NWSL Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club Preseason Preview of 2024 Home Opener against Bay FC Ends in Draw

Published on February 24, 2024 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Angel City FC News Release


INDIO, CA - Angel City FC today drew 0-0 against new expansion team Bay FC at the Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI), in the club's first preseason match that was open to the public. This was the first edition of the annual CVI tournament that featured NWSL teams. The match was a preview of Angel City's March 16 season opener, which will also be against Bay FC.

With the game falling during a FIFA window, both clubs were missing a handful of players to international duty, and Angel City made numerous subs throughout the game, with all three of the team's 2024 NWSL Draft picks- Felicia Knox, Jessica Garziano, and Madison Curry- seeing the field alongside several non-roster invitee (NRI) players.

Bay FC had several scoring chances in the first half, including one in the 7th minute that saw a cross from forward Rachel Hill fall to forward Tess Boade, who took a close-range shot that was initially blocked by Angel City defender Sarah Gorden. Boade made a second attempt with the rebounded ball, which sailed wide of the left post.

A 19th-minute attempt by Angel City set up by forward Sydney Leroux took a deflection and went wide of goal; another by NRI Sam Kroeger in the 32nd minute went wide.

To start the second half, both teams made nearly complete lineup changes. ACFC had a good chance in the 52nd minute when midfielder Knox sent a cross to forward Messiah Bright, but the 2023 Rookie of the Year candidate couldn't quite get on the end of it, instead deflecting the ball out for a corner. Additionally,fans in attendance got to see defender Merritt Mathias play for Angel City for the first time, as a season-long injury sidelined her in 2023.

Angel City's three goalkeepers- Angelina Anderson, Hannah Stambaugh, and DiDi Haračić- split their time in goal to keep the clean sheet.

The regular season kicks off against Bay FC on March 16 at 7:00 PM at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

POST-MATCH QUOTES

ACFC Vice-Captain and Defender, Sarah Gorden

On Merritt Mathias's return to the field:

"We've been seeing Merritt out there for the whole month and it's been amazing having her back. She is obviously a great player, so skill-wise, it's great having her back on the field. She brings an energy and excitement to her too. She brings up the level and It's great seeing her out there, seeing her confident playing outside back and wing back. She loves getting on the ball and defending, so it's great to have her back."

On her offseason training and how she's feeling heading into 2024:

"I trained really hard this offseason, so I was excited coming into this preseason. You've got to ride the waves of the season. It's a long season and there's high moments- moments where you're confident- and there're low moments. Trusting in my training and everything I put in the offseason really brings a lot of calmness and confidence to my game."

On the team's first full preseason with Becki Tweed as head coach:

"This preseason has been incredibly competitive, which has made it so different compared to last year's preseason. It's something we've really all harped on since Becki has taken over- how every training is competitive and how everyone is competing for spots. Since day one, we've been out there grinding, competing with each other, trying to win small games and then in turn trying to win everything we do. It's been great and today was about seeing where we're at and building off of that."

On how the team's culture has shifted since year one:

"We've been saying we're not an expansion team anymore. We've really been putting work in building our identity and our culture... that really took a turn, as we've always said, [when] Becki took over. It's about building off of that, creating chemistry with the players and continuing to push our culture and set our standard."

"That's really what I'm most excited for. Last year, we showed that we had the grit and the fight. We made it to the playoffs in the second half of the season. Now it's about really adding on to our style of play, but still having that fight, that grit and the chemistry that we've had."

Becki Tweed, ACFC Head Coach

On how fans change the dynamic of a preseason game:

"I think any time that it's open and there's fans, you want to play to win. But we had a plan and we had a structure and we had to stick to it. This [was] still an opportunity for us to get everybody on the field, to continue to evaluate and look at players, and to continue to build our identity. I think sometimes when the event feels big, you kind of get lost in that a little bit. So just remaining [with] our plans, sticking to it, and making sure that we come out here and do what we set out to do."

"We got a good look at some different people together- some of the draft picks, some of the newer players- and [some things] for us to take and build on."

On whether she thought of this as a preview of opening day:

"I'd be crazy to say we didn't think about it, but you can't let it stall your preparation for the first game of the season. Again, we looked at a couple of different formations, we looked at some relationships between players, and we have three weeks to continue to do that. We obviously didn't want to divert too much attention from who we want to be."

On how this match and the team's earlier trip to Florida helped prepare them for 2024:

"It's irreplaceable. You're looking to spend 11 months with this team throughout the year. There are going to be conflicts, moments of joy, difficult moments, good moments. I can definitely say we've been through that in the last three weeks and we still have more to go. We have to challenge each other more. We have to grow from this."

"You get stuck in your little bubble in preseason and you know where you are, but you don't have a relation to where the rest of the league is. To be able to come here mid-preseason, I think, is really important because we now can see where we are and where other teams are, and we know what we have to do over the next three weeks to continue to get better."

On the new preseason format this year and the NWSL's first appearance at the CVI tournament:

"First of all, something like this is such a big opportunity and really great for the growth of, one, preseason but two, the sport in general. You [saw] two good games today, and you get to see four quality teams that are all looking to be at their best for March 16."

"The opportunity to get out in the middle of preseason and see where you are is something that is really valuable. Giving the team an opportunity to come out and compete with people that they're going to play against, especially for the first game of the season, and setting and resetting new goals for the next three weeks."

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