MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns Clinch Playoff Berth With 2-0 Road Win at Angel City FC

Olivia Moultrie’s brace sees Portland through to their 9^th consecutive postseason appearance.

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sunday, October 19, 2025) – Portland clinched its spot in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs after a strong 2-0 road win at Angel City FC on Sunday afternoon, extending their league high postseason streak to nine consecutive seasons.

On a night full of festivities for Angel City — who were celebrating the retirements of soccer legends Ali Reily and Christen Press for their final 2025 home match — the Thorns arrived ready to spoil the party, with  forward Alexa Spaanstra setting up midfielder Olivia Moultrie to silence the crowd with a top bin banger in the 23’ to give Portland the lead.

The Thorns defense held out to limit Angel City to only two on-target shots in the first half, ensuring that they went into the break with the advantage.

After the break, forward Reilyn Turner would draw a penalty and Moultrie would double it for the Thorns in the 60’, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner from the penalty spot.

Despite Angel City’s attempts to try and get itself back into the match, Portland’s defensive unit (which recorded 15 interceptions, 11/20 won tackles and four saves from goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold) denied the hosts the opportunity to steal the playoffs from the Thorns grasp. Portland saw out the win, secured a clean sheet with a massive three points and will enter Decision Day on Sunday, November 2 ready to fight for a home playoff spot at Providence Park against the Houston Dash.

TEAM NOTES

• Midfielder Olivia Moultrie scored twice to bring her goal total to eight (8) this season, the most by any Portland player this season. It is her second career brace, the first which was recorded versus Bay on October 4.
• Moultrie’s penalty goal — her first penalty goal of 2025 — helped the Thorns bring their 2025 penalty goal total to seven (7), a new single-season NWSL record.
• Forward Alexa Spaanstra recorded her first assist of 2025 with the opening goal for Moultrie.
• Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold recorded her third clean sheet of the year to bring Portland's clean sheet total to six (6) this season.
• The Thorns have now qualified for the playoffs nine (9) consecutive times (2016-19, 2021-25), the longest active postseason appearance streak in the NWSL.
• The Thorns secured their 11^th overall postseason appearance, a league high.
• Today’s win was Portland’s first on the road at Angel City, ending a five-match winless streak at BMO Stadium.
• Portland has recorded nine (9) straight seasons of at least 10 wins dating back to 2016 and have 10 wins in 11 of 12 seasons (2020 not included).
• Now sitting on 37 points, it is highest amount of points the Thorns have recorded since 2022.

UP NEXT: The Thorns close out the regular season at Providence Park vs the Houston Dash on Sunday, November 2 in a must-win battle in their fight for a home playoff match. Kickoff time and broadcast information will be announced in the coming days. Tickets can be purchased now at thorns.com/tickets.

GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN

FIRST HALF

POR – Olivia Moultrie (Alexa Spaanstra) 23’: From outside the box, Moultrie struck the ball over the keeper and into the top right corner.

SECOND HALF

POR – Olivia Moultrie 60’: From the penalty spot, Moultrie slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

LINEUPS

Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, M.A. Vignola, Sam Hiatt, Isabella Obaze (Daiane 89’), Reyna Reyes, Sam Coffey-C (Kaitlyn Torpey 90’), Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Alexa Spaanstra (Pietra Tordin 79’), Deyna Castellanos (Laila Harbert 79’), Reilyn Turner (Jayden Perry 90+3’)

Subs not used: Bella Bixby, Mallie McKenzie, Mimi Alidou, Valerin Loboa

Angel City FC (4-3-3): Angelina Anderson, Evelyn Shores, Sara Doorsoun, Sarah Gorden-C, Miyabi Moriya (Prisca Chilufya 74’), Nealy Martin, Hina Sugita, Gisele Thompson (Ali Reily 82’), Jun Endo (Maiara Niehues 60’), Kennedy Fuller (Christen Press 60’), Riley Tiernan (Sveindís Jónsdóttir 45’)

Subs not used: Megan Reid, Macey Hodge, Hannah Seabert, Madison Hammon

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR: Sam Coffey (Yellow) 47’

LA: Maiara Niehues (Yellow) 72’

MATCH STATS

POR | LA

Goals: 2|0
Assists: 1|0
Possession: 44|56
Shots: 10|11
Shots on Target: 3|4
Saves: 4|1
Tackles: 20|25
Tackles Won: 11|15
Interceptions: 3|15
Fouls: 8|12
Offsides: 1|6
Corner Kicks: 4|4

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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.
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The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58^th 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 63^rd 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 88^th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96^th 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

• Pietra Tordin extended her assist tally to nine, sitting alongside Croix Bethune (KC) for most in the league so far this season. Tordin is one assist away from equalizing the league record for assists which is 10 (Tobin Heath, POR 2016 and Croix Bethune, KC 2024).  
• Deyna Castellanos scored her first goal of the 2026 season.
• Caiya Hanks, who was removed off the Season-Ending Injury list, made her return to the pitch for the first time since June 15, 2025 and scored the game-winner.
• M.A. Vignola got her first assist of the season.
• The Thorns have gone 12 home regular season matches (dating back to September 2025) without losing (8W,4D), extending the current club record.
• The Thorns have not lost at home in 2026 (6W,3D).
• In seven matches since 2018, Portland has not lost at home against Orlando (7W-0L-0D).

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

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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

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