PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017, 4:30 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Thorns FC: Katie Simons - (503) 553-5539, ksimons@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Timbers: Jhamie Chin - (503) 553-5529, jchin@timbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations - Kevin Acevedo - (503) 553-5512, kacevedo@timbers.com
THORNS FC
2017 SCHEDULE
COURAGE
2017 NWSL RECORD: 1-0-0 (Home: 1-0-0; Away: 0-0-0)
VS.
1-0-0 (3pts)
1-0-0 (3pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017 Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. (Pacific) Location: WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.) Forecast: Scattered thunderstorms, 70 degrees Referee: Victor Rivas Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Amilcar Sicaju Fourth Official: Javier Rodriguez Broadcast: go90 app (United States), NWSLSoccer.com (International) Broadcast talent: Jordan Angeli (play-by-play), Morgan Church (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE Saturday, April 22
TIME (PT)
FC Kansas City at Chicago Red Stars Washington Spirit at Orlando Pride Portland Thorns FC at North Carolina Courage Houston Dash at Seattle Reign FC
1 p.m. 1 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 23
TIME (PT)
Sky Blue FC at Boston Breakers
1 p.m.
ROAD WARRIORS Thorns FC head into Saturday’s match after posting the best road winning percentage in the league in 2016 (4-2-4, .600). Portland scored in eight of their 10 road matches, while only surrendering multiple goals twice and registering three shutouts. Notably, Thorns FC conceded just two goals in the final 15 minutes of their 10 road matches last season. Individually, Lindsey Horan scored three of her five goals on the road last season, including a pair of game-winning goals (June 26 at Orlando and Sept. 25 at Sky Blue FC) as well as the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw at FC Kansas City on April 23.
APRIL FORM Portland is unbeaten during the month of April (8-0-4) since its first season in the NWSL in 2013. Thorns FC have outscored their opponents 22-9 in 12 games in April. Defensively, Portland has registered four shutouts and has never surrendered multiple goals in a match in April. Allie Long has scored six goals in 12 career appearances in April, while Christine Sinclair has tallied four goals in nine games during the month spanning her career with the club.
DATE Sat., April 15 Sat., April 22 Sat., April 29 Sat., May 6 Sat., May 13 Fri., May 19 Sat., May 27 Sat., June 3 Fri., June 17 Sat., June 24 Wed., June 28 Sat., July 1 Sat., July 8 Sat., July 15 Sat., July 22 Sat., Aug. 5 Sat., Aug. 12 Wed., Aug. 16 Sat., Aug. 19 Sat., Aug. 26 Sat., Sept. 2 Sun., Sept. 10 Sat., Sept. 23 Sat., Sept. 30
OPPONENT ORLANDO PRIDE @NC Courage CHICAGO SEATTLE @FC Kansas City @Boston BOSTON @Sky Blue FC SKY BLUE FC @Washington FC KANSAS CITY @Seattle @Houston Dash NC COURAGE WASHINGTON HOUSTON DASH @Chicago @FC Kansas City HOUSTON DASH @Seattle WASHINGTON @Boston @Orlando CHICAGO
TIME/RESULT W 2-0 4:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,145 go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH PREVIEW Thorns FC travel to Cary, N.C. for their first road match of the season on Saturday against the North Carolina Courage. Saturday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between Portland and North Carolina. Portland was one of the best teams on the road in 2016, earning 16 points from 10 away games, which was tied for the most of any team in the league last season. Thorns FC were also tied for the second fewest goals (11) conceded on the road in 2016.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Playing their home matches at downtown Portland’s iconic Providence Park, Thorns FC have led the league in attendnace in each of their first four NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaing 16,945 fans in their fourth season in the league. Portland’s average home attendance in 2016 ranked better than 12 English Championship teams, 10 Ligue 1 teams, 7 Serie clubs and 5 La Liga sides home attendance numbers during their 2015-16 season in addition to 10 NBA and 10 NHL teams. In four seasons, Portland has averaged better than 14,815 fans per game, including four matches of more than 20,000 fans as well as three sellouts (21,144).