ORLANDO, Fla. (April 26, 2019) - Orlando Pride (0-2-1, 1 point) returns home following a two-game road stint to face Utah Royals FC (1-0-0, 3 points) on Saturday at Orlando City Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be nationally streamed on Yahoo Sports! and in the NWSL app. International fans can tune in on NWSLsoccer.com.
“What I’ve seen over the different tests, the challenges of the last three games - which were all very tough challenges all in different ways - was a growth in the players, a discipline,” Orlando Pride Marc Skinner said. “I think our team has the ability to be flamboyant and very creative, but you can’t just do that in the game. You can’t build your castle on sand, and that’s what we’ve got to be able to do. Solidify our foundations, and then move forward with flowing attacking football.”
The Pride enter Saturday’s contest off a 1-1 draw at Reign FC this past Sunday. Alanna Kennedy opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a bicycle kick that earned her NWSL Goal of the Week. The Reign answered in the 20th minute with a goal from Bethany Balcer to level the two sides, resulting in the sixth consecutive draw between the two.
Kennedy’s goal marked the first goal of the season for the Pride. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris maintains the league lead in saves with 17 through her first three matches in 2019.
The Royals are fresh off a 1-0 victory in their season opener against Washington last week after having the opening week of the NWSL season off. Lo’eau LaBonta scored the eventual game-winner for Utah in the 10th minute.
Saturday’s match will mark the first of three between the two sides in 2019. The Pride will travel to Rio Tinto on May 25 and will then host the Royals once more on August 17 at Orlando City Stadium.
