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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Weekly Update

September 5, 2013 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC returned to a warm reception in the Rose City on Sunday, Sept. 1, following the team's 2-0 victory over the top-seeded Western New York Flash in the inaugural National Women's Soccer League championship match. An estimated crowd of nearly 1,000 fans greeted the team outside of security at Portland International Airport late Sunday morning.

The celebration continued Wednesday afternoon as Thorns FC hosted an NWSL championship ceremony at JELD-WEN Field. Hundreds of fans joined Thorns FC players and staff, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and team owner Merritt Paulson in celebrating the team's accomplishments during the NWSL's first season. The championship marks Portland's first professional sports title since the Portland Trail Blazers won the 1977 NBA championship. Earlier on Wednesday, the Portland City Council and the Mayor issued a proclamation declaring a day of recognition for the team's success this season.

On Saturday against Western New York, midfielder Tobin Heath and forward Christine Sinclair scored a goal in each half as Thorns FC captured the inaugural NWSL championship in a 2-0 win over Western New York before 9,129 fans at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

Heath, who earned MVP honors in the championship match, tallied the go-ahead goal for Thorns FC in the 40th minute with a picturesque, 30-yard free kick. The goal provided a cushion as Portland played the final 34 minutes of the match with 10 players following a red card to defender Kathryn Williamson in the 56th minute. Williamson's off-the-ball foul on Flash forward Abby Wambach was her second yellow card of the match, following an infraction earlier in the second half, also when defending Wambach.

Holding Western New York scoreless for the second straight time (including a 0-0 draw on Aug. 10), Sinclair tallied the clinching goal for Thorns FC in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Substitute forward Alex Morgan, who saw her first action since sustaining a sprained MCL in her left knee on Aug. 7, registered the assist on Sinclair's goal following a throw in from defender Marian Dougherty on the right touchline.

Portland's win in the inaugural NWSL championship match marked just the second time Western New York was defeated at home in 2013, and put an end to the Flash's eight-game unbeaten streak. Heath tallied a goal in back-to-back playoff games for Thorns FC, while goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc stopped seven shots to record the shutout against Western New York.

TEAM NEWS

Thorns FC championship merchandise available online and at adidas Timbers Team Store

Thorns FC NWSL championship T-shirts and other merchandise is now available online or at the adidas Timbers Team Store. The red championship T-shirt features the team's logo on the front with the words "2013 NWSL Champions", while the back of the shirt lists all the players on the team's championship roster.

Thorns FC's Rachel Buehler tallies a goal for U.S. WNT in 7-0 rout of Mexico Sept. 3

Thorns FC defender Rachel Buehler recorded a goal in the 55th minute for the U.S. Women's National Team in a 7-0 win over Mexico in an international friendly on Tuesday at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The goal was the fifth of Buehler's national team career, which has seen her play more than 100 times for the United States.

Buehler's goal was the sixth of the match for the United States, after forward Abby Wambach registered the opening goal and forward Sydney Leroux tallied four straight goals in the first half. Midfielder Morgan Brian scored the final goal for the United States in the 72nd minute.

The U.S. Women's National Team extended its home unbeaten streak to 73 consecutive games, dating back to Nov. 6, 2004. The United States is unbeaten is 35 straight games, last losing on March 5, 2012, against Japan at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.=9A

Thorns FC players named to NWSL Best XI Second Team

Thorns FC forwards Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan and defender Rachel Buehler were named to the National Women's Soccer League Best XI Second Team, the NWSL announced recently.

Morgan, 24, finished the season as the team's leading scorer with eight goals and five assists (21pts). The U.S. Women's National Team standout's points total ranked among league leaders in the NWSL. Despite missing four games this season due to national team duty and injury, Morgan still finished as the league leader in shots (82) and shots on goal (44).

Sinclair, 30, registered eight goals and two assists as the team's captain and an integral part of the club's offense. The Canadian international netted four goals over the final six games of the regular season as Thorns FC earned the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. The league's Player of the Month for April, Sinclair tallied a streak of three straight games with a point (2g, 1a) in the first three weeks of the season, helping Portland kick off the year on a five-game unbeaten streak.

Buehler, 28, appeared in 20 of the team's 22 regular-season matches at center back, taking part in six of the team's seven clean sheets in 2013. The U.S. Women's National Team defender logged 1,800 minutes during the regular season, missing just two matches due to national team commitments.

Timbers, Thorns FC feature online auction site to benefit Stand Together

The Portland Timbers and Thorns FC maintain an 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. Click here to view the items currently up for bid.

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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National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 5, 2013


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