1. It was a gritty, gutsy performance for the Orlando Pride on a warm day in The City Beautiful, securing a 2-1 win over the San Diego Wave.
2. A noon kickoff for the match meant lots of sun and lots of humidity as the game was played. The Pride started the game slow, with the first half going by without any real chances from either team. Marta, Cori Dyke and Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about the heat and how it affected the early part of the match and how the team was able to overcome it.
3. Haley McCutcheon: striker. It didn't take long after the first half ended and the second half began that the Pride got on the scoresheet. Before the playoffs last year, a Haley McCutcheon goal would have been a rarity. But with her header in the 50th minute to put the Pride up, she now has four goals in her last four home games going back to last season. With that goal, she is now tied for the team lead in goals this season, after getting on the scoresheet in the first match of the regular season.
4. That first goal came off yet another set piece for Orlando, making it the team's third goal in three games to come from a dead-ball opportunity (not including penalties). Both players and coaches have talked a lot this year about practicing and finishing those opportunities, and through the first few games, that practice is paying off.
5. The game shifted back to even in the 62nd minute after a quick throw and a header by San Diego's Chiamaka Okwuchukwu. It was a lapse in concentration from the Pride, switching off for just a moment. But that moment led to the opportunity the visitors were looking for to get back into the game. Afterward, Seb Hines was shown a yellow card after arguing his case. His gripe was that when the ball went out, a substitution was supposed to happen, with Prisca Chilufya waiting to enter. But instead of stopping the game, the referee let it continue.
6. Just a few minutes later, the Pride got the lead right back, but in a wild fashion. For the second straight game, Orlando earned a penalty, with Barbra Banda getting fouled in the box. Marta stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way, but clanged the shot off the post and back out. A minute of game went on before the referee stopped the game and pointed back to the spot for a re-take. It turned out that Kailen Sheridan, the Wave goalkeeper, came off her line too early. So this time, Marta didn't go left or right on her penalty. She went right down the middle, chipping it up and off the bottom of the crossbar, putting Orlando back on top. It was Marta's 15th penalty taken with the Pride all-time and she made it a memorable one.
7. Now, through three matches, the Pride have scored 10 goals on the season while only conceding one from today. It's a continuation of the best start to a season for the Pride, as they hope to keep things going into their road trip in two weeks.
8. Another tidbit: with the result today, the Pride have now tied the record for the longest undefeated home streak in NWSL history, with 22 games unbeaten. They'll have a chance to take sole possession of that record in their next home match on April 19 in a primetime matchup against the Washington Spirit.
9. For now, however, the Pride will have a week off for the upcoming international break as some of the Pride players head out to represent their countries. Once they return, the team will head back on the road, across the country, to take on the Seattle Reign on April 12. Kickoff for that one is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
