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 Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Weekly Update

June 27, 2013 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


Thorns FC square off against FC Kansas City in second straight road match on Sunday

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC, unbeaten in three straight games, travels to play FC Kansas City on Sunday at Verizon Wireless Field in Overland Park, Kan.; kickoff is 1:10 p.m. (Pacific).

The second of back-to-back road matches for Thorns FC (8-2-2, 26pts), fans can follow the action through a live web stream on www.portlandthornsfc.com or via Twitter @ThornsFC.

Sitting in second place in the National Women's Soccer League, Thorns FC can move to the top of the standings with a win on Sunday against an FC Kansas City (6-4-2, 20pts) side that is finishing a stretch of three games in eight days.

Portland, which is 4-1-1 in its last six matches, is coming off a hard-fought scoreless draw against league-leading Sky Blue FC on June 22. Thorns FC goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made a season-high seven saves, including two in second-half stoppage time, to help Portland maintain its unbeaten (4-0-2) road record this season. Thorns FC are the last remaining NWSL team without a road loss and have conceded a league-low two goals in six away games during the 2013 campaign. Portland has not conceded a road goal since the 86th minute of a 2-1 win at the Washington Spirit on May 4 - a streak of 274 consecutive minutes.

Forward Tiffany Weimer attempted a team-high four shots (3 on goal) in the draw, while forward Alex Morgan finished with three shots against Sky Blue FC.

Thorns FC and FC Kansas City square off for the second time during the month of June, and the third time overall, on Sunday. Portland leads the season series 1-0-1, most recently earning a 4-3 victory in a high-scoring affair at JELD-WEN Field on June 6.

Morgan, midfielder Courtney Wetzel, forward Danielle Foxhoven and midfielder Allie Long all tallied goals in the match for Thorns FC, while FC Kansas City midfielder Lauren Cheney registered a brace for Vlatko Andonovski's squad.

The two clubs first met in the league's inaugural match on April 13 at Verizon Wireless Field in Overland Park, Kan. After conceding an early opening goal to FC Kansas City in the 3rd minute, Foxhoven earned a penalty kick after suffering a foul in the penalty box and forward Christine Sinclair stepped up to convert the game-tying goal for Portland, the team's first goal in club history.

FC Kansas City enters Sunday's match capping off a busy month of June. The Blues have played six games in 21 days from June 6-26 and close out the month with their third game in eight days. Sitting in third place in the NWSL, FC Kansas City suffered a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Red Stars on June 16 playing without any of their national team players due to international friendlies. On Wednesday, rookie forward Erika Tymrak and Cheney scored as FC Kansas City took a 2-0 lead on Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. The lead didn't hold up as Sky Blue FC substitute forward Monica Ocampo netted a brace in the final six minutes plus stoppage time to close the gap for a 2-2 draw.

Thorns FC return to the Rose City for consecutive home games beginning Saturday, July 6, against the Boston Breakers at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The following week, Thorns FC plays host to the Western New York Flash at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday, July 14; kickoff is 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on Freedom 970AM with a high-definition web stream available on www.portlandthornsfc.com.

TEAM NEWS

Karina LeBlanc named NWSL Player of the Week

On Tuesday, Thorns FC goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc was named the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the media for Week 11 of the 2013 NWSL season.

LeBlanc, 33, made a season-high seven saves, including two in second-half stoppage time on Saturday helping preserve a scoreless draw against league-leading Sky Blue FC. The Canadian international, who has recorded six shutouts and a league-best 0.64 goals-against average, is the first Thorns FC player to be named the NWSL Player of the Week this year.

Ranking second in the league in saves (45), LeBlanc's quick reactions in second-half stoppage time helped Portland earn a point on the road, keeping the team's undefeated road record (4-0-2) intact and maintaining a tie on points (26) for first place with Sky Blue FC.

The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis.

Watch Thorns FC matches at one of four pub partner locations

Thorns FC fans can watch Thorns FC matches at one of four pub partner locations during the 2013 National Women's Soccer League season. Mad Greek Deli (1740 E. Burnside), Bazi Bierbrasserie (1522 SE 32nd Ave.), On Deck (910 NW 4th Ave.) and McGillacuddy's (11133 NE Halsey St.) will each have a television dedicated to the live web stream of Thorns FC games this season.

Thorns FC midfielder Becky Edwards undergoes successful knee surgery

Thorns FC midfielder Becky Edwards underwent successful surgery last week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee. The procedure was performed by the Portland Timbers Director of Medicine Dr. Richard Edelson at Sports Medicine Oregon in Tigard, Ore.

Edwards is expected to be out approximately six months while undergoing rehabilitation at Providence Sports Care Center at JELD-WEN Field. She sustained the injury June 13 during training in Portland.

In her first season with the club, Edwards started and played every minute of every match through the first 10 games of the inaugural National Women's Soccer League season. The midfielder donned the captain's armband on June 1 in a home match against the Chicago Red Stars and helped contribute to the team's league-leading 8-2-1 overall record during the first half of the season.

Thorns FC to feature twice on FOX Soccer as part of NWSL, FOX Sports Media Group broadcasts

The National Women's Soccer League and FOX Sports Media Group announced recently a national television broadcast schedule consisting of six regular-season matches and three playoff games. Portland Thorns FC are featured in consecutive weeks on national FOX Soccer broadcasts in regular-season home matches on Sunday, July 28, against the Chicago Red Stars and Sunday, Aug. 4, against FC Kansas City at JELD-WEN Field.

Due to the national broadcast on FOX Soccer, the start time for both Thorns FC home games at JELD-WEN Field on July 28 and Aug. 4 have been moved.

The Thorns FC match against the Chicago Red Stars on July 28 has been moved to 4 p.m. (Pacific), instead of the originally scheduled 2 p.m. (Pacific).

As part of a doubleheader at JELD-WEN Field on Aug. 4, Thorns FC play host to FC Kansas City in their regular-season home finale. The match against FC Kansas City has been moved to 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). Due to the Thorns FC kickoff time for national television coverage, the Portland Timbers Reserves match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves will now kickoff at 2 p.m. (Pacific) in the first game of the doubleheader.

Tickets for either game of the Aug. 4 doubleheader are valid for entry into both matches. Tickets are still available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office or online at www.portlandthornsfc.com.

Timbers, Thorns FC launch new online auction site to benefit Stand Together

The Portland Timbers and Thorns FC recently launched a new online auction website, featuring autographed memorabilia, game-worn gear and one-of-a-kind game-day experiences, with proceeds benefitting the clubs' community outreach platform Stand Together and the Portland Timbers Community Fund.

Stand Together supports local nonprofit organizations focusing on youth programs related to sport, education, fitness and the environment. The Stand Together mission is to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving and is supported in part by adidas, Alaska Airlines, JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, Burgerville, and PGE.

THORNS FC MEDIA SOURCES

Radio: The club's weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs every Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. (Pacific) on flagship station 750 AM The Game. "Talk Timbers" provides team news and interviews covering the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer as well as regular updates, features and player interviews covering Portland Thorns FC.

Fans can submit questions, provide comments or simply follow the conversation on Talk Timbers on Twitter with the hashtag #TalkTimbers.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com . Available podcasts can be downloaded at www.portlandtimbers.com/timbers-podcast-network .


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