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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Weekly Update

April 28, 2016 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


Thorns FC continue road swing with match against Boston Breakers on Sunday

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC continue their four-game road swing, traveling to square off against the Boston Breakers on Sunday, May 1, at Jordan Field. Sunday's match kicks off at 2 p.m. (Pacific) and features a live webstream at www.thornsfc.com.

Portland (1-0-1, 4pts) opened its road stretch against FC Kansas City, earning a 1-1 draw on April 23 at Swope Soccer Village. Midfielder Lindsey Horan tallied a late-game equalizer, assisted by midfielder Tobin Heath, to secure a point on the road. Defensively, Portland limited Kansas City to just one shot on goal in the second half, while goalkeeper Michelle Betos saved a penalty kick by midfielder Shea Groom in the first half.

Heading into week three of the regular season, Horan is the only player in the league with multiple goals through the first two games. Heath currently leads the NWSL with three assists in two matches. Additionally, Horan is just the second Thorns FC player to score in the first two matches of the season, joining midfielder Allie Long, who scored goals in the first two matches of the 2014 and 2015 season.

Sunday's match marks the 10th meeting all-time between Portland and Boston, and Thorns FC's sixth match on the road against the Breakers since 2013. Meeting three times during the 2015 season, Portland posted a record of 2-1-0 in those three matches.

Boston (0-2-0, 0pts) enters Sunday's match following a 3-0 loss against Seattle Reign FC on April 24 at Jordan Field. Led by new head coach Matt Beard, who arrived in Boston after serving as the manager of Liverpool Ladies FC, the Breakers return their top two leading goal scorers from a season ago - midfielder Kristie Mewis (6) and forward Stephanie McCaffrey (3). In addition, the Breakers acquired U.S. Women's National Team defender Whitney Engen in an offseason trade and signed goalkeeper Libby Stout, who played for Beard at Liverpool Ladies.

Thorns FC remain on the East Coast for a match against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, May 7, at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.; kickoff for Saturday's match is at 4 p.m. (Pacific) and features a live webstream at www.thornsfc.com.

TEAM NEWS

Thorns FC sign defender Meg Morris

Earlier this week, Portland announced the signing of defender Meg Morris. Prior to her arrival in Portland, Morris played for two seasons with Sky Blue FC, appearing in 12 matches (5 starts) for the club.

Morris played at the University of North Carolina from 2010-13 and also gained experience as a youth international, featuring with the U.S. U-20 women's national team at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Watch Thorns FC away matches at pub partner locations

While Thorns FC are on the road, show your support for the team from the Rose City by watching the match at one of several pub partner locations.

McMenamins Ringlers Pub (1332 W Burnside St.), Kells Irish Pub (112 SW 2nd Ave.), Lightning Will (305 NW 21st), Bazi Bierbrasserie (1522 SE 32nd Ave.) and The Blue Bar Room (8145 SE 82nd Ave.) all broadcast Thorns FC web streams.

2016 Thorns FC home and away kits on sale now

Thorns FC released their new home and away kits for the 2016 NWSL season ahead of their home opener on April 17. The red and black home kit and the white and black away kit features a custom jock tag inspired by the line, "but he who dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose", from the Anne Bronte poem, "The Narrow Way." The jock tag embraces the core elements of the team mark - the rose and its thorns - celebrating the strength and power of the club's identity.

The new kits are on sale now and are available in men's, women's and youth sizes online here and at the team store at Providence Park.

Public entry to the Thorns Team Store at Providence Park is available through the Providence Sports Care Center lobby near SW 18th Avenue and SW Taylor. The team store is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. On game days, the store closes three hours prior to kickoff and reopens when gates open for the match.

Thorns FC single-game tickets now on sale

Single-game tickets for Portland Thorns FC's 2016 home matches at Providence Park are now on sale to the public.

Fans are able to purchase tickets, starting at $13.50, for the team's regular-season home matches by calling (888) 736-6849 or online here. In addition, fans also are able to purchase tickets at the Providence Park box office. The Providence Park box office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Group opportunities for Thorns FC matches are available by contacting the ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@timbers.com. Additional group information can be found at www.timbers.com/thornsfc/thorns-group-outings.

NWSL and FOX Sports announce national broadcast deal

The National Women's Soccer League and FOX Sports recently announced an agreement to televise six NWSL games for the 2016 season. FOX Sports 1 will air three regular-season games and all three NWSL playoff games. In addition, all six games will be streamed live on FOX Soccer 2GO, FOX Sports GO and FOXSportsGO.com.

Thorns FC's regular-season home finale against the Western New York Flash on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Providence Park is one of the three regular-season matches that will be televised on FOX Sports 1; kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).

For the complete release, click here.

Be part of the 2016 Skippy LTFC

All Timbers and Thorns FC fans 12 years old or younger are encouraged to be part of the 2016 Skippy LTFC. A $30 membership gets you an exclusive 2016 Skippy LTFC Timbers/Thorns scarf, four free Thorns FC flex tickets, four T2 flex tickets, four general admission tickets to the T2 match against Seattle Sounders 2 on May 26 at Providence Park, discounts on select matches and exclusive Skippy LTFC contests.

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 28, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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