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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Draw 1-1 with Washington Spirit at Providence Park

May 19, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC played to a 1-1 draw with the Washington Spirit at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Sophia Smith scored Portland's lone goal and her second of the season. Facing a quick turnaround, Thorns FC continue their home stretch, playing host to the Houston Dash on Saturday.

Unbeaten to Start the Season

Portland is the only team in the NWSL that remains unbeaten in the 2022 campaign. They've allowed the fewest goals (1), while scoring the fourth most (4) in the league. Thorns FC have taken more shots on goal (19) than any other team to start the 2022 season.

Bixby Breaking Records

In the eighth minute of tonight's match, Bella Bixby broke the club record for consecutive shutout minutes, previously set at 371 by Adrianna Franch. The streak was snapped in the 63rd minute, closing it out at a total of 427 minutes. The streak began on Oct. 13, 2021, after conceding a penalty-kick goal to OL Reign in the 86th minute. Thorns FC went on to record two clean sheets to close out the 2021 season and started the 2022 campaign with clean sheets in their first two matches.

Smith File

Smith has scored five goals in her last eight games across all competitions for Portland. Tonight's goal marked her team-leading second of the 2022 regular season. Her first goal of the 2022 campaign came against Kansas City on April 30 as a second half substitute, marking her first career regular season goal. Notably, Portland is undefeated when Smith has scored a goal this year (4-0-1). In 2021, Thorns FC posted a record of 6-1-0 when Smith scored a goal.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sophia Smith (Natalia Kuikka), 57th minute: Natalia Kuikka played Sophia Smith into space down the right wing. Smith dribbled at her defender, cutting toward the endline before slotting a right-footed shot inside of the far-post netting.

WAS - Ashley Hatch (Anna Heilferty), 63rd minute: Anna Heilferty served a diagonal ball into the center of the box and Ashley Hatch flicked it on with her head into the back of the net.

Notes:

Portland is the only remaining unbeaten team in the NWSL in 2022.

Thorns FC have allowed the fewest goals in the league (1).

In the eighth minute of tonight's match, Bella Bixby broke the club record for consecutive shutout minutes, previously set at 371 by Adrianna Franch. Bixby's record of 427 minutes spanned from Oct. 13, 2021-May 18, 2022.

Bixby recorded six saves tonight, matching her all-time record across all competitions. She's only made six saves in one other match - Portland's 2-1 loss to Chicago on Sept. 25, 2021.

Portland is undefeated against the Washington Spirit when playing at Providence Park (6-0-5). That is the most league home games without a loss against a single opponent among all NWSL fixtures.

Sophia Smith scored her second goal of the 2022 campaign.

Thorns FC are 4-0-1 in 2022 when S. Smith has scored a goal.

Natalia Kuikka tallied her first assist of the season.

Kuikka has two assists across all competitions this season and both of her assists have come on Sophia Smith goals.

Portland leads the league in shots on goal (19) in three matches this season.

Next Game

Thorns FC will face a quick turnaround to host the Houston Dash on Saturday, May 21, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific) on Twitch.

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 19, 2022


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