PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC will hold a 2013 National Women’s Soccer League championship celebration event, free and open to the public, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 12 noon (Pacific) at JELD-WEN Field.
Fans are asked to enter the stadium at Gate 2 on the KeyBank Plaza, located at the corner of SW 18th Ave. and SW Morrison St.; gate opens at 11 a.m.
All fans are invited to attend the free event, which will be hosted by Thorns FC radio announcer Ann Schatz and highlighted by messages from head coach Cindy Parlow Cone and select players, an NWSL championship trophy presentation and autograph signing.
Due to national team call-ups and prior commitments, select Thorns FC players will not be in attendance, including U.S. Women’s National Team members Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan, midfielder Allie Long and forwards Christine Sinclair and Tiffany Weimer.
Thorns FC championship merchandise, including 2013 NWSL Champions T-shirts, are currently available for pre-order through the team’s online store, and will be available for pre-order through the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field starting Tuesday.
Thorns FC won the inaugural NWSL championship with a 2-0 victory over top-seeded Western New York Flash on Saturday at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. Midfielder Tobin Heath was named the championship game’s Most Valuable Player, recording the go-ahead goal on a bending, 25-yard free kick in the 40th minute. Playing with 10 following a 56th-minute red card, Thorns FC tallied an insurance goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time when forward Christine Sinclair took a pass from forward Alex Morgan and fired inside the far left post.
WATCH:CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS │ POST-GAME REACTION
Portland’s championship victory capped a successful inaugural season which saw the team finish tied for the league lead with 38 points (11-6-5 overall). Thorns FC set the league standard by averaging 13,320 fans in 11 home matches at JELD-WEN Field, while Morgan (8g, 5a) and Sinclair (8g, 2a) led the team in scoring during the regular season.\
