PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC announce the appointment of Sarah Lowdon, former interim head coach of the Houston Dash, to serve as an assistant coach on head coach Mike Norris’ coaching staff.
“Sarah has already been such a great addition to our staff, she brings a wealth of NWSL knowledge and experience, and is fully bought into our vision,” Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc said.
Lowdon comes to the Rose City by way of Houston, Texas, where she served as the Dash’s interim head coach twice, in both 2022 and 2023. During those two seasons Houston went 6-6-3 with Lowdon at the helm, including a club-record six-game unbeaten run in 2022. In 2022, Houston also clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time in club history, finishing the regular season in fourth place.
Additionally, Lowdon recently received her U.S. Soccer Pro License, the highest coaching level in the United States, she is the youngest female ever to do so and only the seventh all-time.
“We are very excited for Sarah’s arrival in Portland, she comes to us with coaching experience in the NWSL, an incredible work ethic and passion for people and player development,” head coach Mike Norris said. “She will be a great addition to our staff and will complement the skill sets we already have in place within our technical staff. We look forward to her challenging and pushing our club to new standards.”
Before coaching in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Newcastle, England native enjoyed stops at Penn State, Sam Houston State, the University of Florida, Wayland Baptist University and McNeese State University.
PORTLAND, Ore. (Saturday, August 15, 2026) – The Portland Thorns continued their impressive home form with a 2-1 win over Orlando Pride on Saturday when forward Caiya Hanks — who was making her return to the pitch after missing action for over a year with an ACL injury — scored a stoppage time winner to secure three points for the home side.
Both sides battled back and forth as they tried to search for the opening goal, with Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold making three saves to ensure the match remained level going into the halftime break.
The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when forward Pietra Tordin laid the ball off to forward Deyna Castellanos, who from the top right corner of Orlando’s box placed the ball perfectly into the top left corner of the goal over the hands of Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.
The lead was short lived however when Arnold’s diving save to punch out a crossed ball in the 63rd minute ricocheted off the knees of Orlando forward Jacqueline Ovalle and rolled into the net to level things back up.
From there, Portland and Orlando continued in their fight to search for a second and despite several good looks at goal, the match remained level.
That would all change after Hanks — who subbed on in the 88th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96th to send Providence Park into a frenzy as the Thorns secured three points and extended its home unbeaten streak to 12 matches, nine on the season.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns host Denver Summit FC for the first time at Providence Park on Saturday, August 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:45 pm PT on ION and 910 ESPN Portland. Purchase tickets for the match HERE.
TEAM NOTES
GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half
N/A
Second Half
POR – Deyna Castellanos (Pietra Tordin) 58’
ORL – Jacqueline Ovalle 63’
POR – Caiya Hanks (M.A. Vignola) 90+6’
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): Mackenzie Arnold (GK), M.A. Vignola, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze (Sam Hiatt 78’), Carolyn Calzada, Jessie Fleming-C, Nina Nijstad (Cassandra Bogere 85’), Pietra Tordin (Caiya Hanks 88’), Deyna Castellanos (Renee Lyles 78’), Marie Müller (Morgan Weaver 67’), Sophia Wilson
Subs not used: Morgan Messner (GK), Reyna Reyes, Shae Harvey, Mallie McKenzie
Orlando Pride (4-4-2): Anna Moorhouse (GK), Hailie Mace (Gabi Nunes 90+8’), Rafaelle (Zoe Matthews 89’), Cori Dyke, Oihane Hernández (Zara Chavoshi 76’), Solai Washington, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon-C, Julie Doyle (Summer Yates 65’), Jacqueline Ovalle, Barbra Banda (Angelina 65’)
Subs not used: Cara Martin (GK), Cossette Morche, Luana, Nicole Payne
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: N/A
ORL: Jacqueline Ovalle (Yellow) 40’, Julie Doyle (Yellow) 52’, Rafaelle (Yellow) 85’
MATCH STATS
POR | ORL
Goals: 2|1
Assists: 2|0
Possession: 51|49
Shots: 10|12
Shots on Target: 4|6
Saves: 5|2
Tackles: 16|16
Tackles Won: 9|11
Interceptions: 14|26
Fouls: 7|6
Offsides: 0|1
Corner Kicks: 0|6
ATTENDANCE: 19,106
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak
Assistant Referee 2: Sarah Gaddes
4th Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Danielle Chesky
Assistant VAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC announce the appointment of Sarah Lowdon, former interim head coach of the Houston Dash, to serve as an assistant coach on head coach Mike Norris’ coaching staff.
“Sarah has already been such a great addition to our staff, she brings a wealth of NWSL knowledge and experience, and is fully bought into our vision,” Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc said.
Lowdon comes to the Rose City by way of Houston, Texas, where she served as the Dash’s interim head coach twice, in both 2022 and 2023. During those two seasons Houston went 6-6-3 with Lowdon at the helm, including a club-record six-game unbeaten run in 2022. In 2022, Houston also clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time in club history, finishing the regular season in fourth place.
Additionally, Lowdon recently received her U.S. Soccer Pro License, the highest coaching level in the United States, she is the youngest female ever to do so and only the seventh all-time.
“We are very excited for Sarah’s arrival in Portland, she comes to us with coaching experience in the NWSL, an incredible work ethic and passion for people and player development,” head coach Mike Norris said. “She will be a great addition to our staff and will complement the skill sets we already have in place within our technical staff. We look forward to her challenging and pushing our club to new standards.”
Before coaching in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Newcastle, England native enjoyed stops at Penn State, Sam Houston State, the University of Florida, Wayland Baptist University and McNeese State University.
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