PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES WASHINGTON SPIRIT AT PORTLAND THORNS FC SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013, 2 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
SPIRIT
2013 NWSL RECORD: 4-1-1 (Home: 1-1-0 Away: 3-0-1)
VS.
4-1-1 (13pts)
1-2-3 (6pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Sunday, May 19, 2013 Kickoff: 2 p.m. (Pacific) Location: JELD-WEN Field (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: 65 degrees, cloudy Referee: Robert Sibiga Assistant Referees: Cory Richardson, Andrew Deuker Fourth Official: Andrew Brooks 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 L 0-1 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 11,055
*dates and times subject to change Webstream: www.portlandthornsfc.com
MATCH DAY PREVIEW NWSL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE Thursday, May 16
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit 4, Seattle Reign FC 2 Sky Blue FC 1, Portland Thorns FC 0 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 As of Saturday, Thorns FC is tied with the Spirit with a league-high nine goals through six 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).
ON FRAME Thorns FC have attempted 68 shots through six games this season, which ranks second in the league, behind only Sky Blue FC (96). More importantly, 38 of those shots have been on goal. Portland’s shots on goal-rate of 56 percent (38 of 68) trails only the Boston Breakers for the league’s highest percentage (30 of 50, 60 percent).
Sunday’s match marks the second, and final, regular-season meeting between Thorns FC and the Washington Spirit. Both teams are coming off games on Thursday as Thorns FC suffered its first defeat of the year and Washington earned a road win at Seattle Reign FC. Thorns FC conceded an 80th-minute goal by midfielder Taylor Lytle in a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC on Thursday night before 11,055 fans at JELD-WEN Field, snapping the team’s season-opening, five-game unbeaten streak. The Spirit earned goals from Diana Matheson, Ali Krieger, Tori Huster and Tiffany McCarty in a 4-2 win against Seattle Reign FC on Thursday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The win, Washington’s first of the season, kept the team undefeated (1-0-1) on the road this season.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE SPIRIT In the second game of a three-game road trip, Thorns FC traveled to face the Washington Spirit on May 4 at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. Forward Alex Morgan converted a 12th-minute penalty kick and midfielder Nikki Washington tallied a goal in the 51st minute as Thorns FC earned a 2-1 win before a sold-out crowd of 5,011. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made a season-high six saves, conceding only a late penalty-kick goal to Canada Women’s National Team midfielder Diana Matheson in the 86th minute. Midfielder Meleana Shim made her professional debut for Thorns FC against the Spirit and defender Jazmyne Avant earned her NWSL debut, entering as a second-half substitute for injured defender Nikki Marshall.