PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT WASHINGTON SPIRIT SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016, 4 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: 2-0-1 (Home: 1-0-0; Away: 1-0-1)
VS.
2-0-1 (7pts)
3-0-0 (9pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 7, 2016 Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Maryland SoccerPlex (Boyds, Md.) Forecast: Mostly sunny, 77 degrees Referee: Chris Spivey Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Gary Gutierrez Fourth Official: Bryan Roslund Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE Saturday, May 7
TIME (PT)
Chicago Red Stars at Boston Breakers Portland Thorns FC at Washington Spirt Western New York at Sky Blue FC Houston Dash at FC Kansas City
4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 8
TIME (PT)
Seattle Reign FC at Orlando Pride
2 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir tallied the game-winning goal in the 79th minute as Portland registered a 1-0 win on the road against the Boston Breakers on May 1 at Jordan Field. The first win against Boston on the road since 2013, Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath tallied her fourth assist of the campaign delivering a pinpoint free kick into the box for Brynjarsdottir, who delivered a powerful header from close range to put Portland in front in the match. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch helped Thorns FC register their first clean sheet of the 2016 campaign, making four second-half saves, including a key stop on a point-blank header off a corner kick by Boston midfielder McCall Zerobni in the 81st minute of the match.
EAST-COAST CONNECTIONS Thorns FC’s roster features several players with East Coast ties. Michelle Betos, Emily Menges, Allie Long, Tobin Heath, Meg Morris and Meghan Klingenberg all grew up on the East Coast. Long, Menges and Betos are from New York, Heath and Morris are from New Jersey and Klingenberg grew up in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Menges attended college in the D.C. area at Georgetown, while Emily Sonnett graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville which is located just a few hours away from D.C.
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 4 p.m. @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 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 ThornsFC.com FOX Sports 1 ThornsFC.com
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW Playing the second of consecutive games on the East Coast and the third game as part of a four-game road stretch, Thorns FC square off against the Washington Spirit on Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Portland has now opened its first four seasons in the NWSL unbeaten in its first three games to start the campaign. With a win or a draw on Saturday, Thorns FC will equal their longest unbeaten streak, four games, for a fourth consecutive season. Heading into Saturday’s match, midfielder Tobin Heath leads the league with four assists, while midfielders Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Lindsey Horan both rank in the top five in goal scored with two goals each.
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.