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Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Register Clean Sheet in Scoreless Draw against Seattle Reign FC

May 29, 2016 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Behind a solid defensive performance, Portland Thorns FC recorded their third clean sheet of the season and extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches in a scoreless draw against Cascadia-rival Seattle Reign FC in front of 18,114 fans on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park.

Sunday's match was the second of four meetings between Seattle and Portland this season and marked the second meeting between the two teams in a span of 14 days. The only unbeaten team in the NWSL through the first seven games this season, Thorns FC (3-0-4, 13pts) continued their strong run of form at home in their first game against Reign FC at Providence Park this season, improving to 2-0-1 at Providence Park to start the year. Additionally, Portland has earned a least one point from each of its last six home games, dating back to the 2015 season.

Goalkeeper Michelle Betos made her third start of the season in the match, earning a clean sheet and recording four saves. Portland's backline limited Seattle's chances, allowing just four shots on goal, marking the third straight match in which it has held an opponent to less than five shots on goal. Betos registered three second-half saves, while defender Katherine Reynolds and midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir combined to clear a chance by Seattle forward Beverly Yanez off the goal line in the 75th to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.

Missing goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, defenders Emily Sonnett and Meghan Klingenberg and midfielders Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan and Allie Long - all away with the U.S. Women's National Team on international duty - Portland utilized a starting lineup that featured two rookies - Celeste Boureille, who made her professional debut in the match, as well as Mallory Weber, who made her second start of the season and her first appearance in a match since May 1 on the road against the Boston Breakers. In addition, rookie McKenzie Berryhill made her professional debut as a second-half substitute, while midfielder Hayley Raso earned her first start for Thorns FC.

Early in the first half, Thorns FC generated multiple scoring chances down the left side. Leading the counter attack in the 23rd minute, forward Christine Sinclair found Raso streaking down the left side of the field. Raso dribbled into the box and released a shot from a tight angle, but the attempt was blocked. Forward Nadia Nadim delivered a curling free kick into the box in the 26th minute that was initially cleared. Weber collected the loose ball and lofted a cross into the box at the back post for Nadim, who fired a shot from close range that was saved by Seattle goalkeeper Hayley Kopmeyer.

With time winding down in the match, Portland again created an opportunity on the counter attack. Making a run out of the back down the right side, Weber was able to find space and dribbled into the box, but fired a powerful shot wide of the left post in the 81st minute.

Following an international break, Portland travels to take on the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday, June 12, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific) with a live web stream at www.thornsfc.com.

Notes:

- Sunday's attendance of 18,114, the largest crowd for a match this season, was the fourth-largest crowd for a Thorns FC match in club history, and it marked the fourth time Portland has drawn a crowd of more than 18,000 for a game.

- Midfielder Celeste Boureille and defender McKenzie Berryhill made their professional debuts in the match.

- Midfielder Hayley Raso earned her first career start for Thorns FC in the match.

- Making four saves in the match, goalkeeper Michelle Betos reached 100 saves for her NWSL career.

- Portland improved to 5-4-2 in the all-time series with Seattle, including a mark of 3-2-1 at Providence Park.

- Thorns FC have limited their last three opponents to single-digit shot attempts and four or fewer shots on goal.

- Midfielder Mana Shim made her 40th career start for Thorns FC in the match.

- Defender Emily Menges is the only player to have played every minute of the first seven matches this season for Portland.

- Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last six home matches (4-0-2), dating back to the 2015 season.

- Forward Nadia Nadim, midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Menges are the only three players to start every match for Thorns FC this season.

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