PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS. ORLANDO PRIDE SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017, 12 NOON 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
PRIDE
2017 NWSL RECORD: 0-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0; Away: 0-0-0)
VS.
0-0-0 (0pts)
0-0-0 (0pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, April 15, 2017 Kickoff: 12 noon (Pacific) Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Cloudy, 62 degrees Referee: Danielle Chesky Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, JJ Blodgett Fourth Official: Jason Perlewitz Television: Lifetime Broadcast talent: Jen Hildreth (play-by-play), Aly Wagner (analyst), Dalen Cuff (sideline reporter)
NWSL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE Saturday, April 15
TIME (PT)
Chicago Red Stars at Houston Dash Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC North Carolina Courage at Washington Spirit Sky Blue FC at Seattle Reign FC
11 a.m. 12 noon 1 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 16
TIME (PT)
Boston Breakers at FC Kansas City
3 p.m.
HOME AND SEASON OPENERS Thorns FC open the season at Providence Park for a third consecutive campaign previously hosting Orlando in 2016 and Boston in 2015. Dating back to 2013, Portland is 4-0-0 in home openers and 3-0-1 in season-opening matches. Thorns FC have outscored their opponents 11-4 in their four home openers. In addition, Allie Long leads the way with three goals scored in Portland’s home openers. Notably in each of the last two home-opening matches for Thorns FC a Portland player has registered a multi-assist game: Mana Shim in 2015 and Tobin Heath in 2016.
APRIL FORM Portland is unbeaten during the month of April (7-0-4) since its first season in the NWSL in 2013. Thorns FC have outscored their opponents 20-9 in 11 games in April. Defensively, Portland has registered three shutouts and has never surrendered multiple goals in a match in April. In addition, Thorns FC have a record of 5-0-0 in home matches during the month.
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 12 noon 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. Lifetime Lifetime
Lifetime Lifetime Lifetime
Lifetime
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH PREVIEW Portland Thorns FC open their fifth campaign in NWSL, playing host to the Orlando Pride. It marks the second straight season Thorns FC have played the Pride in their home, and season opener. Thorns FC return 18 players from its 2016 roster that won the NWSL Shield. Portland has outscored its opponents 7-2 in its last two home openers, including a 5-1 win against Boston in 2015 and a 2-1 win against Orlando in the club’s 2016 home opener.
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).