands in the 43rd minute. With five minutes added to the first half for the various video reviews and injuries, The Courage kept Orlando bottled up in their own defensive end. Trying to escape, Oihane overhit a touch and kicked the legs out of Thompson, picking up a yellow card in the third minute of added time. A shot by McCutcheon a minute later deflected off Banda just wide.

To wrap up the half, Lemos picked up a yellow card in the fifth minute of added time for tripping Matsukubo. North Carolina’s ensuing free kick went long and ended the half just as the rain let up.

It wasn’t a great half of soccer by either team, highlighted by minimal threats and mostly defined by turnovers. The Pride trailed possession (58%-42%), crosses (7-5) and passing accuracy (83%-76%) but led on shots (4-3). Both teams had two corners and neither put a shot on goal.

The Pride came out with energy in the second half trying to change that. Just 30 seconds in, Washington crossed it to Banda at the penalty spot but she scuffed the volley. One minute later, Banda held off Shiragaki to open up a shot but put it just over the bar.

“Honestly, to be switched on from the beginning,” Angelina said when asked about the halftime message. “We know that in past games we got scored on pretty early coming back from the half. That was a big goal for us to come and be disciplined.”

Dani Weatherholt elbowed Washington to the ground in the 50th minute, picking up the Courage’s first yellow card. Matsukubo unleashed a 40-yard through ball to Thompson at the 53-minute mark, freeing Thompson for a shot wide.

Hines decided to try to bring some precision to the attack in the 55th minute, bringing in Marta for Yates and Seven Castain for Washington. It didn’t lead to anything immediately and, in the 60th, Shinomi Koyama got free at the top of the box and put it just over the bar.

However, just seconds later, Banda held off her defender at midfield and dribbled to the middle, laying it off to Marta in the box, who worked herself free for the first shot on target for either team. Sheridan kept it out with a huge save. The ensuing corner by Lemos rattled off the near post, leading to nothing. Lemos was subbed off a minute later in the 64th, with Julie Doyle taking her place.

Marta’s influence on the game started to become even more apparent with a slick left-footed inside-of-the-boot pass that curled perfectly to Banda, but she dribbled in too deep and didn’t get a shot off, losing the ball to Sheridan while trying to round the keeper. Ryan Williams put a shot over the bar 90 seconds later off a block.

Marta rifled a corner in the 69th minute that Sheridan parried right to McCutcheon, who fired it just wide. The Courage then made their first substitutes, bringing in Chioma Okafor for Thompson and Ally Schlegel for Evelyn Ijeh. Ijeh is listed as the forward for the Courage, yet this is the first mention she got in this writeup.

There was a lot of back-and-forth play over the next few minutes until Sanchez pushed a shot just past the far post in the 76th minute. North Carolina then brought in Carly Wickenheiser for Jackson in the 77th minute.

Marta shook herself loose in the 81st and thought she had a corner off a Sheridan tip but it was judged as a missed shot. Angelina went down in the ensuing Courage possession and was subbed off for Luana at the 84th-minute mark. The Courage made a substitution in the 85th, bringing in Ivy Younce for Sanchez.

In the 87th, the Pride broke the scoreless deadlock. Rafaelle intercepted a long pass and fired it over the top to Banda, who was kept onside by Staude. Banda worked her way into the box on the left. The Zambian international sent a curling shot around Sheridan and inside the right post, finally converting and giving the Pride the lead they had been knocking on for a while. Banda had been wasteful all game, but a striker just needs one. The Courage had not surrendered a second-half goal all season but they hadn’t played Banda yet either.

Banda went down in the ensuing celebration and then again five minutes later after a tough shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. She was able to return and, 60 seconds later, held off three defenders while transitioning the ball all the way down the field. She looked winded at this point, but the Pride had used all their subs.

Rafaelle picked up a yellow card in the seventh minute of added time for an over-the-top challenge. That produced the last meaningful action of the half as the Pride wrapped up the win.

The Pride ended up with roughly the same amount of possession as in the first half, finishing behind the Courage (56%-44%). They trailed in shots (12-9) but led in shots on target (2-1). The Courage led in crosses (13-8), but the Pride had one more corner (5-4). Passing accuracy picked up for the Pride in the second half, but they still ended up trailing (82.4%-79.6%).

The Pride now head out on a long road trip. They’ll head to Boston for a game against the Legacy on Tuesday, fly to Denver for a Saturday game against the Summit. Orlando will then get an eight-day break before going to San Diego to play the Wave.

“Sometimes road trips are nice, because you get to bond as a team,” Moorhouse said. “You’re with your teammates 24/7, so you get to bond a bit and hopefully this win will now snowball.”

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