Reinforcements are on the way for Orlando Pride, but Head Coach Tom Sermanni thinks his team will fare just fine without them on Sunday.
“I’ve said it from Day 1 - we feel we have a squad that’s strong enough to be very competitive in this league, regardless of who’s in and who’s out,” Sermanni said after training on Tuesday ahead of Orlando’s match against Houston (5 p.m. Sunday, Orlando City Stadium).
Still, it’s impossible to ignore the names away on international duty.
Alanna Kennedy. Emily van Egmond. Monica. Poliana. Marta. How many starters are listed there may depend on the game, but the quality is irrefutable.
Such quality may have made a difference in the Pride’s weekend loss at Portland. For the third time ever, Orlando took the lead against Portland, and for the third time Orlando failed to get three points. On Sunday, Chioma Ubogagu put the Pride ahead and mere inches separated Kristen Edmonds from giving Orlando the elusive two-goal lead.
Instead, a ringer off the bar and out. One minute later, Lindsey Horan puts a shot off the post and in.
“At some point it would be nice for the ball to bounce in our favor. We’re hitting posts,” goalkeeper and captain Ashlyn Harris said. “But that’s the game of football. Sometimes things don’t go your way and they bounce off [Christine] Sinclair’s foot and trickle into the side net. That’s the game we play.
“Unfortunately we haven’t had the ball bounce in our favor but you create your own luck. We’ve got to keep pushing. We have a great team.”
Sermanni insisted the mood at training has been upbeat all season, and reminded that they’re still just three games into a 24-game season.
Christine Nairn echoed his message.
“I think at times we show how great we can be and times we’re a little bit vulnerable because we’re still learning how to get on the same page,” Nairn said. “The important thing is this is just the beginning. We’re working out the kinks now so when it comes to crunch time at the end of the season we’re ready to go.”
Party Like It’s 1999
Ashlyn Harris’ face lit up when she was reminded that Sunday is Orlando Pride’s 90s Night.
“Oh, I forgot about that!” Harris said. “I’ll come up with something [to wear]. I’m sponsored by Umbro, so pretty much everything I wear is 90s. I’m not too stressed about it, I’m excited.”
Harris is off the hook for forgetting about the Pride’s second annual celebration of the 90s.
“First and foremost our focus is this game,” Harris assured. “We’re ready to play Houston. We’re ready to get home with our fans and put in a good performance that the city can be proud of and we can be proud of.”
Christine Nairn, who was born in 1990, knew immediately what her favorite show was growing up.
“Rocket Power,” she said, much to the amusement of the crowd of reporters.
Tom Sermanni and his iconic mustache were quick with a joke, too.
“I’m still in the 70s,” Sermanni said, “so 90s night is probably a step up for me. I might need to get a new wardrobe.”
