PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE SUNDAY, AUG. 5, 2018, 3 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
COURAGE
2018 SCHEDULE 2018 NWSL RECORD: 8-5-5 (Home: 4-3-2; Away: 4-2-3)
VS.
8-5-5 (29pts)
14-1-4 (46pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018 Kickoff: 3 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Cary, N.C. (Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park) Forecast: Thunderstorms, 88 degrees Referee: Michael Radchuk Assistant Referees: Ian Mckay, Zeno Cho Fourth Official: Dave Breckner Broadcast: nwslsoccer.com and NWSL app Talent: Pete Pranica (play-by-play), Morgan Conklin (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 18 SCHEDULE/RESULTS Sunday, Aug. 5 Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage Sky Blue FC vs. Orlando Pride Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC
TIME (PT) 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Thorns FC tallied two goals in the opening 10 minutes and went on to earn a 2-1 win on the road against Sky Blue FC on July 21, recording their third consecutive victory. Forward Hayley Raso opened the scoring in the third minute, recording her first goal of the season, assisted by Christine Sinclair. In the seventh minute, Raso forced an errant pass by Sky Blue FC Caroline Casey and forward Ana Crnogorcevic converted for her fith goal of the season. Late in the match with Sky Blue FC searching for the equalizer, goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom and defender Ellie Carpenter combined for consecutive saves with Eckerstrom making a kick save on a shot by Imani Dorsey, while Carpenter cleared McCaskill’s follow up attempt at the goal line deep in second-half stoppage time.
FAST STARTS Portland has tallied 19 goals in the first half of matches this season, including seven in the first half of its last three matches. The team’s first half goal total ranks as the most goals by any team in the NWSL in the opening 45 minutes. No team has scored more goals (9) in the final 15 minutes of the first half this season than Portland. Additionally, Thorns FC are 7-0-2 when scoring first this season.
DATE Sat., March 24 Sat., March 31 Sun., April 15 Fri., April 20 Sat., April 28 Sat., May 5 Wed., May 9 Sat., May 12 Sat., May 19 Fri., May 25 Wed., May 30 Sat., June 16 Fri., June 22 Wed., June 27 Sat., June 30 Fri., July 6 Sun., July 15 Sat., July 21 Sun., Aug. 5 Sat., Aug. 11 Sat., Aug. 18 Wed., Aug. 22 Sat., Aug. 25 Fri., Sept. 7
OPPONENT @NC Courage @Chicago ORLANDO PRIDE WASHINGTON @Utah Royals FC SEATTLE @Houston Dash ORLANDO PRIDE @Washington UTAH ROYALS FC NC COURAGE @Chicago @Houston Dash SKY BLUE FC @Seattle Reign FC UTAH ROYALS FC HOUSTON DASH @Sky Blue FC @NC Courage @Orlando Pride CHICAGO SKY BLUE FC @Washington SEATTLE
TIME/RESULT L 0-1 W 3-2 W 2-1 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 2-3 D 1-1 L 1-2 W 1-0 W 2-0 L 1-4 D 1-1 W 3-1 D 1-1 L 0-1 W 4-0 W 3-1 W 2-1 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 5 p.m 7 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 4,210 13,433 16,466 14,485 8,446 16,054 2,668 17,115 3,284 15,113 15,018 4,093 3,480 18,237 4,781 17,930 15,327 2,338 nwslsoccer.com nwslsoccer.com ESPNEWS nwslsoccer.com ESPNEWS Lifetime
MATCH PREVIEW Following a league-wide break for the Tournament of Nations, Portland Thorns FC open up a two-game road trip, squaring off against the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, Aug. 5. Portland is currently riding a three-game winning streak after picking up a 2-1 win on the road against Sky Blue FC on July 21. With the win, Thorns FC moved into a playoff position with just six games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Thorns FC are tied for third place on 29 points in the NWSL standings and are currently just one point out fo second place behind Seattle Reign FC.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Playing their home matches at downtown Portland’s iconic Providence Park, Thorns FC have led the league in attendance in each of their first five NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaging 17,653 fans in their fifth season in the league in 2017. On Sept. 30, 2017, Thorns FC recorded their fourth sellout in club history. Portland played host to Orlando in its home opener on April 15, 2018, drawing a crowd of 16,466 - the second largest crowd for a Thorns FC home opener in club history.