ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride (2-4-0, 6 points) recorded a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC (0-4-2, 4 points) on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium. The victory serves as the Pride’s second-consecutive win during the 2023 campaign, as well as their first win at Exploria Stadium and first shutout this season.
Forward Messiah Bright tallied her second goal of the 2023 campaign with an assist from defender Kylie Strom, who tallied her first assist for the Club and in her NWSL career. Bright’s goal served as the game winner and she joins fellow rookie Alyssa Thompson as the only rookies to tally multiple goals so far this season.
Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse recorded her first clean sheet of the 2023 campaign and of her NWSL career since joining the Pride in 2022. In Saturday’s match, Moorhouse recorded a total of seven saves, which is second-best this season behind her 12-save performance against the Portland Thorns in the opening match of the season.
Canadian international Amanda Allen stepped onto the pitch in the 86th minute, becoming the youngest debut in Pride history at 18 years, two months and 15 days old.
Scoring Summary:
21’ Messiah Bright (Kylie Strom) - ORL 1, LOU 0
The Pride opened the scoring with Kylie Strom gathering the ball and sending in a cross to the back post, which found the head of Messiah Bright who made no mistake with the finish and sent the ball across the goal line.
Head Coach Seb Hines:
“It is a nice feeling. I thought this game was an opportunity to really show how far we have come from the start of the season. It is nice to get a clean sheet, but I think it could have been a three-or-four-nil game and that is where we need to be better. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal and that is something we will discuss after the game with the players, but I am happy for them. I am really pleased for them. It was a nail-biter at the end, and you start thinking about the previous games and how they ended but you know, we saw it out and we will take a lot of confidence on how we finished the game.”
Match Notes:
- Messiah Bright recorded her second goal of the season, with her first coming in the Pride’s home opener against Angel City FC.
- Kylie Strom collected her first assist of the season on the Bright finish, which also counts for her first goal contribution of the 2023 campaign and her first assist since joining the NWSL.
- Canadian international Amanda Allen became the youngest Pride player to make their debut at 18 years, two months and 15 days old when she came on as a second-half substitution.
- Goalkeeper Anna Moorehouse recorded her first clean sheet in her NWSL career, making seven saves on the night.
- Head Coach Seb Hines went with the same starting XI as he did in the last match against the San Diego Wave.
