Rutgers Reunion
The Pride head to Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University for the third time in team history. Last year, in their lone visit to Sky Blue, the Pride pulled ahead on an Alex Morgan goal. However, Sam Kerr equalized in the 80th minute to share the points.
A month and one day ago, the Pride fell 2-1 to the New Jersey-based team in a similar fashion, with a late Maya Hayes goal for the 2-1 nil. Rutgers is also the alma mater of the Pride’s 2016 Golden Boot winner, Kristen Edmonds, who played for the Scarlett Knights from 2005-08.
Life On The Road
Orlando will aim for back-to-back road wins for the first time in team history when it travels to New Jersey on Wednesday. Orlando Pride came home with its first away win of the season against the Houston Dash in a record 4-2 performance. This high-scoring matchup saw the Pride come home with both the Goal of the Week, for Camila’s 40-yard blast, and Save of the Week, for Aubrey Bledsoe’s 21st minute diving save.
Orlando has three players with at least three goals+assists on the road this season: Marta (four goals, two assists), Camila (two goals, two assists) and Jasmyne Spencer (one goal, two assists). Sky Blue is the only other team with multiple players with 3+ goals+assists on the road.
Goalkeeper Homecoming
Both Orlando Pride starting goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe and backup Caroline Stanley have previously played for Sky Blue FC. The goalkeeper duo will be returning to face their past club on Wednesday night.
Brazilian Ballers
Orlando Pride’s Marta and Camila have been in top form for Orlando Pride leading the team both
on goals and assists. Marta is tied for league lead in goals with five while Camila is tied for third with three goals. Both players have also assisted three times this season, which is tied for second-most in the league.
Monica, who shifted from center back to holding midfield this season, had a strong game in the Pride midfield - finishing with 100% passing accuracy in opponent territory and 91.7% passing accuracy overall.
Keeping Up With Kerr
Samantha Kerr has a 72% shooting accuracy this season, the highest in the NWSL among players with at least 16 shots. Kerr played a hand in both goals the Pride scored, netting the first and assisting on Maya Hayes’ game-winner.
Kerr is currently ranked second in the NWSL in both goals (4) and assists (3), and is fifth in total shots (25).
Teammate Sarah Killion is tied for first in the league in goals with five.
Full-Time Status
Only three Orlando Pride players have played every minute this season and all three are on the back line. Defenders Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley and Ali Krieger all have 900 minutes for the Pride this season, or each minute of all ten games the Pride have played this season. The last defender on the back line, Kristen Edmonds, falls just outside that grouping, having played 885 minutes the season.
