PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES SKY BLUE FC AT PORTLAND THORNS FC THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013, 7:30 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@portlandtimbers.com Manager, Media Relations: Marc Kostic - (503) 553-5415, mkostic@portlandtimbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations: Mark Nelson - (503) 553-5529, mnelson@portlandtimbers.com
THORNS FC
2013 SCHEDULE
SKY BLUE FC
2013 NWSL RECORD: 4-0-1 (Home: 1-0-0 Away: 3-0-1)
VS.
4-0-1 (13pts)
3-1-1 (10pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) Location: JELD-WEN Field (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: 66 degrees, partly cloudy Referee: Josh Wilkens Assistant Referees: Veronica Perez, Farhad Dadkho Fourth Official: Ronald Lagraff Local Radio: Freedom 970 AM Talent: Ann Schatz (play-by-play), Angela Harrison (analyst)
DATE Sat., April 13 Sun., April 21 Sat., April 27 Sat., May 4 Sun., May 12 Thurs., May 16 Sun., May 19 Sat., May 25 Sat., June 1 Thurs., June 6 Sun., June 16 Sat., June 22 Sun., June 30 Sat., July 6 Sun., July 14 Sun., July 21 Sun., July 28 Wed., July 31 Sun., Aug. 4 Wed., Aug 7 Sat., Aug. 10 Sat., Aug. 17
OPPONENT TIME/RESULT at FC Kansas City T 1-1 SEATTLE REIGN FC W 2-1 at Chicago Red Stars W 2-0 at Washington W 2-1 at Chicago Red Stars W 2-0 SKY BLUE FC 7:30 p.m. WASHINGTON 2 p.m. at Seattle Reign FC 7 p.m. CHICAGO RED STARS 2 p.m. FC KANSAS CITY 7:30 p.m. SEATTLE REIGN FC 2 p.m. at Sky Blue FC 4 p.m. at FC Kansas City 1:10 p.m. BOSTON BREAKERS 7:30 p.m. WESTERN NEW YORK 2 p.m. at Boston Breakers 1 p.m. CHICAGO RED STARS 2 p.m. SKY BLUE FC 7:30 p.m. FC KANSAS CITY 2 p.m. at Boston Breakers 4 p.m. at Western New York 4:35 p.m. at Seattle Reign FC 8 p.m.
ATTENDANCE 6,784 16,479 2,855 5,011 1,329
*dates and times subject to change Webstream: www.portlandthornsfc.com
MATCH DAY PREVIEW NWSL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE Thursday, May 16
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit at Seattle Reign FC Sky Blue FC at Portland Thorns FC
7 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
TIME (PT)
Boston Breakers at FC Kansas City
5:35 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FC Sky Blue FC at Seattle Reign FC
2 p.m. 6 p.m.
SCORING DIVERSITY Thorns FC finished Week 5 of the NWSL regular season with a league-high nine goals through five games. Showcasing the club’s attacking versatility and depth, six players have accounted for the team’s nine goals - including a team-high three from forward Alex Morgan. Forwards have tallied six of the teams nine goals (66.7 percent), midfielders have pitched in two (22.2 percent) and defenders have tallied one goal (11.1 percent).
STREAKING FORWARD Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan has recorded at least a point in four straight matches, including registering a goal in back-to-back games (May 4-12). Morgan leads the club with three goals and one assist (7 points) and ranks tied for second overall among league leaders in scoring. Boston Breakers forward Sydney Leroux leads the league with nine points (4g, 1a).
Thursday’s match marks the first of three meetings between Portland Thorns FC and Sky Blue FC during the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Both teams are kicking off a span of two games in four days as Thorns FC host the Washington Spirit at 2 p.m. on Sunday following the match against Sky Blue FC, while the New Jersey-based team travels north to play Seattle Reign FC on Sunday at 6 p.m. Unbeaten in five straight games, Thorns FC are playing just their second home match after completing a three-game road trip with a 2-0 win against the Chicago Red Stars on May 12. Sky Blue FC, meanwhile, are undefeated in consecutive games after earning a 1-1 draw against Chicago on May 8 and a 2-0 win against Seattle on May 11 in back-to-back home games at Yurcak Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.
SINCLAIR NAMED PLAYER OF THE MONTH Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair was recently named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Month for April. Sinclair earned at least a point in three straight games during the month of April, helping guide Thorns FC to an undefeated 2-0-1 record during the opening month of the inaugural 2013 NWSL season. The Canadian international recorded the first goal in Thorns FC history, converting a game-tying penalty kick on April 13 in a 1-1 draw against FC Kansas City in the league’s inaugural match. A former standout at the University of Portland, Sinclair assisted on forward Alex Morgan’s goal in a 2-1 win against Seattle Reign FC on April 21 in Portland’s home opener, becoming the first player in league history to register both a goal and an assist during the season. Sinclair then scored her second goal of the season in the team’s next game, a 2-0 road win against the Chicago Red Stars on April 27.