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Portland’s new 18-year-old additions Laila Harbert and Valerin Loboa make Thorns and NWSL debuts.
PORTLAND, Ore. (Friday, September 26, 2025) – The Portland Thorns faced a setback in its race for the playoffs on Saturday evening, falling 3-0on the road at Gotham FC.
TheThorns entered the match lined up to defend heavily against Gotham’s attacking unit but were faced with an early uphill battle a Midge Purce header gave the hosts the lead 10 minutes in.
ThePortland backline would find some rhythm in the first half to keep out the attacks on goal while also creating opportunities up top to build up positive momentum, but Rose Lavelle would eventually score Gotham’s second just before the break.
In the second half, both sides scored goals that were disallowed — Purce forGotham in the 51’ and Reilyn Turner for Portland in the 62’ — before Gotham’sKatie Stengel tripled it.
The debuts of Portland’s newest additions, 18-year-olds Laila Harbert and Valerin Loboa, also happened in the second half, who came in and displayed flashes of their quality on the pitch as players who could contribute for Portland down the stretch.
Gotham ultimately held on to secure the three points and Portland must now begin to prepare for their penultimate home match next weekend against Bay FC.
ATTENDANCE: 8,522
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT: The Thorns return to Providence Park to host Bay FC on Saturday, October 4. Fans are invited to a pre-match ceremony to celebrate the iconic career of club legend ChristineSinclair as she becomes the first player to be inducted into the Thorns Hall ofFame. Tickets are on sale at thorns.com/tickets with kickoff on ION scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
FIRST HALF
GFC – Midge Purce (Mandy Freeman) 10’: Purce found Freeman’s cross in the box and headed it into the bottom right corner.
GFC – Rose Lavelle (Jaedyn Shaw) 43’: Lavelle dribbled the ball into the box and struck the ball into the the net.
SECOND HALF
GFC – Katie Stengel (Rose Lavelle) 73’: Lavelle’s backheel pass found Stengel in the box, who struck it into the net from the corner of the six-yard box.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (5-4-1): Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes (Kaitlyn Torpey 84’), Jayden Perry, Sam Hiatt, Isabella Obaze (Reilyn Turner 45’), Mallie McKenzie, Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Laila Harbert 61’), Jessie Fleming (Pietra Tordin 77’), Olivia Moultrie, Deyna Castellanos (Valerin Loboa 84’)
Subs not used: Bella Bixby, Daiane, Mimi Alidou, Alexa Spaanstra
GothamFC (4-3-3): Ann-Katrin Berger, MandyFreeman-C (Kayla Duran 79’), Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Bruninha (Lilly Reale62’), Rose Lavelle (Sarah Schupansky 79’), Jaelin Howell, Josefine Hasbo, Jaedyn Shaw (Gabi Portilho 79’), Midge Purce, Esther Gonzalez
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Mak Whitman, Sofia Cook, Khyah Harper
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Olivia Moultrie 90+1’
GFC: N/A
MATCHSTATS
POR| GFC
Goals:0|3
Assists: 0|3
Possession: 49|51
Shots: 4|15
Shots on Target: 2|7
Saves: 4|2
Tackles: 15|14
Tackles Won: 10|9
Interceptions: 8|15
Fouls: 7|14
Offsides: 1|2
Corner Kicks: 3|8
Portland’s new 18-year-old additions Laila Harbert and Valerin Loboa make Thorns and NWSL debuts.
PORTLAND, Ore. (Friday, September 26, 2025) – The Portland Thorns faced a setback in its race for the playoffs on Saturday evening, falling 3-0on the road at Gotham FC.
TheThorns entered the match lined up to defend heavily against Gotham’s attacking unit but were faced with an early uphill battle a Midge Purce header gave the hosts the lead 10 minutes in.
ThePortland backline would find some rhythm in the first half to keep out the attacks on goal while also creating opportunities up top to build up positive momentum, but Rose Lavelle would eventually score Gotham’s second just before the break.
In the second half, both sides scored goals that were disallowed — Purce forGotham in the 51’ and Reilyn Turner for Portland in the 62’ — before Gotham’sKatie Stengel tripled it.
The debuts of Portland’s newest additions, 18-year-olds Laila Harbert and Valerin Loboa, also happened in the second half, who came in and displayed flashes of their quality on the pitch as players who could contribute for Portland down the stretch.
Gotham ultimately held on to secure the three points and Portland must now begin to prepare for their penultimate home match next weekend against Bay FC.
ATTENDANCE: 8,522
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT: The Thorns return to Providence Park to host Bay FC on Saturday, October 4. Fans are invited to a pre-match ceremony to celebrate the iconic career of club legend ChristineSinclair as she becomes the first player to be inducted into the Thorns Hall ofFame. Tickets are on sale at thorns.com/tickets with kickoff on ION scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
FIRST HALF
GFC – Midge Purce (Mandy Freeman) 10’: Purce found Freeman’s cross in the box and headed it into the bottom right corner.
GFC – Rose Lavelle (Jaedyn Shaw) 43’: Lavelle dribbled the ball into the box and struck the ball into the the net.
SECOND HALF
GFC – Katie Stengel (Rose Lavelle) 73’: Lavelle’s backheel pass found Stengel in the box, who struck it into the net from the corner of the six-yard box.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (5-4-1): Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes (Kaitlyn Torpey 84’), Jayden Perry, Sam Hiatt, Isabella Obaze (Reilyn Turner 45’), Mallie McKenzie, Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Laila Harbert 61’), Jessie Fleming (Pietra Tordin 77’), Olivia Moultrie, Deyna Castellanos (Valerin Loboa 84’)
Subs not used: Bella Bixby, Daiane, Mimi Alidou, Alexa Spaanstra
GothamFC (4-3-3): Ann-Katrin Berger, MandyFreeman-C (Kayla Duran 79’), Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Bruninha (Lilly Reale62’), Rose Lavelle (Sarah Schupansky 79’), Jaelin Howell, Josefine Hasbo, Jaedyn Shaw (Gabi Portilho 79’), Midge Purce, Esther Gonzalez
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Mak Whitman, Sofia Cook, Khyah Harper
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Olivia Moultrie 90+1’
GFC: N/A
MATCHSTATS
POR| GFC
Goals:0|3
Assists: 0|3
Possession: 49|51
Shots: 4|15
Shots on Target: 2|7
Saves: 4|2
Tackles: 15|14
Tackles Won: 10|9
Interceptions: 8|15
Fouls: 7|14
Offsides: 1|2
Corner Kicks: 3|8
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