MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Orlando City Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Forecast: 86 degrees, Scattered thunderstorms
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Cory Richardson Fourth Official: Christina Unkel
Fifth Official: Benjamin Wooten
Broadcast: Lifetime
Broadcast talent: Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play), Aly Wagner (analyst), Dalen Cuff (sideline reporter), Julie Foudy (sideline reporter)
MATCH PREVIEW
Portland Thorns FC earned a berth to their second NWSL Championship in five seasons with a 4-1 win against the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on Oct. 7.
Thorns FC received goals from midfielder Amandine Henry, defender Emily Sonnett and forwards Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair. Henry and Sonnett helped Portland jump out to a 2-0 lead, scoring a pair of goals in a three-minute span in the first 15 minutes, while Raso and Sinclair added goals in the final 20 minutes of the match.
The championship match features the top two defenses in the NWSL. Portland and North Carolina combined for 23 shutouts during the regular season, while allowing 20 and 22 goals, respectively. Offensively, Thorns FC tallied 37 goals, while the Courage scored 38 goals in 2017.
REGULAR SEASON IN REVIEW
Individually, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch set an NWSL single-season record for shutouts (11), while Christine Sinclair became Portland’s all-time leading goal scorer (31) and Allie Long became the first player in club history to appear in 100 games.
As a team, Portland had the top defense in the NWSL for a second consecutive season, allowing the fewest goals (20) with the best goal differential (+17) and finished tied for the lowest goals-against average (0.83) in league history.
THIS SEASON VS. NORTH CAROLINA
Thorns FC were 1-1-0 against the Courage during the 2017 regular season. North Carolina won the first match between the two sides by a score of 1-0 in just the second match of the season, receiving a late goal from midfielder Debinha. Portland earned a 1-0 win at Providence Park on July 15 as Raso scored a second-half goal with a header off cross from defender Meghan Klingenberg.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
Midfielder Denise O’Sullivan notched her first goal with the North Carolina Courage in the 90th minute, sending North Carolina to the NWSL Championship with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on Oct. 8 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage are led by forward Lynn Williams (9g, 5a) and midfielder Sam Mewis (7g, 3a), while goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland registered eight shutouts in 16 regular-season appearances, recording 39 saves.
