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Orlando Pride vs. CF Monterrey, NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Final Score 2-2 as Pride Draw Rayadas and Win Penalty Shootout

The Pride came back from two deficits to draw CF Monterrey Femenil in the Summer Cup before taking a second point on penalties.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride (0-0-2, 3 points) came back from two deficits to draw CF Monterrey Femenil (0-1-1, 1 point) 2-2 tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. Former Pride forward Christina Burkenroad gave the hosts the lead in the 43rd minute, but Alex Kerr equalized in the 50th minute with her first professional goal. Las Rayadas retook the lead in the 61st minute from a great Rebeca Bernal strike, and Julie Doyle, a second-half substitute in this game, equalized in the 83rd minute. The Pride then won 5-4 on penalties to claim the extra point.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made six changes to the starting lineup that drew 1-1 against the North Carolina Courage a week ago. McKinley Crone, Haley McCutcheon, Amanda Allen, Summer Yates, and Doyle all started the game on the bench and Bri Martinez was out after suffering a leg injury in North Carolina. They were replaced by Sofia Manner, Cori Dyke, Mariana Larroquette, Ally Lemos, Evelina Duljan, and Kerr.

“There’s a few niggles that we don’t want to risk. Haley McCutcheon, Kerry Abello both having niggles and we don’t want to put any of our players at risk,” Hines said. “But also it gives players an opportunity to go out there and perform. So, the likes of Cori Dyke coming in and playing left back position. She’s played a couple of times off the bench, but getting the start and rolling in that position was really important for us moving forward into the end of the season. Players like Ally Lemos, she’s had two starts all year, but coming in and starting the game, really important for her development moving forward. Evelina, you know, only played 10 minutes last game, but then getting her start and she fully took her opportunity today. And that was really pleasing to see. So, yeah, we’re going to need players in this last 10 games in the season to make sure that we get ourselves in a position that we all hope for, and what we wanted at the start of the year.”

Hines went with a 4-3-3 formation to start this game, a rarity for the Pride. The back line in front of Manner in goal was Dyke, Kylie Strom, Carrie Lawrence, and Celia. Lemos, Morgan Gautrat, and Duljan were in the midfield, with Ally Watt, Kerr, and Larroquette up top.

The Pride got off to the better start, creating multiple chances in the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the visitors struggled to get the ball into the final third. Rayadas had their first chance around the 30-minute mark and began to create problems after that. The main issue for this Pride lineup — which was largely made up of reserves — was finding the target. As a result, they had to come back from two deficits, but did so to get something from the game.

The Pride got off to an attacking start, though they found it difficult to find a way through the back line. Watt dribbled across the top of the box in the ninth minute and shot from distance, but it was blocked. Larroquette had her first chance to shoot shortly after and her first attempt at goal was blocked by a defender as well.

It looked like the Pride might have a breakaway in the 10th minute when Strom sent Kerr behind the Monterrey back line. She had a step on her defender, but the flag went up for offside.

In the 14th minute, Watt went down from a challenge by Jermaine Seoposenwe off of a Pride throw-in. The ensuing set piece by Lemos was headed over the crossbar by Merel van Dongen for the game’s first corner kick. Again, Lemos took the set piece. However, it was too close to Rayadas goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar, who caught it in the air.

The visitors had their first decent attack in the 23rd minute when Burkenroad dribbled towards the end line. She attempted to get a cross off, but Strom was there to block it out of play. The ensuing corner kick was to the back post, where van Dongen got her head to the ball, sending it wide.

The Pride were given a good opportunity in the 35th minute when a bad pass out of the back by van Dongen went straight to Lemos. The Pride midfielder played it forward for Kerr, who sent it right back. Karol Bernal challenged Lemos as she attempted to play the ball outside for Duljan, stepping on Lemos’ foot. Referee Shawn Tehini immediately whistled for a free kick just outside of the Monterrey box.

Larroquette and Lemos stood over the ball with Larroquette taking the set piece. The forward was looking for goal but sent her shot just wide of the near post.

The Pride won another corner kick in the 41st minute when Duljan made a run to the end line and her cross was blocked out of play by Bernal for a corner kick. Lemos’ ensuing set piece was over everyone and recovered by Gautrat. The Pride midfielder was shoved down by the forearm of Seoposenwe, but Tehini decided it wasn’t a foul.

After a quick pass with her teammate, Seoposenwe collided with Dyke just beyond midfield. The crowd booed as Tehini gave Monterrey a free kick with much less contact than the previous shove. Nicole Perez sent the free kick into the box where van Dongen headed it forward for Burkenroad. The forward’s second touch was past Manner and in to give the visitors a late first-half lead.

Neither team was able to create an opportunity in the three minutes of first-half stoppage time, so Monterrey took a 1-0 lead into the break. The Pride had more first-half possession (53%-47%) and shots (4-3), but the only attempt on target was Burkenroad’s goal.

“At halftime, we talked about what type of team do we want to be when we’re 1-0 down,” Hines said. “I thought in the first half we played a lot of direct play and I wanted us to control the game. Get a few more passes, use the middle, find the 10s in the middle, and the first half we didn’t do that. You know, the goal is frustrating because what led to it, the free kick, and we’ve been very good in defending set pieces this year. So that was disappointing.”

The Pride created the first chance of the second half just four minutes after the restart. It came from a long ball by Gautrat to Watt. The forward took on the multiple defenders by herself, eventually shooting from about 30 yards out. While this attempt wasn’t blocked, it went way over the goal.

The Pride found their equalizer in the 50th minute when Kerr received a long ball out of the back and used a great individual effort to get her first professional goal. The rookie received the ball on the left and, after dribbling inside, tried to play Watt back out wide. However, the ball bounced off a defender and went right back to her. Kerr shot for the corner from just outside of the box, putting it past Tajonar and in to even the game at 1-1.

“Got the ball and started driving inside, and then Ally kind of made that run outside. So, I originally tried to play that ball to her down the line that kind of got the rebound off the defender and just kept going inside and that was just up to me,” Kerr said about her goal. “So I just placed it hard and low on the ground.”

“It’s a great goal,” Hines said. “You know, received that in the wide space, having the ability to turn and play, cutting inside. You know, it’s a lucky ricochet, but having the composure to go back across goal and it’s a great finish.”

Hines made his first two changes in the 59th minute, bringing in a pair of regular starters. Kerry Abello and Yates came into the game for Strom and Gautrat. While Abello is usually a right back, she took over for Strom at center back after entering the game.

Monterrey retook the lead shortly after the changes, scoring its second goal in the 61st minute. Receiving the ball from the right, center back Rebeca Bernal took one touch before firing from long distance. Abello was closing down the defender, but the shot was past her. There wasn’t much Manner could do about it as the ball went into the corner to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

They looked to extend their lead in the 62nd minute when Seoposenwe was sent down the left. Catching up to the ball before it crossed the end line, nobody in purple closed her down, enabling the midfielder to send it into the box. Abello was beaten to the ball by Myra Delgadillo, who volleyed it on target, but the redirection was right to Manner.

A poor clearance out of the back by Dyke in the 65th minute was won by Monterrey. Van Dongen collected the ball and her second touch was a shot from long distance. It was a quality strike, and the ball appeared to be heading just inside the far post, but Manner dove and caught it.

Shortly after the chance, Hines made his third substitution. Doyle, another regular starter for the Pride, came into the game for Larroquette. The Pride made their fourth change and used their final window in the 72nd minute. Watt exited the game and was replaced by Allen in a like-for-like change.

Doyle tried to get the Pride back even with multiple runs into the box, but she was usually unable to get past the defenders. The midfielder took a shot from long range in the 80th minute that just skipped wide of the post. She protested Tehini’s call of a goal kick, thinking it was off a defender or tipped by Tajonar, but it was ruled to have gone directly through and out of play.

The Pride found their second equalizer of the night in the 83rd minute. After receiving a short pass from Abello, Yates played a beautiful long pass to Celia on the right. The right back used a stepover to create some space and sent a low cross to the top of the six while falling down. Doyle was the first to the pass, redirecting it past Tajonar and into the far corner to even the game at 2-2.

“When I was on the bench, I saw that Celia was getting a lot of success on that wing, and you know Celia, she can serve a ball on the dime,” Doyle said. “So, I knew I just had to hold my run a little bit not close my own space, and I knew she was going to put it right where I wanted it, and that’s exactly what she did. She beat her player, she put it on the carpet, and all I had to do was guide it into the goal.”

Doyle had a chance to give her team the lead in the 86th minute when she was sent forward by Duljan. Despite the midfielder’s speed, the center backs were able to catch up with her and rustle the ball away, enabling Tajonar to collect it.

Six minutes were added to the second half, but neither team was able to create solid chances in that time. As a result, the game ended 2-2 and the Pride continued their unbeaten run in all competitions to start the season.

The Pride ended the game with more possession (51.5%-48.5%), shots (9-7), crosses (12-6), and corner kicks (4-1). They also had better passing accuracy (80.8%-77.4%) in the 90 minutes. The difference in the game was the shooting accuracy. The Pride only put two shots on target — both goals — and Rayadas put five of their seven chances on frame.

“Second half was a different team,” Hines said. “We played a lot more through the middle. The second goal epitomizes what we’re trying to do. Good pass out to Celia, great one-v-one, great run from Jules, and then an unbelievable finish to make it 2-2.”

The draw meant that the two teams would go to a penalty shootout to see who got the extra point. The penalties were well taken, with nine of the 10 penalties being converted. The difference came in the third round when van Dongen attempted a panenka. Manner stood her ground and didn’t dive, enabling her to catch the attempt without moving. After scoring the first equalizing goal in the second half, Kerr converted the final penalty and the Pride took two points from their second Summer Cup game.

The draw means that the Pride have still yet to lose this season in all competitions. After going unbeaten in their first 16 NWSL games, they’ve drawn both Summer Cup matches. As a result, they’re now on an 18-game unbeaten run this season.


The Pride will wrap up the group stage of the Summer Cup on Aug. 1 when they welcome Racing Louisville FC to Orlando.

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Final Score 0-0 as Pride Remain Unbeaten in 2024

The Pride played to a scoreless draw with the Kansas City Current, ending their win streak but extending their unbeaten run.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride (14-0-6, 48 points) saw their six-game winning streak come to an end, but extended their unbeaten run tonight with a scoreless draw against the Kansas City Current (11-3-6, 39 points) at Inter&Co Stadium.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines deployed the same lineup as the previous two games, wins over NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Chicago Red Stars. It’s the first time Hines has used the same lineup in three consecutive games since a three-game stretch last year from April 29 to May 14. Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders behind Summer Yates, Marta, and Adriana with Barbra Banda up top.

The Current are a good transition team and put most of their players behind the ball looking for the counterattack. This strategy made them hard to break down, so quality chances for the Pride were hard to come by. Despite finding Kansas City hard to break down, the Pride were able to create several decent looks. The Current also found opportunities on counterattacks, and nearly scored before halftime, but the Pride were able to come away with a clean sheet.

“It’s incredibly tough,” Hines said about the Current playing behind the ball. “Kansas are a great team. They’ve got a lot of players who could really hurt you in transition, and obviously we were mindful of that. We probably weren’t as brave as we usually are in the middle to attacking third. But I thought, again, we created enough opportunities to try to win it. I think, you know, Kansas’ game plan was trying almost a smash-and-grab kind of game plan. Try to be defensively solid and hit us on the counterattack. There was probably one or two moments where we lacked a little bit of concentration, but nothing resulted in a goal, which was pleasing.”

The Pride got off to an attacking start, getting into the Kansas City box inside the first minute. Banda’s cross was blocked but not cleared. Adriana took possession, playing it back to Yates, who found McCutcheon at the top of the box. The midfielder took the game’s first shot, but Debinha got in front to block it.

The Current got their first chance of the game in the 12th minute when Debinha played Ellie Wheeler wide on the right. Hailie Mace was making a run with space towards the back post where Wheeler sent the cross. The Kansas City defender attempted to volley the ball on target but missed wide.

Marta took the game’s first shot on target in the 17th minute. Receiving the ball while pushing forward, the Pride captain shot from distance between a pair of defenders. It was a solid strike but too close to Current goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who made the easy stop.

A minute later, Banda got her first attempt at goal. Shielding Vanessa DiBernardo, the striker was aiming for the near post but missed wide.

On the other end, DiBernardo got a shot for herself, Kansas City’s first attempt on target. The midfielder’s shot from outside the box was curving away from Moorhouse and towards the far post, but the Pride goalkeeper was able to dive to her right and push the ball away.

The Current created an attack in the 23rd minute when Debhina received a pass, spun her defender, and played Temwa Chawinga forward. The league’s top goal scorer quickly found Nichelle Prince to her right, and the Canadian took Sams into the box. However, the Pride center back did well to stay in front of the attacker, blocking the eventual shot.

The visitors nearly had a dangerous chance in the 27th minute when Sams knocked the ball off of Prince’s foot, but the forward got a fortunate bounce. Chawinga was making a run to the top of the six and Prince played the ball in for her. However, Strom got to it first, clearing the ball away to end the threat.

The Pride went the other way and Adriana put the Pride’s second shot on target in the 28th minute. Receiving a pass forward from Marta, the midfielder had Banda making a run into the box. It looked like she would play her teammate through, but took a long-distance shot instead. It was on target, but didn’t cause any trouble for Schult.

Chawinga had a chance in the 31st minute after taking possession just inside the Pride half of the field. The striker dribbled to the top of the box and took a touch inside to lose Dyke. She had just enough space to get a shot off and put it on target, but the low attempt was easily collected by Moorhouse.

The Current got a breakaway in the 40th minute when Prince tried to play the ball over the back line. It fell for Sams, who misplayed it, enabling Chawinga to get in on goal. As Chawinga dribbled around Moorhouse, Dyke retreated to the goal line. Chawinga let the ball get a little too far in front of her, missing wide of the near post.

The Pride players felt they should’ve had a goal in the 43rd minute when Strom’s cross into the box was too close to Schult. While her teammates couldn’t reach it, the ball sailed to the goal line. Schult caught the ball right in front as Banda and Yates threw their arms up, claiming the ball crossed the line. However, it was clearly still in play.

In the 45th minute, Banda found Adriana to her right. The midfielder looked to take Mace into the box one-on-one, but shot from distance instead. The ensuing corner kick was played short and ruled to be offside on the return pass, the last action of the half as the referee blew for the break with no stoppage time.

While the Pride had more possession (53%-47%), corner kicks (4-0), crosses (12-3), and slightly better passing accuracy (86%-85%), the Current recorded two more shots (7-5) and both teams put two chances on target.

“We just needed to stay locked in,” Dyke said about the halftime message. “With the way they were sitting off, we know that they were just waiting for their moment to pick us off and go. So, just going into the second half, being super disciplined. But also, we wanted a goal. We wanted those three points. So to still go at them and bring that high energy in the second half.”

It looked like the Current had a great chance to open the scoring in the 46th minute when Debinha played Prince behind the back line. The forward shot for the far post and Moorhouse just got a touch on it and tipped it wide. However, the flag went up as Prince was well offside when the ball was played through.

Banda nearly gave the Pride the lead in the 52nd minute when she won the ball from Lo’eau LaBonta, tapped the ball around Alana Cook, and fired on target. It took an excellent save from Schult to tip the ball over the crossbar and keep the game scoreless.

The ensuing corner kick was cleared away to Dyke, who played it back outside for Marta. McCutcheon met the Brazilian’s second cross but sent her header wide of the near post.

In the 56th minute, LaBonta lifted a pass just over the foot of McCutcheon to Chawinga near the top of the box. The striker took a touch inside to get space from Dyke and shot on goal. The shot was heading inside the near post, but Moorhouse tipped it wide. The ensuing corner kick was cleared and the game remained scoreless.

Hines made his first change of the game in the 60th minute. It was a somewhat surprising one as Yates and Julie Doyle tend to replace each other around the hour mark. However, this time it was Evelina Duljan coming on for Yates.

Bia Zaneratto, who came on when the Pride made their substitution, played the ball forward for Chawinga in the 64th minute. The striker got behind Dyke and sent a low shot for the far post. Moorhouse was unable to get down to get a piece of it, but the ball rolled wide of the target anyway.

During the buildup, Angelina went down and required medical attention. It was a scary moment for the Pride as the midfielder suffered an injury earlier this year. Fortunately, she was able to get up on her own and continue.

The crowd buzzed with excitement in the 67th minute when Duljan played Banda into the opposing third of the field. However, the striker was the only player in purple near the ball while the Current had several defenders back. The Zambian sent a weak ball towards goal that rolled wide without causing any problems for Schult or the Kansas City defense.

The Pride had a great opportunity in the 71st minute when Wheeler went over Duljan, giving the Pride a free kick just outside of the box. Angelina tapped the ball so Marta could shoot, but the Pride captain didn’t get much on it and the Current were able to clear.

Shortly after the set piece, Hines made his second change of the night as Morgan Gautrat, fresh off her new contract, came on for Angelina.

Marta showed her skill in the 80th minute with a stepover that left DiBernardo injured on the ground. The veteran took a long-distance shot for the far post, but Schulte dove and knocked it wide.

The Current cleared, but the Pride quickly regained possession. Receiving the ball from Banda outside the box, Marta took another shot from distance, forcing Schult into another diving save. This time the goalkeeper was able to hold onto the ball.

Desiree Scott upended Strom in the 85th minute, causing the center back to flip and land on her back. Strom required some medical attention after the hard fall, but she was eventually able to continue. In the meantime, the Pride were awarded a free kick.

Marta sent the set piece into the box where McCutcheon beat Michelle Cooper to the ball. She tried to flick the header to the far post and it got past a diving Schult, but the ball bounced just wide.

The Current went the other way and created a chance of their own. Chawinga dribbled forward and played a give-and-go with Zaneratto. She had space for a shot but was too far in front of the ball and fell over while attempting to shoot, sending her shot wide.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of stoppage time and that was enough for the Pride to create a pair of chances. In the sixth minute, Banda dribbled into the opposing third and found Adriana to her right. She laid it off for the midfielder, who shot but sent the attempt over the crossbar.

Duljan tried to create something in the eighth minute with some fancy dribbling, getting past two defenders. Cook blocked the shot, sending it straight to McCutcheon for a second attempt that went wide. That was the final chance for either team as the game ended scoreless.

At full time, the Pride had more possession (52.1%-47.9%), shots (15-12), shots on target (5-3), crosses (18-6), and corner kicks (8-2), and better passing accuracy (88.3%-84.4%). However, despite their statistical advantages, they weren’t able to find a winning goal.

“I think every game, especially at home, we want to walk away with three points. Kansas were a tough nut to crack at times. You know, they got a lot of bodies behind the ball. Very difficult for us to try and create anything,” Hines said about the game. “But I also think there was quite some good opportunities to score as well. I thought their keeper was phenomenal. I thought she was busy enough to try and keep them in the game. But yeah, we’ll take the positive. Another clean sheet, another great defensive display, and we move on. We move forward.”

The clean sheet by Moorhouse is her 11th of the year, tying a league record held by AD Franch and Casey Murphy. It’s her 17th clean sheet as a member of the Pride, extending her team record.

The Pride have now claimed clean sheets in six of their last seven games and four straight. The last time they conceded was to Chawinga on July 6 in the Pride’s 2-1 win in Kansas City. The four straight shutouts breaks a Pride team record and leaves them one short of the league record.

“I think it’s just the heart of this team,” Dyke said about the team’s recent defensive success. “Like everyone is just willing to work so hard for each other. And I think that’s what drives us.”

“I think the stats speak for themselves. You know, I think oftentimes the defense are the unsung heroes, but we take a lot of pride in that,” Abello added. “And, like I said, the clean sheets speak for themselves. And at the end of the day, that’s what’s winning us games and that’s what’s putting us at the top of the table. Yes, we’re dangerous in the attack and yes, we’re putting goals on teams, but being number one in goals conceded, or fewest goals conceded, I think that’s the difference for us so gotta hand it to the back line.”

While the draw ends the Pride’s six-game win streak, it extends their unbeaten run to 20 games this season and 21 games dating back to last year. If you include the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the Pride have now gone 24 games unbeaten in all competitions.

The Pride remain in first place, extending their lead over the second-place Washington Spirit to seven points. However, the Spirit play the Houston Dash Sunday with a chance to get within four points.


As for the Pride, they’ll head back out on the road, taking on Bay FC on Friday, Sept. 20 in San Jose, CA.

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride return home for a battle against the Kansas City Current.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (14-0-5, 47 points) welcome the Kansas City Current (11-3-5, 38 points) to Orlando in a matchup between two of the best teams in the NWSL. This is the second and final time the two teams will face off in the 2024 NWSL regular season.

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

History

The Current joined the NWSL in 2021 after the team’s ownership group bought the Utah Royals and relocated the club to Kansas City. It’s the second NWSL team in the city — FC Kansas City played there from 2013 to 2017 before moving to Utah — and the team was known as NWSL Kansas City for its inaugural season.

The Pride and Current have played seven games against each other, all in the regular season. Orlando has a 3-2-2 record in the series and are 1-1-1 at home.

The two teams last met on July 6 in Kansas City. Barbra Banda gave the Pride the lead, but the hosts responded two minutes later through Temwa Chawinga. Despite a second yellow card for Carrie Lawrence dropping the Pride to 10 players just before halftime, Marta converted a second-half penalty, lifting her team to a 2-1 win.

The first time the teams met in 2023 was on April 23 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. It was scoreless after an hour before the Current got a quick flurry of goals by Debinha and CeCe Kizer, lifting Kansas City to a 2-0 win. On June 23, 2023 in Orlando, the visitors took the lead through Debinha, and Kizer doubled the advantage just before halftime. Marta converted a penalty to pull one back, but the Pride fell 2-1.

Their first meeting in 2022 came on July 31 in Kansas City while the Pride were in the middle of their seven-game unbeaten run. The Pride opened the scoring when Erika Tymrak found the head of Celia and doubled the lead just after halftime through Julie Doyle. The Current stormed back with goals by Elyse Bennett and Kizer, pulling out a 2-2 draw.

The first meeting in 2022 was on May 14 at Exploria Stadium. The Pride took the lead early in the second half on a Gunny Jonsdottir goal. Bennett scored late in the second half, and the visitors appeared to win the game a minute into injury time through Kristen Hamilton. However, Kylie Strom was pulled down in the box five minutes later, resulting in a penalty. With Marta injured, the only player willing to step up to take the penalty was center back Toni Pressley, who drilled the ball into the roof of the net, pulling out a 2-2 draw.

The teams played twice during the 2021 NWSL season, with the first game occurring May 30 at Exploria Stadium. Courtney Petersen found Alex Morgan just outside the six-yard box and the striker headed in the game’s lone goal as the Pride won 1-0.

The Pride and Current met again on June 23 at Legends Field in Kansas City. The Pride had a weakened squad as then-coach Marc Skinner left some key players at home, preparing to lose them to the Olympics. It looked to be costly when Mariana Larroquette gave the hosts the lead late in first-half injury time. But the Pride responded well. Two minutes after Larroquette’s goal, Sydney Leroux’s shot took a deflection off a defender and went in to make it 1-1. Shortly after halftime, Leroux scored on a great individual effort from just outside the box. Marta then scored the goal of the game, beating Kansas City goalkeeper Abby Smith from the top of the center circle, lifting the Pride to a 3-1 win.

Overview

The first meeting this year between the Pride and Current was a matchup of the only two undefeated teams in the NWSL. Since then, the teams have gone in different directions. The Pride won the next three games, extending their winning streak to six and their unbeaten run to a league-record 20 games.

The growth of the Pride was seen in their most recent contest against the Chicago Red Stars away from home. Last year, the team couldn’t find the back of the net despite dominating play for 90 minutes. The Red Stars scored on a counterattack, pulling out a 1-0 win. The Pride learned from those mistakes Sunday night when Marta gave the visitors the lead in the 37th minute. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines addressed last year’s game prior to the start and they were able to keep Chicago off the score sheet, winning 1-0.

The most impressive part of the Pride’s season has been their defense. The back line has seen multiple changes, including an Olympic injury to center back Rafaelle, causing Emly Sams to move inside and rookie Cori Dyke starting the last three games at right back. However, the teamwide defending has kept their opponents from scoring, resulting in the Pride conceding the fewest goals in the league.

The last meeting between the Pride and Current was the last game before the Olympic break. The Current had extended their unbeaten run to 17 games, a new league regular-season record. The Pride’s win in Kansas City matched that feat and they surpassed it the following game.

The Current have struggled since the Olympics ended, losing their first two games — 4-1 to the Washington Spirit and 2-1 to the North Carolina Courage. They returned home on Sept. 7, where they beat the last-place Utah Royals 1-0. 

Despite their recent struggles, the Current are still in third place and contenders for the NWSL Shield, sitting three points behind the Spirit and nine points behind the Pride. They’ve had the most potent attack this season, scoring a league-high 43 goals. The biggest offensive threat has been Chawinga, who leads the league in goals this year with 15 in 19 games. She’s three ahead of second-place Banda, who has scored 12 goals in 15 games. The 15 goals scored by Chawinga is 10 ahead of Bia Zaneratto and Lo’eau LaBonta, who have five goals each.

In addition to scoring frequently, Chawinga has been the primary provider for the Current, tallying a team-high six assists, one ahead of Vanessa DiBernardo. Zaneratto has also been a significant factor in goal contributions, adding four assists to her five goals.

Stopping Chawinga will be the primary task for the Pride tonight. Their 12 goals conceded this year is the fewest in the league and they’re coming off a similar game where they had to shut down a player who posed the most significant threat. The Pride kept Chicago’s Mallory Swanson off the score sheet and the attacker only took two long-distance shots.

“Competitive game. Both teams want to go after it,” Hines said about tonight’s game. “I think, for us, like you said, quick turnaround from the game on Sunday against Chicago to playing against Kansas, who are also trying to win the shield this season. So I expect a competitive game on Friday. We have to focus on ourselves. We’re obviously coming to our own place in front of our own fans, and we want to continue that momentum. For us, it’s another game. It’s the next game in the schedule, and we want to continue to keep winning and keep that separation from the pack that’s trying to chase us.”

The Pride are without seven players tonight due to injury, including Grace Chanda (thigh), Simone Charley (ankle), Mariana Larroquette (thigh), Luana (illness), Sofia Manner (concussion), Megan Montefusco (heel), and Rafaelle (foot). Additionally, Ally Lemos is with the U-20 USWNT at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Kansas City is without Alex Pfeiffer (knee), Gabrielle Robinson (knee), and Mallory Weber (knee) due to injury. Claire Hutton is on international duty with the U.S. U-20s and Michelle Cooper (ankle) is listed as questionable.


Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Angelina.

Midfielders: Summer Yates, Marta, Adriana.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Watt, Carrie Lawrence, Brianna Martinez, Julie Doyle, Carson Pickett, Evelina Duljan, Celia.

Kansas City Current (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Almuth Schult.

Defenders: Elizabeth Ball, Kayla Sharples, Alana Cook, Hailie Mace.

Midfielders: Debinha, Vanessa DiBernardo, Lo’eau LaBonta.

Forwards: Ellie Wheeler, Temwa Chawinga, Nichelle Prince.

Bench: AD Franch, Bia Zaneratto, Desiree Scott, Stine Ballsager, Michelle Cooper, Izzy Rodriguez, Bayley Feist, Kristen Hamilton, Hildah Magaia.

Referees

REF: Alyssa Nichols.
AR1: Brian Marshall.
AR2: Ben Rigel.
4TH: Alejo Calume.
VAR: Shawn Tehini.
AVAR: Matthew Rodman.


How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Streaming: Amazon Prime Video.

Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).


Enjoy the match. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Midfielder Morgan Gautrat to New Contract

The Pride have signed defensive midfielder Morgan Gautrat through 2025 with a mutual option for 2026.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride announced this afternoon that the club has signed midfielder Morgan Gautrat to a new contract. The deal runs through the 2025 NWSL season with a mutual option for 2026.

“Morgan has come in and proven to be a great addition to our club. She has quickly become someone that our younger players can look to for guidance and advice off the pitch, while also putting in strong, consistent performances on it,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Morgan knows how to win at the club and international level and has helped bring that knowledge and professionalism into our locker room. We are very excited to have Morgan with us for the future.”

The Pride acquired Gautrat in a trade with the Kansas City Current on Jan. 11. In exchange for the veteran defensive midfielder and $50,000 in allocation money, the Pride sent a 2024 international spot to the Current.

Gautrat has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season for the Pride (13 regular season and three NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup), with nine starts and recorded 711 minutes. She started alongside Angelina when Haley McCutcheon was at right back, but has split time with the Brazilian in recent weeks as both players have spent time on the injured list.

“I am so excited to be staying here with the Orlando Pride for the next couple of years. What we have here and the culture that is being created is something so special and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” Gautrat said in the club’s press release. “Growing up playing here in Florida and now playing here professionally has only solidified that Orlando is home. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to represent this badge and will work as hard as I can to help the club achieve all of its goals.”

Gautrat was the first overall pick of the 2015 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash out of the University of Virginia. She went on to play for the Chicago Red Stars, French side Olympique Lyonnais, and the Current before joining the Pride.

Internationally, Gautrat represented the United States at the 2010 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The St. Simons Island, GA, native made her senior team debut on June 15, 2013, making 88 appearances for her country with eight goals and 11 assists. She was part of the 2015 and 2019 United States teams that won back-to-back World Cup titles.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride spent the last couple of years in a full rebuild, replacing aging veterans with young players. They narrowly missed out on the playoffs in 2023, spurring the feeling that they could compete this year. For this reason, they brought in several veterans to fill out the lineup, including Gautrat.

While Gautrat hasn’t been a regular starter for the Pride, the depth she provides the team has been valuable, especially when Angelina was injured. She’s currently behind Angelina and McCutcheon on the depth chart, but will slide into the starting role when either is injured, McCutcheon is needed on the back line, or when Angelina is away on international duty with Brazil.

The midfielder has had some trouble with injuries the past few years, contributing to her absence from the national team and her trade from Kansas City. Those problems have arisen at times this year when she suffered a lower leg injury and a concussion. However, she’s been healthy for most of the season and provides a veteran presence in a young locker room, making her a valuable part of the 2025 squad.

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