ORLANDO, Fla. – When the Orlando Pride and the Chicago Red Stars first met in 2018, the Pride won their first-ever match over the northern side.

A lot has happened since then.

The Pride (3-3-3, 12 points) went on to also defeat Portland Thorns FC for the first time in their two-and-a-half-years of existence, as their unbeaten streak extended to five games. Now, the Pride are looking to start a new streak of success after their most recent 4-3 loss to the North Carolina Courage on May 23.

Chicago (2-2-6, 12 points) presents no easy task for the Pride, though, as it’s a side Orlando has historically had difficulties with. Before Orlando’s shutout win over the Red Stars on May 2, the Pride recorded a measly 0-4-1 record against Chicago.

However, in the Pride’s last two meetings with the Red Stars, they’ve earned points. In the latter part of the 2017 season, Orlando drew 1-1 with the Red Stars behind a goal from forward Alex Morgan on Aug. 5, 2017.

Here’s what to expect from the Red Stars when the Pride travel to Chicago for the second time this season. The match will be broadcast on Lifetime at 3:30 p.m.

Sam Kerr Finding Form, Scoring Goals

In the Red Stars’ last meeting with Orlando, forward Sam Kerr was making her second appearance for the Red Stars since returning from national-team duty with the Australian women’s national team.

Kerr was still a force to be reckoned with in just her second game in a Chicago uniform, as she was traded from Sky Blue FC during the offseason. In 90 minutes, she took four shots (three on-goal) and drew a foul.

Since that loss, the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League Golden Boot winner has scored two goals in three games. She helped the Red Stars draw 1-1 with North Carolina on May 6 and also scored in a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dash on May 13.

Kerr will look to bounce back from a scoreless outing in a 0-0 draw with Seattle Reign FC on May 20 in which she took no shots.

Productive Sofia Huerta, Alyssa Mautz Slowed in Recent Matches

When midfielders Sofia Huerta and Alyssa Mautz played without Kerr to start the 2018 season, they filled an offensive void left by former Red Stars forward Christen Press. Press scored 11 goals and tallied four assists in 2017 before being traded to Houston and, subsequently, before leaving the NWSL.

Huerta and Mautz combined for five goals and three assists in the six games leading up to Chicago’s loss to Orlando. Since then, however, only Huerta has added a goal in the past three matches. Huerta tallied her third goal of 2018 in the May 13 draw with Houston.

Orlando, Chicago, Portland in 3-way Tie for Third

Since losing to Orlando, the Red Stars have drawn their last three matches. That’s kept them in contention for being in the top part of the NWSL table.

As of Friday, Orlando, Chicago and Portland are in a three-way tie for third place. Each team has 12 points, as Chicago has played 10 games, one more than both Orlando and Portland. A win for either of the three teams will propel the side into second place with 15 points.

If either team draws, they will still be one point behind second-place Seattle, which has played only eight games, the second-fewest of any of the league’s nine teams. The Reign will look to create more separation between them and their rising competition when they play Sky Blue on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Utah Royals FC also has the potential of leaping a few spots in the standings. The Royals currently reside in sixth place just one point behind the three aforementioned, 12-point teams. They play Portland Friday at 10:30 p.m.

Update: Portland defeated Utah 2-0 behind goals by (you guessed it) midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Christine Sinclair.

For more on the Pride, as they look to start a new unbeaten streak, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.