The Boss is Back
Forward Alex Morgan found the back of the net on Sunday against the Spirit for the first time for the Pride since Aug. 25, 2018 after missing large portions of the last two campaigns due to international duty and pregnancy. Morgan sits at second in Club history only to Marta, with 19 goals across all competitions in her tenure.
A Professional First
Defender Phoebe McClernon registered the first goal contribution of her professional career on Sunday against Washington, lofting a ball for Morgan in behind the Spirit defense for the equalizer. The match served as McClernon’s regular-season debut as a member of the Pride after being one of two members of the side to play every minute of the competition for Orlando along with defender Ali Riley.
Breaking the Deadlock
The Pride have battled to three-consecutive draws against the Courage in their last three fixtures, including two scoreless outings, most recently on May 1 at WakeMed Soccer Park to conclude play in the Challenge Cup. Prior to the Courage’s Saturday fixture against OL Reign, the Pride had been the only Club in the NWSL to keep North Carolina scoreless in a match since July 17, 2020, when the Portland Thorns shutout the Courage in the Quarterfinals of the NWSL Challenge Cup.
A Real Rookie Campaign
Sunday served as the first minutes in NWSL regular-season action for four members of the Pride, all of which were part of the Club’s 2020 NWSL College Draft class. Phoebe McClernon, Taylor Kornieck and Courtney Petersen all registered the first starts of their NWSL regular-season careers, while midfielder Chelsee Washington came off the bench to log such minutes, entering the match in the 72nd minute of play.
Save of the Week...Again
Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris earned NWSL Save of the Week honors yet again this past week, this time for her save on Washington’s Trinity Rodman in the fifth minute of play on Sunday against the Spirit. The honor serves as the 31st in Harris’ Pride career and her third in the calendar year.
College Cup
WakeMed Soccer Park also served as the host for the 2020 NCAA Women’s College Cup over the course of the last three weeks, concluding on Monday with the Santa Clara Broncos defeating the Seminoles of Florida State University in a penalty shootout. Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has fond memories of on that very field in the same competition, winning national titles while at the University of North Carolina in both 2006 and 2008. Harris added another national title to her resume in 2009 in College Station and was named to the All-College Cup Team that year.
