Sophia Smith tallies hat trick as Thorns FC best Washington Spirit 4-2

Sophia Smith picked up her second hat trick of the season in Thorns FC's 4-2 win over Washington

PORTLAND, Ore. – In her final match before departing for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, forward Sophia Smith tallied a hat trick and Portland Thorns FC defeated the Washington Spirit 4-2 Friday evening at Providence Park. Morgan Weaver tallied her fourth goal of the season, while Sam Coffey recorded her second-multi assist game to bring her season total to a league-best six assists.

Home FormDating back to last season, the Thorns are unbeaten in their last 10 home games in all NWSL competitions (8-0-2), outscoring opponents, 29-9, in that span. It equals the longest unbeaten streak in team history (all competitions), equaling a streak of 10 games that spanned across the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last eight regular season home matches with a record of 6-0-2, and remain as one of just two unbeaten teams (Washington) at home in 2023 with a record of 4-0-2. Portland has scored multiple goals in five of its six home matches in 2023, including four goals in three of those matches. At home in 2023, Thorns FC have outscored their opponents by a margin of 18-6. Individually, Morgan Weaver has four goals this season, which have all been scored at Providence Park.

Hat-Trick QueenRecording her second scored career hat trick, Smith became just the third player in league history to net two hat tricks in one season (Sam Kerr, Kristen Hamilton). Smith leads the league with 10 goals this season and now has 31 goals in her NWSL career. The 22-year-old striker has scored in four consecutive matches, tallying five goals total dating back to June 3 (OLR, ORL, CHI, WAS). Smith is the third player in league history to register multiple scoring streaks of four or more matches. Notably, Smith became the youngest NWSL player to reach 30 career goals and also surpassed former Thorns FC midfielder Allie Long for second all-time on the Thorns FC scoring list. Tonight’s three goals scored gave Smith her second multi-goal match in the 2023 season and the seventh of her career.

Tonight’s NotablesWith the win, Portland moved back to the top of the league standings with 25 points (6-2-4). When playing against the Spirit, Thorns FC lead the series with a 14-3-7 record and 8-0-5 when playing at home. Portland has scored 33 total goals in the regular season, which is 13 more goals than the next best team with 20 goals (WAS). Additionally, Portland has tallied 26 total assists, which is also 12 more assists than the next best team (OL Reign). Thorns FC have four players with three or more assists: Coffey (6), Smith (5), Weaver (3), Hina Sugita (3). No other team has more than one more player with three or more assists. Weaver has registered five points in the last four matches (1g, 3a). Sam Coffey registered her second multi-assist game of the season, leading the league with six assists. Hina Sugita tallied her third assist of the season for Portland in tonight’s match.

World Cup BoundThorns FC recognized six players who are set to depart after tonight’s match to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith will join the USWNT while Christine Sinclair and Adriana Leon join Canada, Hina Sugita will play for Japan and Rocky Rodríguez for Costa Rica. Dunn is set to make her second World Cup appearance, while is set to feature in her first World Cup this summer. Sinclair joins Canada in World Cup play for the sixth time in her career. Leon joins Sinclair with Canada to make her third appearance in the tournament. Sugita will play for Japan at the World Cup for the second time in her career. Rodríguez joins Costa Rica for her second World Cup appearance.

Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Sophia Smith (Sam Coffey), 11th minute: Sam Coffey completed a pass to Sophia Smith near the right side of the midfield. Smith dribbled through the Washington defense and fired a left-footed shot into the left corner of the goal from just outside the box.

WAS – Ashley Hatch (Ashley Sanchez), 13th minute: Dorian Bailey sent the ball down the left side of the six-yard box where Ashley Sanchez recovered it and passed it back across the goal. Ashley Hatch finished the play with a left-footed shot into the left corner of the goal from close range.

POR – Sophia Smith, 23rd minute: Standing near the midfield, Smith beat four Washington players to the ball on a breakaway run and delivered a right-footed strike from outside the box into the left corner of the goal.

WAS – Ashley Sanchez, 46th minute: Ashley Sanchez blocked the ball from leaving the box off a clearance attempt, controlling it down and sending a floating ball into the top-right corner of the goal.

POR – Sophia Smith (Hina Sugita), 47th minute: Hina Sugita chipped a ball over a Washington defender for Smith, who dribbled into the box and sent a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

POR – Morgan Weaver (Sam Coffey), 63rd minute: Coffey sent a long ball into the 18-yard box that landed in front of Morgan Weaver, who sprinted and off her first touch slotted the ball toward the right corner of the goal and into the back of the net.

Next GameWith a quick turnaround, Thorns FC will return to Providence Park take on OL Reign in the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup on Wednesday, June 28. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm PT on Paramount+.

Notes:

• With tonight’s victory, Portland (7-2-4, 25pts) sits in first place in the NWSL standings. 
• Undefeated at home, the win was Portland’s fourth at Providence Park (4-0-2) in 2023.
• Sophia Smith recorded her second career hat trick tonight, becoming just the third player in league history to net two hat tricks in one season (Sam Kerr, Kristen Hamilton).
• Smith, who scored her eighth, ninth and tenth goals of the season tonight, currently leads the league with 10 goals.
• The 22-year-old striker has scored in four consecutive matches, tallying five goals total dating back to June 3 (OLR, ORL, CHI, WAS).
• Smith became the youngest player to score 30 goals, besting Sam Kerr who accomplished this feat at 23 years and nine months.
• With her three goals, Smith passed Allie Long (30g) for second-place all-time for career goals in club history.
• Tonight’s three goals scored gave Smith her second multi-goal match in the 2023 season. Smith has seven multi-goal games in her NWSL career.
• Morgan Weaver scored her fourth goal of the season, all of which have come at Providence Park.
• Weaver has registered five points in the last four matches (1g, 3a).
• Sam Coffey registered her second multi-assist game of the season.
• Coffey leads the league in assists with six assists.
• Hina Sugita tallied her seventh assist for Portland tonight.
• Portland has scored 33 total goals in the regular season, which is 13 more goals than the next best team with 20 goals (WAS).
• Portland is the only team in the NWSL to score in all 13 regular season matches this year.
• Thorns FC have scored 18 first-half goals in 13 games this season, more than any other team in the NWSL.
• Additionally, Portland has tallied 26 total assists, which is also 12 more assists than the next best team (OLR).
• Thorns FC have four players with three or more assists: Coffey (6), Smith (5), Weaver (3), Sugita (3). No other team has more than one player with three or more assists.
• Portland has five players with three or more goals this season (Smith - 10, Dunn - 5, Weaver – 4, Sinclair - 3, Sugita - 3) – more than any other team in the league.
• Notably, three of those five players contributed to goals in today’s match.
• Portland holds a 14-3-7 record over Washington and are 8-0-5 when playing at home.
• Natalia Kuikka made her 50th NWSL appearance in tonight’s match. All of those appearances have been with Thorns FC.
• Shelby Hogan earned her second career NWSL regular season start. It was her first start in a NWSL regular season match at Providence Park.
• Thorns FC recognized six players who are set to depart after tonight’s match to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Dunn and Smith (U.S.), Sinclair and Leon (CAN), Hina Sugita (JAP) and Rocky Rodríguez (CR).

Portland Thorns FC (7-2-4, 25pts) vs. Washington Spirit (6-2-5, 23pts)
June 23, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Smith (Coffey), 11
WAS: Hatch (Sanchez), 13
POR: Smith, 23
WAS: Sanchez, 46
POR: Smith (Sugita), 47
POR: Weaver (Coffey), 64

Misconduct Summary:
None

Lineups:
POR: GK Hogan, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Menges, D Reyes, M Coffey, M Sinclair © (Moultrie, 67), M Dunn, F Sugita (Porter, 93), F Smith, F Weaver (Vasconcelos, 79)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Klingenberg, D McGrady, D Nally, F Leon, F D’Aquila

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Smith, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Smith, 4); FOULS: 3 (three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1

WSH: GK Kingsbury ©, D Bailey, D Staab, D McKeown, D Carle, M Jaurena (Ricketts, 67), M Sullivan, M Metayer, F Rodman, F Hatch (Douglas, 87), F Sanchez (Kuhlmann, 91)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bosselmann, GK Barnhart, D Brooks, M Tanner, M Sheva, F Silano,

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Sanchez, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Hatch, 2); FOULS: 9 (Carle, Sullivan, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Felisha Mariscal, Katarzyna Wasiak
Fourth Official: Jaclyn Metz
VAR: Luis Garcia
Weather: Sunny, 74 degrees
Attendance: 20,254

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial