PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS. NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE SATURDAY, OCT. 14, 2017, 1:30 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: 14-5-5 (Home: 10-1-1; Away: 4-4-4) 2017 NWSL PLAYOFFS RECORD: 1-0-0 (Home: 1-10-0; Away: 0-0-0)
VS.
14-5-5 (47pts)
16-7-1 (49pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Orlando City Stadium (Orlando, Fla.) Forecast: 86 degrees, Scattered thunderstorms Referee: Danielle Chesky Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Cory Richardson Fourth Official: Christina Unkel Fifth Official: Benjamin Wooten Broadcast: Lifetime Broadcast talent: Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play), Aly Wagner (analyst), Dalen Cuff (sideline reporter), Julie Foudy (sideline reporter)
NWSL PLAYOFFS FINAL SCHEDULE Saturday, Oct. 14
TIME (PT)
Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage
1:30 p.m.
SURGING DOWN THE STRETCH Portland is unbeaten in its last seven matches (6-0-1), dating back to a 2-0 win against the Houston Dash on Aug. 19 at Providence Park. During that stretch, Thorns FC have posted a mark of 2-0-1 in road matches, recording a pair of shutouts. Additionally, over the last seven matches, Portland has outscored its opponents 16-3. Six different players have scored a goal for Thorns FC during their unbeaten run, including four goals each from Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair.
REGULAR SEASON IN REVIEW Portland finished the regular season with a mark of 14-5-5, including a record of 10-1-1 at home. The team’s home record was the best in the NWSL in 2017 as they became the first team to register 10 home wins in the regular season in NWSL history. Additionally, Thorns FC established club single-season records for points (47), wins (14), home wins (10) and shutouts (11). Individually, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch set an NWSL single-season record for shutouts (11), while Christine Sinclair became Portland’s all-time leading goal scorer (31) and Allie Long became the first player in club history to appear in 100 games. As a team, Portland had the top defense in the NWSL for a second consecutive season, allowing the fewest goals (20) with the best goal differential (+17) and finished tied for the lowest goals-against average (0.83) in league history.
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 Sat., 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 Sat., Oct. 7 Sat., Oct. 14
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 ORLANDO PRIDE^ vs. NC Courage^$
TIME/RESULT W 2-0 L 0-1 W 1-0 D 2-2 D 0-0 D 2-2 W 2-0 W 2-0 L 1-3 L 0-1 W 3-0 L 0-2 D 1-1 W 1-0 W 2-1 W 2-1 W 2-1 L 1-2 W 2-0 W 2-1 W 4-0 W 1-0 D 0-0 W 3-1 W 4-1 1:30 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,145 6,298 14,471 16,160 1,796 3,321 18,637 2,418 16,736 4,319 16,199 4,270 3,869 16,804 18,478 18,243 4,934 428 19,672 6,041 19,141 3,015 7,353 21,144 18,193 Lifetime
^ NWSL playoff game $ - NWSL Championship - Orlando City Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
MATCH PREVIEW Portland Thorns FC earned a berth to their second NWSL Championship in five seasons with a 4-1 win against the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on Oct. 7. Thorns FC received goals from midfielder Amandine Henry, defender Emily Sonnett and forwards Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair. Henry and Sonnett helped Portland jump out to a 2-0 lead, scoring a pair of goals in a threeminute span in the first 15 minutes, while Raso and Sinclair added goals in the final 20 minutes of the match. The championship match features the top two defenses in the NWSL. Portland and North Carolina combined for 23 shutouts during the regular season, while allowing 20 and 22 goals, respectively. Offensively, Thorns FC tallied 37 goals, while the Courage scored 38 goals in 2017.
THIS SEASON VS. NORTH CAROLINA Thorns FC were 1-1-0 against the Courage during the 2017 regular season. North Carolina won the first match between the two sides by a score of 1-0 in just the second match of the season, receiving a late goal from midfielder Debinha. Portland earned a 1-0 win at Providence Park on July 15 as Raso scored a second-half goal with a header off cross from defender Meghan Klingenberg.