CARY, North Carolina (Saturday, April 13, 2024) – Portland Thorns FC (0-2-1, 1 point) suffered a 2-0 loss, on the road, to the North Carolina Courage.
North Carolina scored the opening goal in the fifth minute, with Tyler Lussi placing her shot inside the far post off a corner kick, taking the early 1-0 lead. Portland nearly had the equalizer in the 18th minute when Morgan Weaver threaded a through ball to the feet of an unmarked Sophia Smith, but her shot skipped inches wide of goal.
Portland looked to level the match, this time in the 33rd minute, with Weaver intercepting a pass inside the penalty box, but the Courage’s defense was able to collapse on the ball, blocking her shot. Just as the Thorns were pressing for the equalizer and gaining offensive momentum, North Carolina doubled its lead with a header from Haley Hopkins.
The Thorns would be unable to find a goal in the first half, heading into the halftime break with a 2-0 deficit.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Thorns had a series of chances, including three-consecutive corner kicks, but the Courage were able to thwart Portland’s advances, keeping them out of the back of the net.
The team continued to look for a way back into the match but would be unable to overcome the two-goal deficit, ultimately falling 2-0 to the Courage.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
NCC: Tyler Lussi (Ashley Sanchez), 5th minute: Off a corner kick from Sanchez, Lussi launched a deep shot, tucking the ball inside the far post.
NCC: Haley Hopkins (Tyler Lussi) 36th minute: Lussi served a ball directly to the head of Hopkins who was able to redirect the cross into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Isabella Obaze (Kelli Hubly 59’), Marie Müller, Olivia Moultrie (Christine Sinclair 72’), Sam Coffey, Hina Sugita (Ana Dias 87’), Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Janine Beckie (Jessie Fleming 59’)
Subs not used: Lauren Kozal, Nicole Payne, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Meghan Klingenberg, Izzy D’Aquila
North Carolina Courage (4-3-3): Casey Murphy, Felicitas Rauch, Malia Berkely, Kaleigh Kurtz, Ryan Williams, Denise O’Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez (Brianna Pinto 87’), Narumi Miura (Dani Weatherholt 87’), Haley Hopkins (Bianca St-Georges 78’), Manaka Matsukubo (Riley Jackson 90+2’), Tyler Lussi
Subs not used: Marisa Bova, Jenna Winebrenner, Landy Mertz, Maya McCutheon, Victoria Pickett
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY: POR: Hina Sugita (caution) 71’
POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 81’
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
CARY, North Carolina (Saturday, April 13, 2024) – Portland Thorns FC (0-2-1, 1 point) suffered a 2-0 loss, on the road, to the North Carolina Courage.
North Carolina scored the opening goal in the fifth minute, with Tyler Lussi placing her shot inside the far post off a corner kick, taking the early 1-0 lead. Portland nearly had the equalizer in the 18th minute when Morgan Weaver threaded a through ball to the feet of an unmarked Sophia Smith, but her shot skipped inches wide of goal.
Portland looked to level the match, this time in the 33rd minute, with Weaver intercepting a pass inside the penalty box, but the Courage’s defense was able to collapse on the ball, blocking her shot. Just as the Thorns were pressing for the equalizer and gaining offensive momentum, North Carolina doubled its lead with a header from Haley Hopkins.
The Thorns would be unable to find a goal in the first half, heading into the halftime break with a 2-0 deficit.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Thorns had a series of chances, including three-consecutive corner kicks, but the Courage were able to thwart Portland’s advances, keeping them out of the back of the net.
The team continued to look for a way back into the match but would be unable to overcome the two-goal deficit, ultimately falling 2-0 to the Courage.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
NCC: Tyler Lussi (Ashley Sanchez), 5th minute: Off a corner kick from Sanchez, Lussi launched a deep shot, tucking the ball inside the far post.
NCC: Haley Hopkins (Tyler Lussi) 36th minute: Lussi served a ball directly to the head of Hopkins who was able to redirect the cross into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Isabella Obaze (Kelli Hubly 59’), Marie Müller, Olivia Moultrie (Christine Sinclair 72’), Sam Coffey, Hina Sugita (Ana Dias 87’), Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Janine Beckie (Jessie Fleming 59’)
Subs not used: Lauren Kozal, Nicole Payne, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Meghan Klingenberg, Izzy D’Aquila
North Carolina Courage (4-3-3): Casey Murphy, Felicitas Rauch, Malia Berkely, Kaleigh Kurtz, Ryan Williams, Denise O’Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez (Brianna Pinto 87’), Narumi Miura (Dani Weatherholt 87’), Haley Hopkins (Bianca St-Georges 78’), Manaka Matsukubo (Riley Jackson 90+2’), Tyler Lussi
Subs not used: Marisa Bova, Jenna Winebrenner, Landy Mertz, Maya McCutheon, Victoria Pickett
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY: POR: Hina Sugita (caution) 71’
POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 81’
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