Portland Thorns (8-5-3, 27 points) earn a late-game 1-0 win over the San Diego Wave thanks to a goal from Izzy D’Aquila and a shutout performance from Shelby Hogan and the backline.
Portland looked to take the lead in the 10th minute, when forward Sophia Smith slotted a pass forwards to Janine Beckie, but the Canadian’s shot fell just wide of the post. In the 17th minute Smith tried her own hand at goal, but San Diego ‘keeper Kailen Sheridan was able to block the shot.
San Diego had their best chance at goal in the 38th minute, when it appeared Alex Morgan had found the back of the net, but she was judged to be in an offside position, negating the goal. Neither side would be able to find the back of the net before the halftime break, leaving the scoreline deadlocked at 0-0 after the first half.
The two sides struggled to find offensive opportunities to start the second half, Smith nearly tucked a shot into the back of the net in the 70th minute, but once again Sheridan was up to the task. Minutes later Beckie found herself with a one-v-one chance, with only the goalkeeper between her and goal, but Sheridan was able to push the ball out for a corner.
San Diego’s best chance came in the 83rd minute when Melanie Barcenas launched a shot at Shelby Hogan, but the goalkeeper was able to make the quick reaction save and push the ball over the crossbar. Moments later the Thorns finally took the lead when Beckie sent a low cross into the middle of the penalty box, finding a diving Izzy D’Aquila who stuck a foot out and placed the ball into the back of the net.
The team would be able to hold on to the one-goal lead, eventually earning the 1-0 victory and serving as the team’s league-leading seventh shutout of the season.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will enter into a two-week break before beginning the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Summer Cup on Sunday, July 21 against Club Tijuana at Providence Park. The Thorns will return to regular-season play following the completion of the Summer Olympics, in August.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
POR: Izzy D’Aquila (Janine Beckie) 85th minute: Beckie drove towards the end line, cutting back to send a cross in towards the penalty box, where a diving D’Aquila was able to get her foot on the ball, redirecting a shot into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Isabella Obaze (Meaghan Nally 46’), Becky Sauerbrunn, Marie Müller (Nicole Payne 75’), Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (Ana Dias 89’), Hina Sugita, Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair (Izzy D’Aquila 75’), Sophia Smith
Subs not used: Lauren Kozal, Meghan Klingenberg, Marissa Sheva, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Payton Linnehan
San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan, Kristen McNabb (Christen Westphal 89’), Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Hanna Lundkvist, Savannah McCaskill (Elyse Bennett 89’), Emily van Egmond, María Sánchez (Melanie Barcenas 74’), Jaedyn Shaw (Danielle Colaprico 56’), Makenzy Doniak (Mya Jones 56’), Alex Morgan
Subs not used: Sofia Jakobsson, Kennedy Wesley, Kimmi Ascanio, Hillary Beal
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SD: Hanna Lundkvist (caution) 22’
SD: Emily van Egmond (caution) 74’
POR: Ana Dias (caution) 90’
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 (8-5-3, 27 points) earn a late-game 1-0 win over the San Diego Wave thanks to a goal from Izzy D’Aquila and a shutout performance from Shelby Hogan and the backline.
Portland looked to take the lead in the 10th minute, when forward Sophia Smith slotted a pass forwards to Janine Beckie, but the Canadian’s shot fell just wide of the post. In the 17th minute Smith tried her own hand at goal, but San Diego ‘keeper Kailen Sheridan was able to block the shot.
San Diego had their best chance at goal in the 38th minute, when it appeared Alex Morgan had found the back of the net, but she was judged to be in an offside position, negating the goal. Neither side would be able to find the back of the net before the halftime break, leaving the scoreline deadlocked at 0-0 after the first half.
The two sides struggled to find offensive opportunities to start the second half, Smith nearly tucked a shot into the back of the net in the 70th minute, but once again Sheridan was up to the task. Minutes later Beckie found herself with a one-v-one chance, with only the goalkeeper between her and goal, but Sheridan was able to push the ball out for a corner.
San Diego’s best chance came in the 83rd minute when Melanie Barcenas launched a shot at Shelby Hogan, but the goalkeeper was able to make the quick reaction save and push the ball over the crossbar. Moments later the Thorns finally took the lead when Beckie sent a low cross into the middle of the penalty box, finding a diving Izzy D’Aquila who stuck a foot out and placed the ball into the back of the net.
The team would be able to hold on to the one-goal lead, eventually earning the 1-0 victory and serving as the team’s league-leading seventh shutout of the season.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will enter into a two-week break before beginning the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Summer Cup on Sunday, July 21 against Club Tijuana at Providence Park. The Thorns will return to regular-season play following the completion of the Summer Olympics, in August.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
POR: Izzy D’Aquila (Janine Beckie) 85th minute: Beckie drove towards the end line, cutting back to send a cross in towards the penalty box, where a diving D’Aquila was able to get her foot on the ball, redirecting a shot into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Isabella Obaze (Meaghan Nally 46’), Becky Sauerbrunn, Marie Müller (Nicole Payne 75’), Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (Ana Dias 89’), Hina Sugita, Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair (Izzy D’Aquila 75’), Sophia Smith
Subs not used: Lauren Kozal, Meghan Klingenberg, Marissa Sheva, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Payton Linnehan
San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan, Kristen McNabb (Christen Westphal 89’), Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Hanna Lundkvist, Savannah McCaskill (Elyse Bennett 89’), Emily van Egmond, María Sánchez (Melanie Barcenas 74’), Jaedyn Shaw (Danielle Colaprico 56’), Makenzy Doniak (Mya Jones 56’), Alex Morgan
Subs not used: Sofia Jakobsson, Kennedy Wesley, Kimmi Ascanio, Hillary Beal
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SD: Hanna Lundkvist (caution) 22’
SD: Emily van Egmond (caution) 74’
POR: Ana Dias (caution) 90’
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