PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS. HOUSTON DASH SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2015, 7 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
DASH
2015 NWSL RECORD: 2-1-2 (Home: 2-0-1; Away: 0-1-1)
VS.
2-1-2 (8pts)
1-2-2 (5pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 23, 2015 Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 73 degrees Referee: Matthew Kreitzer Assistant Referees: Samantha Moos, Jason Perlewitz Fourth Official: Lucas Brooks Webstream available via www.portlandthornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 7 SCHEDULE Friday, May 22
TIME (PT)
Sky Blue FC at Boston Breakers
4 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit at Western NY Flash Chicago Red Stars at FC Kansas City Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FC
4 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
MIDFIELD PARTNERSHIP Midfielder Allie Long and Mana Shim have proved to be a lethal combo for Thorns FC this season. Of the team’s nine goals scored this season, seven have come from the dynamic pair, while four of the team’s seven assists have also come from either Long or Shim. Notably, Shim has assisted on three of Long’s four goals. Thorns FC have a record of 11-0-4 in regular-season NWSL matches since 2013 when either Long or Shim scores.
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 L 0-1 2,669 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 Following their second road match of the season, Porland Thorns FC play their final home match before the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup break against the Houston Dash on Saturday, May 23, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday’s match is the first of two meetings this season between Houston and Portland, and the only regular season contest between the two clubs at Providence Park in 2015. Thorns FC have scored two or more goals in three of their five matches to begin the 2015 season. When scoring two or more goals, Portland has a record of 17-1-4 all-time. Thorns FC have scored two or more goals in 15 of their 26 home matches all-time, posting a record of 11-1-3 in those matches.
HOME TURF Thorns FC enter Saturday’s game unbeaten in their last eight matches at Providence Park (6-0-2), dating back to the 2014 season. Portland has scored two or more goals in five of those matches, while also registering three shutouts in its last four home contests. Midfielder Allie Long has scored seven goals during Thorns FC’s eight-match unbeaten streak at home. Additionally, Portland has scored 24 goals, while conceding just nine.
IRON WOMAN Midfielder McCall Zerboni has started and played 90 minutes in 20 consecutive NWSL regular-season matches, dating back to her 2014 campaign with Western New York.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Playing their home matches at downtown Portland’s iconic Providence Park, Thorns FC drew an average crowd of 13,362 fans per game during the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League season and has led the league in attendance at better than 13,000 fans per match since the team’s inagural season in 2013. Thorns FC set a NWSL single-game record for attendance on Aug. 3, 2014, drawing 19,123 in a 1-0 against the Houston Dash.