NWSL Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Draw Sky Blue FC, 1-1, in 2019 Road Finale

Published on September 29, 2019 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Orlando Pride News Release


HARRISON, N.J. - Orlando Pride (4-15-3, 15 points) earned a point in its final road match of the 2019 season, drawing Sky Blue FC (5-13-5, 20 points) 1-1 at Red Bull Arena on Sunday morning. Shelina Zadorsky scored her first professional goal in the match, while Sydney Leroux made her first appearance of the 2019 season - just three months after giving birth.

The match in Harrison also marked the 100th NWSL appearance for Kristen Edmonds, a New Jersey native.

Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner:

"I'm proud of the way the girls fought today. We simplified the message. I asked them to trust the training process and go on and show teams who we're going to be next year. We see this in training all of the time, and unfortunately you just don't see it in games. They were just being brave in possession. We have the ability to do that...If you look at it, we were dominant first half. I don't think we gave Sky Blue a chance to come into the game. But, we just weren't consistent [second half], whether that's fitness or focus, so we have to be better at that. I think then you'll see a more consistent team."

Scoring Recap:

18' Shelina Zadorsky (Ali Krieger) - ORL 1, NJ 0

After building pressure early in the match, the Pride eventually found the breakthrough in the 18th minute off the foot of Shelina Zadorsky - the defender's first professional goal. Zadorsky got on the end of a curling Claire Emslie free kick that was directed by Ali Krieger, slamming the ball home at the far post.

88' Carli Lloyd (Sarah Killion) - ORL 1, NJ 1

The home side leveled things late in the match, after Carli Lloyd connected on a corner kick, heading the ball in for the equalizer.

Match Notes:

Pride defender Kristen Edmonds earned her 100th NWSL appearance with a start on Sunday morning. The match marked Edmonds' 67th played as a member of the Pride.

The 18th minute goal from Shelina Zadorsky marked the first NWSL goal for the Canadian defender. Zadorsky also has three assists on her resume, two of those coming while a member of the Pride.

Forward Sydney Leroux made her first appearance of the season for the Pride, coming into the match in the 86th minute. Leroux returned to play just three months after giving birth to her second child, Roux, at the end of June.

Marta made her first appearance for the Pride since August 24 against the Washington Spirit, missing the previous three matches due to injury.

Sunday's match was originally scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University, but was moved to Red Bull Arena to accommodate a larger crowd. Next Match: The Pride will close the 2019 season with their two final matches at Exploria Stadium, first hosting the Washington Spirit on Saturday, Oct. 5 in a rescheduled match that kicks off at 5 p.m. ET. Orlando closes the campaign on Oct. 12, hosting Reign FC in a 7:30 p.m. kick. That match will be the Club's first-ever Breast Cancer Awareness match.

Teams 1 2 F

Orlando Pride 1 0 0

Sky Blue FC 0 1 1

Scoring Summary:

ORL - Shelina Zadorsky (Ali Krieger) 18'

NJ - Carli Lloyd (Sarah Killion) 88'

Misconduct Summary:

ORL - Kristen Edmonds (Yellow Card) 43'

NJ - Jen Hoy (Yellow Card) 45+2'

NJ - Paige Monaghan (Yellow Card) 52'

Lineups/Substitutions:

Orlando Pride - GK Ashlyn Harris ©; D Kristen Edmonds, Ali Krieger, Shelina Zadorsky, Carson Pickett; M Rachel Hill (Abby Elinsky 90+4'), Alanna Kennedy, Joanna Boyles, Claire Emslie (Camila 79'); F Marta, Marisa Viggiano (Sydney Leroux 86')

Substitutes Not Used: GK Haley Kopmeyer; D Erin Greening; M Bridget Callahan; F Danica Evans

Sky Blue FC - GK Kailen Sheridan; D Imani Dorsey, Estelle Johnson, Erica Skroski, Caprice Dydasco; M Carli Lloyd, Raquel Rodriguez (Dominique Richardson 80'), Elizabeth Eddy, Sarah Killion ©; F Paige Monaghan, Jen Hoy (Nahomi Kawasumi 64')

Substitutes Not Used: GK Didi Haracic, Megan Hinz; D Amandine Pierre-Louis M Kenie Wright, Julie James

Details of the Game:

Time: 11 a.m. ET

Weather: Clear

Date: September 29, 2019

Attendance: 8,314

Stats Summary: NJ / ORL

Possession: 49.9% / 50.1%

Shots: 16 / 17

Shots on Goal: 2 / 5

Saves: 4 / 1

Corner Kicks: 5 / 4

Fouls: 14 / 7

Offside: 2 / 3

Officials:

REF: Karen Callado

AR1: Salma Perez

AR2: Laura Chambers Waliski

4TH: Adorae Whitesel

About Orlando Pride:

With two major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer. The Orlando Pride, OCSC's National Women's Soccer League franchise, began play in 2016 - bringing professional women's soccer to Orlando for the first time.

The Pride play at Exploria Stadium, a 25,500 seat soccer-specific stadium located in the heart of Downtown Orlando that is also home to Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer.

Check out the Orlando Pride Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 29, 2019


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