BROADCAST INFORMATION
Broadcast:go90 app and go90.com (United States), NWSLsoccer.com (International)
Broadcast Talent: Jordan Angeli (play-by-play), Morgan Church (analyst)
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Forecast: Scattered thunderstorms, 70 degrees
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Amilcar Sicaju Fourth Official: Javier Rodriguez
MATCH PREVIEW
Thorns FC travel to Cary, N.C. for their first road match of the season on Saturday against the North Carolina Courage. Saturday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between Portland and North Carolina.
Portland was one of the best teams on the road in 2016, earning 16 points from 10 away games, which was tied for the most of any team in the league last season. Thorns FC were also tied for the second fewest goals (11) con- ceded on the road in 2016.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s match marks the first official meeting between Portland and North Carolina, however the two teams did square off previously when the club was the Western New York Flash. Thorns FC won both regular-season meetings against the Flash in 2016, while Western New York edged Portland in the semifinal of the 2016 NWSL playoffs in a 4-3 extra-time thriller at Providence Park. In addition, Portland scored at least two goals in each of the three meetings last season and has won four of the last five regular-season meetings.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
The North Carolina Courage are the newest NWSL club after the Western New York Flash were sold and relocated. The Courage retained head coach Paul Riley and the majority of their squad from 2016 that won the NWSL Championship as the Flash. North Carolina picked up its first NWSL win courtesy of a goal from midfielder McCall Zerboni, earning a 1-0 win against the Washington Spirit on April 15. The Courage are led by the 2016 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams, who tallied 11 goals during the 2016 regular season.
APRIL FORM
Portland is unbeaten during the month of April (8-0-4) since its first season in the NWSL in 2013. Thorns FC have outscored their opponents 22-9 in 12 games in April. Defensively, Portland has registered four shutouts and has never surrendered multiple goals in a match in April. Allie Long has scored six goals in 12 career appearances in April, while Christine Sinclair has tallied four goals in nine games during the month spanning her career with the club.
