PORTLAND THORNS FC ANNOUNCE STEPHEN HART AS ASSISTANT COACH
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have announced the addition of Stephen Hart as an assistant coach as part of Head Coach Rob Gale’s technical staff, joining the Club through the end of the season.
“Stephen is a coach I have known for quite some time and have had the pleasure to work with and learn from,” Gale said. “He has coached at the top levels of world football and brings forty years experience in the game and I am delighted we have finally been able to bring him in to work with our young squad to help continue to build our infrastructure around the team.”
Hart’s addition exemplifies the Club’s commitment to the technical staff. With various perspectives at the highest of levels, including international coaching, Pro Licenses, competition at tier one programs and professional playing experience, Hart joins a coaching staff which includes Assistant Coach Sarah Lowdon and Vytautas (Vytas) Andriuskevicius, as well as goalkeeper coach Jordan Franken, all under the leadership of Gale. Their qualifications uniquely complement one another, supporting Gale as he continues to lead this team, equipping him with the necessary tools to grow and develop the squad.
Hart joins the Thorns bringing with him an extensive resume of coaching experience at the highest level of men’s professional football on the international stage, having previously led Canada (2009-12) and his native country of Trinidad and Tobago (2013-16.)
Following stints as the head coach at various levels of the Canada Youth National Team System, Hart was named head coach of the Canucks in 2009. During his tenure as the head coach of the Canada Men’s National Team Hart amassed a 15-11-9 record.
After four years with Canada, Hart was named head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team, where he helped his home country to its highest finish in over a decade at the Concacaf Gold Cup, leading the team to back-to-back Quarterfinal berths in 2013 and 2015. He finished his tenure with a 16-15-12 record.
Most recently, Hart led the HFX Wanderers where coached the team to a second-place finish in the 2020 Canadian Premier League, later winning the 2020 Canadian Premier League Coach of the Year honors.
As a player, Hart spent the majority of his professional career playing for King of Donair in Canada, where he would eventually be named as a player coach and later its head coach from 1993-2001. Collegiately, Hart attended and played for Saint Mary’s University where he would also later coach, leading the women’s team for four years, beginning in 1997.
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 THORNS FC ANNOUNCE STEPHEN HART AS ASSISTANT COACH
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have announced the addition of Stephen Hart as an assistant coach as part of Head Coach Rob Gale’s technical staff, joining the Club through the end of the season.
“Stephen is a coach I have known for quite some time and have had the pleasure to work with and learn from,” Gale said. “He has coached at the top levels of world football and brings forty years experience in the game and I am delighted we have finally been able to bring him in to work with our young squad to help continue to build our infrastructure around the team.”
Hart’s addition exemplifies the Club’s commitment to the technical staff. With various perspectives at the highest of levels, including international coaching, Pro Licenses, competition at tier one programs and professional playing experience, Hart joins a coaching staff which includes Assistant Coach Sarah Lowdon and Vytautas (Vytas) Andriuskevicius, as well as goalkeeper coach Jordan Franken, all under the leadership of Gale. Their qualifications uniquely complement one another, supporting Gale as he continues to lead this team, equipping him with the necessary tools to grow and develop the squad.
Hart joins the Thorns bringing with him an extensive resume of coaching experience at the highest level of men’s professional football on the international stage, having previously led Canada (2009-12) and his native country of Trinidad and Tobago (2013-16.)
Following stints as the head coach at various levels of the Canada Youth National Team System, Hart was named head coach of the Canucks in 2009. During his tenure as the head coach of the Canada Men’s National Team Hart amassed a 15-11-9 record.
After four years with Canada, Hart was named head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team, where he helped his home country to its highest finish in over a decade at the Concacaf Gold Cup, leading the team to back-to-back Quarterfinal berths in 2013 and 2015. He finished his tenure with a 16-15-12 record.
Most recently, Hart led the HFX Wanderers where coached the team to a second-place finish in the 2020 Canadian Premier League, later winning the 2020 Canadian Premier League Coach of the Year honors.
As a player, Hart spent the majority of his professional career playing for King of Donair in Canada, where he would eventually be named as a player coach and later its head coach from 1993-2001. Collegiately, Hart attended and played for Saint Mary’s University where he would also later coach, leading the women’s team for four years, beginning in 1997.
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