PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT BOSTON BREAKERS SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015, 1 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations: Mark Nelson - (503) 553-5529, mnelson@timbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations: Katie Simons - (503) 553-5539, ksimons@timbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations: Diego Basabe - (503) 553-5543, dbasabe@timbers.com
THORNS FC
2015 SCHEDULE
BREAKERS
2015 NWSL RECORD: 2-0-2 (Home: 2-0-1; Away: 0-0-1)
VS.
2-0-2 (8pts)
1-3-0 (3pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 16, 2015 Kickoff: 1 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium (Allston, Mass.) Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 64 degrees Referee: Christopher Spivey Assistant Referees: Hagan Barnett, Kali Langevin Fourth Official: Amilcar Sicaju Webstream available via www.portlandthornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE Thursday, May 14
TIME (PT)
Western NY Flash at FC Kansas City
5 p.m.
Friday, May 15
TIME (PT)
Chicago Red Stars at Houston Dash
5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16
TIME (PT)
Portland Thorns FC at Boston Breakers Sky Blue FC at Washington Spirit
1 p.m. 4 p.m.
MIDFIELD PARTNERSHIP Midfielder Allie Long and Mana Shim have proved to be a lethal combo through the first four games of Portland’s NWSL season. Thorns FC have scored nine goals, seven of which of come off the foot of the dynamic pair, while four of the team’s seven assists, also from either Long or Shim. Notably, Shim has assisted on three of Long’s four goals, tallying a pair of assists in the last time the team faced Boston back on April 11 at Providence Park. Thorns FC have a record of 11-0-4 in regular-season NWSL matches since 2013 when either Long or Shim scores.
FAST START For a second consecutive season Thorns FC have opened their regular season campaign unbeaten in their first four matches, posting a record of 2-0-2. The club longest unbeaten streak to start a campaign came during the 2013 season as Portland opened its inaguarl season in the NWSL with a fivegame unbeaten streak (4-0-1). Thorns FC longest unbeaten streak all-time stretched six games from July 4-23, 2014, posting a record of 2-0-4.
DATE Sat., April 11 Sat., April 18 Sat., April 25 Sat., May 9 Sat., May 16 Sat., May 23 Sat, May 30 Sat., June 6 Fri., June 19 Fri., July 3 Sat., July 11 Wed., July 22 Sun., July 26 Wed., July 29 Wed., Aug. 5 Sun., Aug. 9 Wed., Aug. 12 Sat., Aug. 22 Sun., Aug. 30 Fri., Sept. 4
OPPONENT TIME/RESULT BROADCAST/ATT. BOSTON BREAKERS W 4-1 13,386 WESTERN NY FLASH W 1-0 13,148 @Chicago Red Stars D 2-2 2,136 WASHINGTON SPIRIT D 2-2 14,236 @Boston Breakers 1 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com HOUSTON DASH 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Washington Spirit 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Houston Dash 5:30 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com FC KANSAS CITY 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com SKY BLUE FC 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Sky Blue FC 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com SEATTLE REIGN FC 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Seattle Reign FC 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Western NY Flash 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com BOSTON BREAKERS 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com CHICAGO RED STARS 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @FC Kansas City 5 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Sky Blue FC 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com WASHINGTON SPIRIT 6 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com @Western NY Flash 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW Riding a four-match unbeaten streak, Portland Thorns FC travel to Allston, Mass. to face off against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, May 16, Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium; kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday’s match marks Portland’s second road contest of the 2015 season and Thorns FC play three of their next four matches on the road. During the month of May, Portland is 4-1-1 all-time in road matches, dating back to the 2013 season. The match on Saturday is also the only match Thorns FC play on the road during the regular season at Boston. Thorns FC have scored two or more goals in three of their four matches to begin the 2015 season. When scoring two or more goals, Portland has a record of 17-1-4 all-time and are 6-0-1 all-time when scoring at least two goals in a road game.
AGAINST BOSTON Saturday’s match with Boston marks the second of three meetings this season between the two clubs, and Portland’s first match against the Breakers on the road. Thorns FC opened the 2015 campaign with a 4-1 win against Boston at Providence Park as Long tallied a second-half brace and Shim and midfielder Sinead Farrelly added goals. Portland has found success scoring goals against Boston as of late, tallying 11 goals in the last three meetings. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos earned the start in goal in the season-opening match against Boston, recording six saves in the win. Shim tallied a goal and two assists in the match as she became the fifth player in Thorns FC history to record a multi-assist match.