Three for No. 13
Alex Morgan found the back of the net for the third-consecutive match on Wednesday against Portland, now atop the league with three finishes in as many matches to start the regular season. The stretch marks the U.S. WNT forward’s best start to a season as a member of the Pride, and the first time she has found the back of the net in three-straight fixtures since 2017, when she bagged a goal in five-consecutive contests from Aug. 5 to Aug. 26.
Going Back-to-Back
Sydney Leroux bagged her second goal in as many matches at the midweek, scoring the eventual game-winner just seconds after the halftime break. Leroux is now tied with Morgan for a team-high in goals scored across all competitions this season, with the pair combining for each of the Pride’s last six finishes. The 2015 World Cup Champion also leads the side in match-deciding goals in 2021, with Wednesday’s finish adding to her game-winner against the Washington Spirit on April 21 in Challenge Cup play.
Keep it Rolling
Wednesday marked the third-consecutive result for the Pride to start the 2021 NWSL regular season, with a pair of victories against stalwart clubs North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns FC within the last week. The start marks the best for the Club throughout its history, unbeaten in its last five matches across all competitions dating back to the Challenge Cup.
A Chip for the (Sort of) Rookie
Taylor Kornieck continued her involvement in the attack on Wednesday evening, finding Alex Morgan for the second-consecutive match for an assist. This time, Kornieck chipped a ball over the top for a running Morgan in behind the Thorns’ defense, now tied with Chicago forward Mallory Pugh and Thorns attacker Morgan Weaver for the league lead in assists this season with two.
An Erin McLeod Save of the Week!
Erin McLeod earned her first NWSL accolade as a member of the Pride this past week, taking home NWSL Save of the Week honors for her stop on Jessica McDonald in the 67th minute of the side’s match at North Carolina last Saturday. The award marked the second Save of the Week tally for the Pride in the regular season, after Ashlyn Harris earned the same honor the first week of the 2021 campaign.
Club Connections
A pair of former Pride players will make their return to Orlando on Sunday in defender Kristen Edmonds and midfielder Jordyn Listro. Edmonds featured in purple for five seasons from 2016-20, appearing in 73 matches for the Club and netting 10 goals in that span, while Listro was signed by the Club on a short-term contract for the NWSL Fall Series where she made three appearances before earning a full contract ahead of 2021.
On the flip side, current Pride players Sydney Leroux and Erika Tymrak both spent time in Kansas City throughout their NWSL careers, the former from 2016-17 and the latter from 2013-17, earning 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year honors and winning back-to-back NWSL Championships in 2014 and 2015.