NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Clinch NWSL Shield with 1-0 Road Win against Houston Dash

Published on October 17, 2021 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


HOUSTON - Playing their fourth game in 12 days, Portland Thorns FC earned their second NWSL Shield in club history, defeating the Houston Dash 1-0 at PNC Stadium on Sunday night. Lindsey Horan tallied the game-winning goal just before the end of the first half, while Portland earned its 12th clean sheet of the season, setting a new club record.

Shield Secured

Portland (13-6-4, 43pts) clinched its second NWSL Shield in nine regular seasons with the win. Winning their first NWSL Shield in 2016, Thorns FC are the third team to win more than one NWSL Shield along with Seattle Reign FC (2014, 2015) and the North Carolina Courage (2017, 2018, 2019). It also marks the fourth time in five seasons Portland has finished in the top two. Under head coach Mark Parsons, Thorns FC have finished in the top three in each of his five regular seasons.

Clean Sheets

Thorns FC added their 12th clean sheet of the campaign. This set a new club record for shutouts in a single season, surpassing the previous record of 11 clean sheets set during the 2017 season. Portland tied the NWSL record set by North Carolina in 2017 and the Reign in 2018. Goalkeeper Bella Bixby registered her eighth shutout in 14 appearances this season. Her eight shutouts are the second-most in the league this campaign.

Road Warriors

With the win, Portland concluded the 2021 season with a record of 6-4-2 in road matches. The team's six road wins are the most in the NWSL this season. In addition, Thorns FC tied the club single-season record set in 2013 and 2018. The team's seven clean sheets on the road are tied for the most in the NWSL in 2021.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Lindsey Horan (Morgan Weaver), 43rd minute: Sophia Smith dribbled down the left side of the box and played a cross to Morgan Weaver making a run to the near post. Weaver turned and laid the ball off for Lindsey Horan, who fired a strike into the top right corner of the goal.

Notes:

Thorns FC secured their second NWSL Shield in club history. Portland won the NWSL Shield in 2016.

Portland is the third club to win multiple NWSL Shields, joining Seattle Reign (2014, 2015) and the North Carolina Courage (2017, 2018, 2019).

Thorns FC tied the NWSL record for shutouts in a season (12), while setting a new club record.

Portland has finished in the top two in four of its last five NWSL regular seasons.

Head coach Mark Parsons registered his 82nd career NWSL win as a head coach - the most in league history.

Portland recorded its sixth road win of 2021, which is tied for the most road wins in a single season (2013, 2018).

Thorns FC's six road wins are the most in the NWSL this season.

Portland registered its seventh clean sheet on the road in 2021. Their seven road clean sheets are tied for the most in the NWSL with North Carolina.

Bella Bixby recorded her eighth shutout of 2021. She has the second-most shutouts in the NWSL this season.

Lindsey Horan scored her second goal of the season.

Horan is the seventh player to score multiple goals for Portland this season.

The goal was the 25th of Horan's career with Portland. She is just the third player to record 25 or more goals with the club.

Horan has scored six goals in 10 career matches against the Dash.

Morgan Weaver recorded her third assist of 2021. She is tied for the team lead in assists with Horan and Meghan Klingenberg.

Weaver has tallied a goal or an assist in the last two matches.

Portland recorded its 10th shutout all-time against Houston.

Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last six road matches against the Dash, posting a record of 5-0-1.

With the win, Portland improved to 6-1-3 all-time on the road against Houston, and 13-3-3 overall.

Next Game

Following the international break, Thorns FC return home to play host to the North Carolina Courage in their regular-season finale on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Providence Park. The Oct. 30 match kicks off at 7 p.m. (Pacific) and will be broadcast on Twitch.

Portland Thorns FC (13-6-4, 43pts) vs. Houston Dash (9-9-5, 32pts)

Oct. 17, 2021 - PNC Stadium (Houston, Texas)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 0 1

Houston Dash 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Horan (Weaver), 43

Misconduct Summary:

HOU: Chapman (caution), 52

POR: Rodríguez (caution), 60

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Menges, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg (Hubly, 90), M Salem, M Horan, M Rodríguez (Ryan, 90+2), M Sinclair © (Dunn, 75), F S. Smith (Charley, 75), F Weaver (Lussi, 89)

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Pogarch, M Everett, M Moultrie

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Horan, Smith, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Horan, 2); FOULS: 14 (Rodríguez, Weaver, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 5

HOU: GK Campbell, D Hanson, D Naughton, D Dahlkemper, D Chapman, M Schmidt (Groom, 77), M Seiler, M Mewis, F Visalli (Latsko, 68), F Daly ©, F Prince

Substitutes Not Used: GK Harris, D Oyster, M Hauksdottir, M Gomera-Stevens, F Spencer, F Abam, F Alozie

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Prince, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Prince, 3); FOULS: 5 (Chapman, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3

Referee: Luis Guardia

Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Salma Perez

4th Official: Alexandra Theriot

Attendance: 4,792

Weather: Sunny, 71 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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