ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2022) - Orlando Pride (5-9-7, 22 points) split the points with 2022 expansion side San Diego Wave (10-6-5, 35 points) in a 2-2 draw on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium. With the result, the Pride finish unbeaten against both 2022 expansion teams this season, holding a combined 2-0-2 record against the San Diego Wave and Angel City FC.
Forward Meggie Dougherty Howard began the scoring for the Pride on the evening, finding the back of the net for the third time this season. Dougherty Howard scored in the inaugural matchup between the two sides back on Aug. 13, providing the game-winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 victory for the Pride. The Pride were scoreless in their last three games until tonight, with Dougherty Howard also providing the team’s last goal in a 2-1 loss to the OL Reign on Aug. 26.
Midfielder Gunny Jónsdóttir also found the back of the net for the Pride, counting for her second goal in the regular season and her fourth across all competitions during the 2022 campaign. Leah Pruitt collected her first assist of the year on the Dougherty Howard goal and Courtney Petersen picked up her second assist of the regular season on the Jónsdóttir finish.
Orlando Pride Interim Head Coach Seb Hines:
“I am really proud of the players. It has been tough the last four games [with] injuries, three-game week, and you could see, today, they went above and beyond to try and get a result today. The effort and the commitment and the players coming into the lineup, playing their part, and players coming off the bench, playing their part, we took it all the way to the final whistle. I am really proud of the players and everything they have put into this week to get a result today.”
Scoring Recap:
33’ Meggie Dougherty Howard (Leah Pruitt) - ORL 1, SD 0
The home side opened the scoring after Leah Pruitt collected a ball from Haley Hanson just outside the box and sent a rocket of a pass across the face of goal. Meggie Dougherty Howard came sliding into the path of the ball and poked it past the Wave goalkeeper for the lead.
68’ Gunny Jónsdóttir (Courtney Petersen) - ORL 2, SD 0
The Pride doubled the advantage when second-half substitute Haley Bugeja got in behind the Wave backline and laid the ball back for Courtney Petersen. Petersen whipped a cross into the box that found the head of Gunny Jónsdóttir, who made no mistake with the finish for the goal.
76’ Makenzy Doniak (Kelsey Turnbow) - ORL 2, SD 1
The visitors pulled one back courtesy of two second-half substitutes with Kelsey Turnbow sending in a cross that found an open Makenzy Doniak in the middle of the box who flicked the ball with her head into the back of the net.
87’ Taylor Kornieck - SD 2, ORL 2
The Wave leveled the match after a set piece was sent into the box from the left flank. The ball bounced around and eventually fell to the feet of Taylor Kornieck, who sent the ball through multiple bodies and over the goal line.
Match Notes:
- Meggie Dougherty Howard recorded her third goal of the regular season, which now leads the team.
- Gunny Jónsdóttir found the back of the net for the second time this season and the fourth time across all competitions, scoring twice in the NWSL Challenge Cup.
- With Jónsdóttir’s goal, the midfielder officially scored the first regular season goal of the Pride’s 2022 home season (5/14 vs. Kansas City) and the last.
- Leah Pruitt picked up her first assist of the season on the Dougherty Howard goal.
- Courtney Petersen collected her second assist of the regular season providing the helper on the Jónsdóttir finish.
- The Pride snapped their streak of goalless games at three scoring two goals on the night.
- The attendance of 6,466 is the highest tally of the regular season at Exploria Stadium.
- Interim Head Coach Seb Hines played a modified starting XI on Sunday night, with defenders Haley Hanson and Megan Montefusco starting in the midfield. The two alterations marked two of four changes made by Hines on the night.
Next Match: The Pride close out the 2022 season on the road, traveling to face OL Reign on Saturday, October 1 at Lumen Field. The match will kickoff at 10 p.m. ET and stream exclusively on Twitch.
