Orlando Pride (0-2-1, 1 point) at North Carolina Courage (2-2-0, 8 points)
When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Where: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC
TV: Paramount+ (subscription required)
Official Watch Party presented by Heineken Silver | Playa Pizza
13211 Reams Rd., Unit 108, Windermere, FL 34786
As the Pride continue their run in the Challenge Cup, here are five things to watch for on Saturday night:
A First to Remember
Defender Megan Montefusco opened the scoring in Sunday's match against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the ninth minute of the match off a free kick from teammate Erika Tymrak. Montefusco’s goal served as the Pride’s 200th goal in Club history. Since joining the Pride ahead of the 2022 season, Montefusco has made 41 appearances across all competitions with her one finish to add, with the weekend serving as her 175th appearance across all competitions in NWSL play.
Captain Erika
Midfielder Erika Tymrak sported the captain's armband for the first time with the Pride during last week’s Challenge Cup matchup. The match saw Tymrak tally her fourth assist of the year in all competitions on Megan Montefusco’s first-half goal, sitting as the team leader. In total, she has tallied a pair of finishes and seven assists as a member of the Pride.
Across the Competition
Forward Ally Watt earned her third-consecutive start in Challenge Cup play over the weekend, now the only member of the Pride to have started all three matches of the competition in what also served as her 50th NWSL appearance in all competitions. Watt has logged a total of 252 minutes on the pitch in Challenge Cup play, going the full 90 against North Carolina Courage and the Washington Spirit, finding the back of the net on both occasions to lead the side in finishes in the Challenge Cup.
The Second Meeting
The Orlando Pride will face off with the North Carolina Courage for the second time throughout the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup after hosting the side for the first match of the tournament at Exploria Stadium. That match saw Pride forward Ally Watt become the first Pride player to score in the competition, tallying her first goal of the season. The match would end in a 1-1 draw after the Courage found the back of the net in second-half stoppage time.
In Between the Sticks
Anna Moorhouse logged her first UKG Challenge Cup appearance of the campaign last weekend over NJ/NJ Gotham FC. With her appearance, all three Pride netminders have played one match of the tournament. Carly Nelson currently leads Pride goalkeepers with five saves throughout the competition after earning the start during the Pride’s first fixture of the tournament against the North Carolina Courage.
Milestone Tracker
- Defender Haley McCutcheon is one appearance away from 125 across all NWSL competitions.
- McCutcheon also is two appearances away from 25 as a member of the Pride, having joined midway through the 2022 season.
- Midfielder Viviana Villacorta is one appearance away from 30 in her professional career.
- Forward Julie Doyle is two appearances away from 30 in her professional career.
