Kop ‘Em Coming
Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer registered her second appearance for the Pride this season on Sunday in Houston. Kopmeyer recorded a total of eight saves in the game, her most in a single match as a member of the Pride. This marked her highest total since July 22, 2017, as she registered the same total for the Seattle Reign in a 5-4 victory at Sky Blue FC. In just two appearances, Kopmeyer has jumped to fourth in the league in saves this season with 12.
The Same But Different
Saturday’s match will look far different than the last time these two teams met on April 14. The Pride will be without four starters from that match with U.S. Women’s National Team players Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger and Alex Morgan, as well as Canadian international Shelina Zadorsky all now in camp preparing for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Portland will too be without a chunk of marquee players, as U.S. WNT members Adrianna Franch, Emily Sonnett, Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath are unavailable. The Thorns’ leading goal-scorer Christine Sinclair will also not be featured Saturday as she has entered pre-World Cup camp with the Canadian Women’s National Team.
The Young Ones
Erin Greening recorded her first professional start on Sunday in Houston. The match served as the second appearance for the Colorado University product, who recorded her first professional minutes against Portland on April 14 in the season opener. Greening is one of three players to register their first NWSL minutes this season, along with teammates Joanna Boyles and Marisa Viggiano. She is one of three to record her first professional start, the others being Boyles and University of Central Florida product Bridget Callahan.
Midfielder Abby Elinsky made her season debut for the Pride on Sunday, coming in in the 70th minute for Rachel Hill. Elinsky made two appearances for the Pride in 2018 as a National Team Replacement Player.
We’ll See You On the Other Side
Alanna Kennedy captained the Pride on Sunday for the second time as a member of the Club. Her first time wearing the armband came in 2018 on June 3 at Seattle. Saturday’s contest will be the last for Kennedy and fellow Australian international Emily van Egmond, as the two will join the Australian Women’s National Team following the match to begin preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Brazilian international Marta will too depart from the team after this week’s match to begin preparing for the international tournament.
