PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT HOUSTON DASH SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2017, 5:30 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
DASH
2017 NWSL RECORD: 5-4-3 (Home: 4-1-1; Away: 1-3-2)
VS.
5-4-3 (18pts)
4-7-1 (13pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, July 8, 2017 Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) Location: BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas) Forecast: Partly cloudy, 93 degrees Referee: Christina Unkel Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Brooke Mayo Fourth Official: Estefania Estrada Broadcast: nwslsoccer.com and go90.com Broadcast talent: Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Chris Nurse (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 12 SCHEDULE Friday, July 7
TIME (PT)
Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers
4 p.m.
Saturday, July 8
TIME (PT)
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit FC Kansas City vs. Sky Blue FC Seattle Reign FC vs. North Carolina Courage Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash
12:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Playing their third game in an eight-day span, Thorns FC traveled to Seattle for a road match, falling to Reign FC 2-0 on July 1 at Memorial Stadium. Portland created several quality scoring opportunities in the opening half as Christine Sinclair narrowly missed from distance with a left-footed strike in the 43rd minute. Seattle grabbed the 1-0 lead in first-half stoppage time through Megan Rapinoe and added a second goal in the second half to secure the win.
IN AND OUT Dagny Brynjarsdottir (Iceland), Amandine Henry (France) and Nadia Nadim (Denmark) all headed to Europe Portland’s match against Seattle on July 1 to begin preparations for the 2017 European Championships, spanning July 16 through Aug. 6. As a result, defender Kelli Hubly and midfielder Ashley Herndon were both signed as replacements during this international window. Hubly played three seasons at the University of Kentucky before transferring to play her final season at DePaul in 2016. Herndon was a four-year starter at James Madison and featured for the Washington Spirit Reserves previously as well as the D.C. United U-20 Women’s Team in 2012 that was coached by Mark Parsons.
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
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 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 5:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 12:30 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 go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 go90 Lifetime
MATCH PREVIEW Portland remains on the road, playing it second consecutive road match, visiting BBVA Compass Stadium to take on the Houston Dash on Saturday, July 8. Saturday’s match marks the conclusion of a stretch of six road games in Thorns FC’s last nine matches with consecutive road matches to begin this stretch against FC Kansas City on May 13 and the Boston Breakers on May 19 and wraps up with consecutive road contests against Seattle (July 1) and Houston. Thorns FC’s Christine Sinclair looks to add to her scoring total, having tallied three goals in her last four games.
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 four NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaging 16,945 fans in their fourth season in the league in 2016. Portland’s average home attendance in 2016 ranked better than 12 English Championship teams, 10 Ligue 1 teams, 7 Serie A 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).