INDIO, Calif. – Thorns FC surged to a 2-1 preseason victory over San Diego Wave FC in the Coachella Valley Invitational Saturday afternoon as part of the team's preseason, presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky. Following a scoreless first half, Portland was paced with second-half goals from Izzy D’Aquila and rookie Olivia Wade-Katoa, with Wade-Katoa scoring her first professional goal in her first professional match.
Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan put on a clinic in between the pipes to keep the Wave at bay. In the first half Hogan made countless saves to keep the match scoreless, including a massive point-blank stop just before the whistle. Despite struggling to find offensive momentum in the first half, Portland came alive in the second half, finding goals from second-year Izzy D’Aquila and rookie Olivia Wade-Katoa. The Thorn’s duo of new outside backs, Marie Müller and Nicole Payne, shined on the outside, making impressive offensive runs, while also locking down the Wave’s advances on the defensive side.
Portland traveled to the Coachella Valley without seven of its athletes, including Sam Coffey (USA), Jessie Fleming (CAN), Olivia Moultrie (USA), Isabella Obaze (DEN), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), Hina Sugita (JPN) and Sophia Smith (USA), all of whom were with their respective national teams for various international competitions. As a result, three trialists joined the squad for the California-based trip, including Taylor Aylmer, Marissa Sheva and Mallie McKenzie. With goalkeeper Bella Bixby out on maternity leave, Shelby Hogan started and played 75 minutes in the 2-1 victory against San Diego, with Lauren Kozal earning a 15-minute shift to close out the match. Additionally, forward Janine Beckie was unavailable as she continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, sustained in March of last year.
POR – Izzy D’Aquila, 49th minute: Morgan Weaver sent a long-ball through the top of the 18-yard-box, where Izzy D’Aquila collected the pass, dribbling towards the near post before ripping a shot into the upper-left corner, sending the ball soaring past the ‘keeper.
SD – Marley Canales 56th minute: Following a poor clearance inside the penalty box, Portland attempted to push the ball away from danger, but the ball fell to the feet of Marley Canales who was able to feed her shot through a narrow window and past the arms of a diving Shelby Hogan.
POR – Olivia Wade-Katoa, 71st minute: Marissa Sheva initiated a give-and-go with Mogan Weaver, who drove towards the endline before sending the ball upwards, across the face of goal and past the line of San Diego defenders. Weaver’s pass fell perfectly in the line of Olivia Wade-Katoa who smashed a shot from outside the 18-yard-box, sending the ball sailing into the back of the net.
Next up, Thorns FC will return to Portland, Ore. to finish off the preseason, next facing the University of Portland in a closed-door preseason match against the University of Portland on Saturday, March 2 at 11:00am PT.
The Thorns are slated to begin the regular season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
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
INDIO, Calif. – Thorns FC surged to a 2-1 preseason victory over San Diego Wave FC in the Coachella Valley Invitational Saturday afternoon as part of the team's preseason, presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky. Following a scoreless first half, Portland was paced with second-half goals from Izzy D’Aquila and rookie Olivia Wade-Katoa, with Wade-Katoa scoring her first professional goal in her first professional match.
Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan put on a clinic in between the pipes to keep the Wave at bay. In the first half Hogan made countless saves to keep the match scoreless, including a massive point-blank stop just before the whistle. Despite struggling to find offensive momentum in the first half, Portland came alive in the second half, finding goals from second-year Izzy D’Aquila and rookie Olivia Wade-Katoa. The Thorn’s duo of new outside backs, Marie Müller and Nicole Payne, shined on the outside, making impressive offensive runs, while also locking down the Wave’s advances on the defensive side.
Portland traveled to the Coachella Valley without seven of its athletes, including Sam Coffey (USA), Jessie Fleming (CAN), Olivia Moultrie (USA), Isabella Obaze (DEN), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), Hina Sugita (JPN) and Sophia Smith (USA), all of whom were with their respective national teams for various international competitions. As a result, three trialists joined the squad for the California-based trip, including Taylor Aylmer, Marissa Sheva and Mallie McKenzie. With goalkeeper Bella Bixby out on maternity leave, Shelby Hogan started and played 75 minutes in the 2-1 victory against San Diego, with Lauren Kozal earning a 15-minute shift to close out the match. Additionally, forward Janine Beckie was unavailable as she continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, sustained in March of last year.
POR – Izzy D’Aquila, 49th minute: Morgan Weaver sent a long-ball through the top of the 18-yard-box, where Izzy D’Aquila collected the pass, dribbling towards the near post before ripping a shot into the upper-left corner, sending the ball soaring past the ‘keeper.
SD – Marley Canales 56th minute: Following a poor clearance inside the penalty box, Portland attempted to push the ball away from danger, but the ball fell to the feet of Marley Canales who was able to feed her shot through a narrow window and past the arms of a diving Shelby Hogan.
POR – Olivia Wade-Katoa, 71st minute: Marissa Sheva initiated a give-and-go with Mogan Weaver, who drove towards the endline before sending the ball upwards, across the face of goal and past the line of San Diego defenders. Weaver’s pass fell perfectly in the line of Olivia Wade-Katoa who smashed a shot from outside the 18-yard-box, sending the ball sailing into the back of the net.
Next up, Thorns FC will return to Portland, Ore. to finish off the preseason, next facing the University of Portland in a closed-door preseason match against the University of Portland on Saturday, March 2 at 11:00am PT.
The Thorns are slated to begin the regular season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
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