MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
TICKETS
Forecast: Sunny, 82 degrees
Referee: Elvis Mahmutovic
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, J.J. Blodgett Fourth Official: Desmond Miller
Webstream: Available via www.portlandthornsfc.com
MATCH DAY PREVIEW
Riding a six-game home winning streak, Portland Thorns FC return to action Saturday, playing host to the Washington Spirit in the first of two meetings this season at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Thorns FC enter Saturday’s match following their first road game of 2015 and will play their first match in two weeks after an off week. Portland remains just one of two unbeaten teams in the league through the first four weeks of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season after picking up a 2-2 draw on the road against the Chicago Red Stars on April 25.
With a win or a draw against the Spirit, Portland would be unbeaten in its first four matches to begin the season for a second-straight campaign. Thorns FC opened the 2013 season unbeaten in their first five matches (4-0-1).
LAST MATCH RECAP
In the team’s first road match of the 2015 regular season, Portland earned a come-from-behind, 2-2 draw against the Chicago Red Stars on April 25 at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill. Thorns FC conceded two early goals to forward Christen Press in the opening eight minutes, but rallied as midfielder Mana Shim netted the equalizer in the 47th minute. Allie Long tallied the assist on forward Christine Sinclair’s goal in the 29th minute, marking her third straight match with at least one point (3g, 1a). Shim’s goal was her second in three matches. Midfielder Sinead Farrelly nearly scored the game winner in the 74th minute as her long distance shot attempt bounced off the underside of the crossbar.
AGAINST WASHINGTON
Saturday’s match marks the sixth meeting all-time between Thorns FC and the Washington Spirit. Portland is unbeaten in the five previous meetings (4-0-1) with a record of 2-0-0 at Providence Park. Thorns FC have yet to surrender a goal at home against the Spirit, outscoring Washington 4-0 in the two previous meetings. In the all-time series, Portland has outscored the Spirit 13-3, while tallying 10 of their 13 goals in either the first 15 or final 15 minutes of the match. In three meetings last season, Thorns FC scored nine goals, while conceding just two. Both of Portland’s victories at Providence Park have been by a score line of 2-0 as Thorns FC earned a 2-0 win against Washington on June 15.
SCOUTING THE SPIRIT
Washington (2-2-0, 6pts) visits Portland Saturday on the tail end of a three-game road swing. The Spirit suffered a 3-1 loss against Seattle Reign FC on May 2 at Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. After surrendering two goals in the first 50 minutes of the match, the Spirit pulled one back through midfielder Joanna Lohman in the 63rd minute, but were unable to find an equalizer as Seattle secured the win behind a third goal in the 75th minute. Washington will be without the services of U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defender Ali Krieger, who both departed for training camp in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but Week 3 NWSL Player of the Week, defender Crystal Dunn will return in time for the match after being called into camp with the United States. Dunn has tallied either a goal or an assist in each of the last three matches. Washington has scored seven goals this season, six of which have come from the likes of Dunn (3) and midfielder Christine Nairn (3). Washington is tied for second-most goals in the NWSL this season, but is also tied for the second-most goals conceded (7) through the first four weeks of the season.
SATURDAY ADDITIONS
Five additional players will be available for selection on Saturday along with midfielder Taylor Comeau and forward Sarah Jackson, who made their Thorns FC debuts against Chicago on April 25, including forward Kelsey Haycook, midfielder Kate Bennett and defender Alyssa Kleiner to provide roster depth with players away on international duty. Comeau played at the University of California-Berkley, tallying eight goals and seven assists during her senior campaign for the Golden Bears in 2014. Both Jackson and Kleiner played at Santa Clara, Kleiner appeared in 77 career matches for the Broncos, while Jackson registered three goals and four assists during her senior season in 2013. Haycook was a two-time All-American at La Salle where she ranked third in the NCAA in goals with 20 during her senior season in 2014. Bennett, a second-team All-Pac 12 pick, tallied six goals and three assists as a senior at the University of Washington in 2014.
HOME TURF
Not only are Thorns FC unbeaten in their last seven matches at Providence Park (6-0-1), but they have won six consecutive at home, dating back to the 2014 season. Portland has scored two or more goals in four of those matches, while also registering three shutouts in its last four home contests. Midfielder Allie Long has scored six goals during Thorns FC’s seven-match unbeaten streak at home. Portland has scored 22 goals, while conceding just seven.
STINGY DEFENSE
Through the first three games of the season, Thorns FC have made it difficult for opposing offenses to break through their backline. Portland has conceded the fewest goals in the league (3), while also allowing the fewest shots (25), the second-fewest shots on goal (14) and committing the second-fewest fouls (25) through its first three matches. Thorns FC have held their opponents to single- digit shot attempts in each of the team’s first three matches this season. All-time, Portland is 9-4-5 when holding their opponent to single-digit shot attempts and 6-2-0 in matches at Providence Park.
MILESTONE WATCH
Midfielders Allie Long and McCall Zerboni both surpassed the 4,000 career minutes mark last week against Chicago. Long (4,033) is now Portland’s all-time career leader in minutes played, while Zerboni surpassed 4,000 minutes in three NWSL seasons, which included two with the Western New York Flash. Long also moved into sole possession of first place in career games played (47), surpassing retired Thorns FC defender Nikki Marshall who played 46 consecutive NWSL regular-season matches. Long is currently one start away from tying Marshall for career matches started (46) and is just one point (36) out of first-place in career points, which is currently held by forward Alex Morgan (37). Long moved into second-place on the all-time career assists (7) list. Midfielder Mana Shim has seven career goals and is just three away from becoming the fifth player in Thorns FC history to score double-digit goals in her career.
