Orlando Pride Lose Ashlyn Harris but Still Salvage a Point in Seattle

Even with goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris going down, the Orlando Pride escape Seattle with a point.

By
Benjamin Sanders
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3
1937
Orlando Pride forward Marta Vieira da Silva dribbles the ball in the box during a 3-1 win over the North Carolina Courage at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

The Orlando Pride traveled to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Reign in a match that culminated in a 1-1 draw at Memorial Stadium.

The Pride (1-2-2, 5 points) came into the match fresh off its first victory and needed to score vital points away from home against a tough Reign (2-1-2, 8 points) team. The game started brightly for the Pride, as Jasmyne Spencer used her pace to breach the Reign’s defensive line and force a save from Haley Kopmeyer.

The Reign ditched their usual three-defender system and converted to a traditional four-defender formation. The move worked, as the team stifled the Pride’s quick wing players and forced Pride forward Marta Vieira da Silva to retreat deeper to get on the ball.

In the 23rd minute, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris suffered a non-contact injury to her right hip on a standard goal kick, resulting in head coach Tom Sermanni to utilize reserve Caroline Stanley for her first appearance of the season.

Stanley was tentative at first, and it showed in the 40th minute when a Megan Rapinoe cross created havoc on the edge of the six-yard box. Stanley met the cross with a whiffed punch and with Reign forward Beverly Yanez in the vicinity to pounce on the loose ball, scuffing the shot just inside the right post to secure a 1-0 lead.

The Pride looked a more rejuvenated side in the second half and got da Silva on the ball early and often. In the 50th minute, the Brazilian curled a shot toward the top-left corner of the goal only to be met by Kopmeyer.

Just two minutes later, Kopmeyer miscommunicated with her center-backs by playing a low, driven goal kick. Pride midfielder Camila Pereira pressured the Reign central pairing, worked the ball to the left where da Silva unleashed a shot into the right side of the goal.

The rest of the match became a choppy affair, with hard tackles flying in as a battle for midfield supremacy was the key to the remaining 30 minutes, which caused (…) yellow cards to be brandished. Rapinoe was a marvel at set plays, creating havoc in Orlando’s box but ultimately couldn’t break the resilient defense, even as late as the 92nd minute.

Woman of the Match: Haley Kopmeyer

The Reign goalkeeper had an excellent game between the posts saving 9(…) shots from Marta, Spencer and Pereira. This is the type of form and athleticism that caused her to win National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week earlier in the season.

What’s next?

The Pride remain on the road for their next encounter against Sky Blue FC on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Yurcak Field.

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • da Silva scored her second goal of her inaugural Pride season.
  • Pereira notched her first assist of the season.
  • Stanley made her first appearance of the season, replacing the injured Harris.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by
40’ Seattle Reign Beverley Yanez Megan Rapinoe
52’ Orlando Pride Marta Vieira da Silva Camila Pereira

Statistics and Starting Lineup

Goals Assists Shots Shots on goal Possession %
Seattle Reign 1 1 12 3 54.9%
Orlando Pride 1 1 9 5 45.1%

Orlando Pride starting XI (4-4-2): Ashlyn Harris (GK/C); Ali Krieger, Alanna Kennedy, Toni Pressley, Steph Catley; Kristen Edmonds, Dani Weatherholt, Camila Pereira, Jasmine Spencer; Jamia Fields, Marta Vieira da Silva

Seattle Reign starting XI (4-3-3): Haley Kopmeyer (GK); Rebekah Scott, Rachel Corsie, Lauren Barnes, Casron Pickett; Christie Nairn, Rumi Utsugi, Jessica Fishlock; Nahomi Kawasumi, Beverly Yanez, Megan Rapinoe

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