PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS. WASHINGTON SPIRIT SATURDAY, MAY 21, 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
SPIRIT
2016 NWSL RECORD: 2-0-3 (Home: 1-0-0; Away: 1-0-3)
VS.
2-0-3 (9pts)
4-0-1 (13pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 21, 2016 Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Showers, 65 degrees Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva Assistant Referees: Amanda Ross, Kelsey Harms Fourth Official: Lucas Brooks Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE Friday, May 20
TIME (PT)
Orlando Pride at Houston Dash
5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
TIME (PT)
Sky Blue FC at Western NY Flash Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FC
4 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 22
TIME (PT)
FC Kansas City at Boston Breakers Chicago Red Stars at Seattle Reign FC
3:30 p.m. 4 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Playing their four consecutive road match, Thorns FC earned a 1-1 draw on the road against Seattle Reign FC on May 14 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. Making the first of two trips to Memorial Stadium this season, forward Nadia Nadim tallied her first goal of the 2016 camapign less than one minute into the second half to give Portland the lead, but Seattle equalized in the 49th and neither team was able to find a game winner. Midfielder Meg Morris made her first start for Portland in the match and tallied the assist on Nadim’s goal.
ROAD WARRIORS Portland played four of its first five games on the road this season and will play 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 D 1-1 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 4,631 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 Portland Thorns FC return to Providence Park for their first match at home in over a month after embarking on a four-game road swing, which began on April 23 and concluded with a match against Seattle on May 14. Thorns FC have earned at least one point in each of their first five matches this season, posting a record of 1-0-3 in their four road matches this season. Washington and Portland met on the road on May 7 and the two teams square off on Saturday for the second time in 14 days. Heading into Saturday’s match, Portland looks to extend its unbeaten streak, which is currently tied for the longest unbeaten stretch in club history set in the first five games of the 2013 season.
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, averaging 15,639 fans in their third season in the league in 2015. 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.