This season was Orlando Pride’s inaugural NWSL season. In their first year of the play, the team provided a lot of memorable moments and performances. Let’s take a look back at the top five best performances for the Pride this season.
#5: Jasmyne Spencer, September 24 vs. FCKC
While the Orlando Pride lost this match 2-1, Jasmyne Spencer had a stellar performance, providing the team’s lone goal. At the end of the first half, Spencer’s partner-in-crime Kristen Edmonds took a free kick that rebounded out of the box and landed at the feet of Spencer, who launched a terrific strike into the net for the first goal of the match. The goal was nominated for Week 19’s Goal of the Week.
#4: Alex Morgan, May 14th vs. Western New York Flash
In the second half of the Orlando Pride’s home match against Western New York, Alex Morgan opened up a scoreless game by earning a solid breakaway and curving the ball over the goalkeeper, scoring the lone goal of the game to give the Orlando Pride the win. The amazing volley won Week 5’s Goal of the Week.
#3: Ashlyn Harris, April 23rd vs. Houston Dash
In the Orlando Pride home opener, Ashlyn Harris had a total of seven saves that stopped the formidable offense of the Houston Dash from opening up. In the 19th minute, she denied stellar Dash Forward Janine Beckie in a one-on-one save that helped maintain the momentum of the match. Harris’ save won Week 2’s Save of the Week.
#2: Steph Catley, April 17th vs. Portland Thorns
In the first match of the Orlando Pride’s inaugural season, Steph Catley scored the team’s first goal off a free kick in the 12th minute. Catley decided to go for the goal herself instead of passing the ball to one of her teammates, and in doing so she gave the Pride an early lead and made history. The strike won the first Goal of the Week honor for the 2016 season.
#1: Kristen Edmonds, July 10th vs. Boston Breakers
In early July, it looked like the Pride were going to lose their second home match of the season to the Boston Breakers. The Breakers had scored in just the 5th minute and managed to maintain their lead throughout most of the match. But in the 90th minute, Edmonds found the equalizer off a free kick in the 90th minute. Just three minutes later, she charged down the field and scored off an assist from Leah Fortune. The brace gave the Pride one of their most invigorating wins of the season.
