It’s been a special 2017 season for the Orlando Pride. Emphatic team performances, stars in the spotlight, one historic run and a Warrior at the back have all contributed to the Pride’s epic road to the playoffs.
Take a look back at some season-defining moments in a year that Pride fans will remember forever.
Early-Season Statement
The Pride’s first win at Orlando City Stadium - and first of the 2017 campaign - was a 3-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage. It was a dominating performance by the Pride against perhaps the strongest side in the league at the time.
The final result, which was impressive in and of itself, sent a message that the Pride were capable of beating any team in the NWSL.
Stars Align
Orlando gained significant offensive firepower with the return of star forward and USWNT standout, Alex Morgan. Morgan joined up with Marta and other offensive weapons like Chioma Ubogagu and Camila to make up the most dynamic attack in the league.
Pride captain and emotional leader Ashlyn Harris came back into the squad after successfully recovering from an injury earlier this season, and the world-class keeper hasn’t missed a beat. Backup keeper Aubrey Bledsoe was rock solid in Harris’ absence, but the Pride number one brings the intangibles that any title-winning team must have.
Mid-Season Momentum Shift
It took some time, but once the Pride gained momentum it was always going to be tough to slow them down.
On July 15th, near the season’s halfway point, the Pride earned an impressive 4-1 win over FC Kansas City at Orlando City Stadium. Goals that evening came from Alanna Kennedy, Alex Morgan, Toni Pressley and Kristen Edmonds as the Pride picked up three valuable points, sparking Orlando on a historic run.
Since then, the Pride own a 5-3-1 record and have surged into the top four, proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the NWSL.
The Model Of Consistency
Ali Krieger has been rock solid on the Pride back line all season long. All. Season. Long.
The Pride defender has been the only player to start and play every single minute of every single game for her team in 2017. Krieger has been a top-class defender at the highest level for nearly a decade, bringing contagious intensity to each game she is a part of. Krieger’s experience and defensive consistency has been vital to her team’s success this season.
