TACOMA, Wash. (April 21, 2019) - Orlando Pride (0-2-1, 1 point) earned its first point of the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season on Sunday night, drawing Reign FC 1-1 at Cheney Stadium. Australian defender Alanna Kennedy scored the Pride’s lone goal of the game, and Orlando’s first of the season, on a highlight-reel bicycle kick six minutes into the match.
Forward Alex Morgan also earned her 50th all-time appearance for the Pride with her start in Tacoma.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner:
“I believe we had much more control in this game than we had in the previous two. It was a grueling week for us, playing three of the best teams in the league and two of them on an away journey so I was really, really pleased and proud of what the girls did today. They gave everything for the shirt and that’s all I can ever ask for.”
Scoring Recap:
6’ Alanna Kennedy - ORL 1, RFC 0
After being awarded a free kick outside the box, Alanna Kennedy took advantage of a ball that was headed back into the mix by a Reign FC defender. The Australian center back showed some acrobatics to net the Pride’s first goal of the season, scoring on a bicycle kick inside the box.
21’ Bethany Balcer (Allie Long) - ORL 1, RFC 1
The Reign pull the score level on a goal from rookie Bethany Balcer, who one-timed a trickling ball at the top of the 18-yard-box.
Match Notes:
- Sunday’s match marked the home opener for Reign FC and the first match at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma - a baseball field. However, the game was the second-ever match played on a baseball field after the Reign faced the Western New York Flash at Frontier Field in 2016.
- With the start on Sunday, Alex Morgan earned her 50th all-time appearance for the Pride and her 86th overall NWSL appearance.
- After appearing as a substitute in the Pride’s first two matches of the season, forward Camila earned her first start of the season on Sunday night.
- With her goal, Alanna Kennedy became the first Pride player in team history to score on a bicycle kick.
Next Match:
Orlando Pride return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, April 27 to host Utah Royals FC at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will mark the final game for the Pride’s U.S. Women’s National Team players, who will join the U.S. WNT for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup prep following the match.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Alanna Kennedy 6’
RFC - Bethany Balcer (Allie Long) 21’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Emily van Egmond (Yellow Card) 60’
RFC - Jodie Taylor (Yellow Card) 73’
ORL - Alex Morgan (Yellow Card) 90+2’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando Pride - GK Ashlyn Harris ©; D Ali Krieger, Alanna Kennedy, Shelina Zadorsky, Carson Pickett; M Rachel Hill (Kristen Edmonds 78’), Dani Weatherholt, Emily van Egmond, Camila (Chioma Ubogagu 63’); F Marta, Alex Morgan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Haley Kopmeyer; D Erin Greening; M Joanna Boyles, Bridget Callahan, Marisa Viggiano
Reign FC - GK Michelle Betos; D Celia (Theresa Nielsen 83’), Megan Oyster, Lauren Barnes ©, Kristen McNabb; M Rumi Utsugi (Morgan Andrews 90’), Beverly Yanez, Allie Long; F Shea Groom, Jodie Taylor, Bethany Balcer (Kiersten Dallstream 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lydia Williams; D Christen Westphal; M Elise Kellond-Knight; F Jaycie Johnson
Details of the Game:
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: April 21, 2019
Attendance: 5,323
Stats Summary: RFC / ORL
Possession: 55.2% / 44.8%
Shots: 14 / 13
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 3 / 4
Officials:
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Assistant Referee 1: Jeffrey Skinker
Assistant Referee 2: Salma Perez
Fourth Official: Chad Stewart
