PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT SEATTLE REIGN FC SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2016, 7 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: Paul Dewhurst - pdewhurst@timbers.com
THORNS FC
2016 SCHEDULE
REIGN FC
2016 NWSL RECORD: 2-0-2 (Home: 1-0-0; Away: 1-0-2)
VS.
2-0-2 (8pts)
2-2-0 (6pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 14, 2016 Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.) Forecast: Scattered showers, 74 degrees Referee: Matthew Kreitzer Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, TJ Zablocki Fourth Official: JJ Blodgett Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE Friday, May 13
TIME (PT)
Boston Breakers at Sky Blue FC Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City
4 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14
TIME (PT)
Houston Dash at Washington Spirit Western NY Flash at Orlando Pride Portland Thorns FC at Seattle Reign FC
4 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Playing the second game of back-to-back matches on the East Coast, Thorns FC and the Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw on May 7 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. Portland registered its second consecutive clean sheet, extending its unbeaten streak to start the season despite playing without midfielder Tobin Heath for the final eight minutes as she was sent off after she received a second yellow card. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made her second start, tallying a season-best six saves in the match. Franch made several key saves in both halves to preserve a clean sheet, tipping a lofted volley over the crossbar in the 26th and making a one-on-one save in the box to deny Cali Farquharson in the 40th minute.
ROAD WARRIORS Portland has opened the 2016 playing four of its first five games on the road and six of its first 10 matches away from Providence Park. Thorns FC will have played 60 percent of their road matches for the 2016 season before July 1. Since April 23, Thorns FC have traveled 5,494 miles for road matches and will travel approximatley 11,246 miles in their first 11 matches this season.
DATE Sun., April 17 Sat., April 23 Sun., May 1 Sat., May 7 Sat., May 14 Sat., May 21 Sun., May 29 Sun., June 12 Fri., June 17 Wed., June 22 Sun., June 26 Sat., July 2 Sat., July 9 Sat., July 16 Sat., July 30 Sat., Aug. 27 Sun., Sept. 4 Wed., Sept. 7 Sun., Sept. 11 Sun., Sept. 25
OPPONENT TIME/RESULT ORLANDO PRIDE W 2-1 @FC Kansas City D 1-1 @Boston Breakers W 1-0 @Washington Spirit D 0-0 @Seattle Reign FC 7 p.m. WASHINGTON 7 p.m. SEATTLE 4 p.m. @Chicago 3 p.m. @Western NY 4 p.m. CHICAGO 7 p.m. @Orlando Pride 2 p.m. SKY BLUE FC 7:30 p.m. FC KANSAS CITY 7:30 p.m. @Houston Dash 5:30 p.m. SEATTLE REIGN FC 7:30 p.m. @Seattle Reign FC 2 p.m. BOSTON 4 p.m. HOUSTON DASH 7 p.m. WESTERN NY 6:30 p.m. @Sky Blue FC TBD
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,073 2,033 3,698 4,333 ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com FOX Sports 1 ThornsFC.com
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW Thorns FC conclude their four-game road stretch with a match against Cascadia-rival Seattle Reign FC on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Seattle; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday’s match is the first of four meetings this season between Portland and Seattle. In addition, Thorns FC and Reign FC will square off twice in the next 15 days as the two teams meet again on May 29 at Providence Park. Both teams will be without key players in the match. Midfielder Tobin Heath is unavailable after receiving a red card in Portland’s last match, while midfielder Jessica Fishlock is out with an injury she suffered back in Week 2 against the Boston Breakers.
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 three NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaing 15,639 fans in their third season in the league. Portland has produced record crowds in each season, including Thorns FC’s first sellout of 21,144 fans against Seattle Reign FC on July 22, 2015. Portland equaled that mark for a second time on Aug. 30 against the Washington Spirit. In its first three seasons, Thorns FC have averaged better than 14,038 fans per game.