With nine national-team players away, the Orlando Pride could only muster 10 players on their regular roster for their preseason opener. Former University of Central Florida midfielder Bridget Callahan started for the Pride as their 11th player.

The lack of a fully available roster led to the Pride’s 3-2 loss to the Florida State Seminoles in the Pride’s preseason opener Wednesday night in Tallahassee.

Despite the loss, Pride head coach Tom Sermanni left the match pleased.

“I was happy with the game. It was always going to be difficult,” he said after the match, per the Pride. “Having nine players away on international duty has really decimated the squad a little bit. We put a team out tonight with players playing all sorts of positions.”

In her first game-time action with the Pride, first-year Pride forward Sydney Leroux scored very early, opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Her opening score was a solo run that led her to the top of the 18-yard box.

FSU’s Deyna Castellanos evened the score with a penalty kick in the second of three 30-minute periods. That was followed by a 49th-minute score by Kaycie Tillman, who intercepted a back-line pass by the Pride and scored for a 2-1 advantage.

The Pride, however, tied the game in the 80th minute, as trialist Trudi Carter of the University of South Florida drilled a shot from 25 yards away.

Orlando couldn’t secure the tie, though, as Castellanos scored a game-winner in the 89th minute.

Who’s Next?

The Pride now prepare to face UCF in a closed-door match on March 3.

For more on the Pride, as they continue their preseason schedule, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.