Portland sets new club playoff record with a crowd of 25,218 in attendance
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC closed out the 2023 season with a 1-0 loss to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the semifinal round of the NWSL playoffs in front of a sellout crowd of 25,218 fans at Providence Park on Sunday evening. After a scoreless regulation period, Gotham FC broke through with the lone goal of the match in the 107th minute to seal the result.
2023 Recap
No. 2 seed Thorns FC exited the NWSL postseason in the semifinal round. Portland finished the 2023 campaign with 42 goals, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons Thorns FC have scored at least 40 goals. Portland recorded double-digit wins for a seventh straight season, and the ninth time in 10 NWSL regular seasons. As a team, 13 different players scored at least one goal, while nine players finished with at least one assist. Sophia Smith secured her first career NWSL Golden Boot with 11 goals, making her the first Portland player to achieve this accolade. Sam Coffey led the NWSL with eight assists – the second-most assists in a single season in club history. She is the second Thorns FC player to lead the league in assists (Tobin Heath – 10, 2016).
Playoff Notes
The 2023 postseason marked Portland’s seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs, while also making its ninth postseason appearance in 10 seasons – the most of any team in the league. Tonight’s sellout crowd of 25,218 marked Portland’s highest attended home playoff game. Shelby Hogan and Reyna Reyes each made their NWSL playoff debuts, while Olivia Moultrie earned her first playoff start. Notably, Hogan made her playoff debut with the fewest amount of prior league appearances (6) of any goalkeeper in NWSL history. Christine Sinclair made her 13th NWSL postseason appearance in the match, the most by any player in league history.
Goal-Scoring Plays
NJNY – Katie Stengel (Kristie Mewis), 107th minute: At the top of the 18-yard box, Kristie Mewis played a short pass to Katie Stengel, who took a few touches and curled a left-footed shot into the upper-left corner of the goal.
Notes:
- Today’s sellout crowd of 25,218 marked Thorns FC’s highest attended home playoff game.
- The 2023 postseason marked Portland’s seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs, while also making its ninth postseason appearance in 10 seasons – the most of any team in the league.
- Thorns FC recorded double-digit wins for a seventh straight season, and the ninth time in 10 NWSL regular seasons.
- Portland finished the 2023 campaign with 42 goals, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons Portland has scored at least 40 goals.
- Sophia Smith secured her first career NWSL Golden Boot with 11 goals, making her the first Portland player to achieve this accolade.
- Sam Coffey led the NWSL with eight assists – the second-most assists in a single season in club history.
- Coffey and Morgan Weaver started every match of the 2023 campaign.
- Shelby Hogan and Reyna Reyes each made their NWSL playoff debuts, while Olivia Moultrie earned her first playoff start.
- Hannah Betfort appeared in her first career playoff game, entering as a second-half substitute.
- Notably, Hogan made her playoff debut with the fewest amount of prior league appearances (6) of any goalkeeper in NWSL history.
- Christine Sinclair made her 13th NWSL postseason appearance, the most by any player in league history.
- Crystal Dunn made her 11th NWSL playoff appearance, tying second most in league history.
Portland Thorns FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – 2023 NWSL Semifinal
Nov. 5, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Lineups:
POR: GK Hogan, D Klingenberg (Kuikka, 60), D Sauerbrunn © (Hubly, 105), D Menges, D Reyes, M Coffey, M Moultrie (Sinclair,116), M Rodríguez (Sugita, 59), F Weaver (Betfort, 116), F Smith, F Dunn (Vasconcelos, 116)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Nally, M Porter
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Weaver, 2); FOULS: 18 (Reyes, 3); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2
NJNY: GK Haught, D Nighswonger, D Kieger ©, D Lopez, D Bruninha, M Ryan (O’Hara, 112), M Martin (Long, 105), M Sheehan (Stengel, 100), F Purce (Farrelly, 80), F Gonzalez (Mewis, 80), F Williams (Edmonds, 120)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Betos, D Jean, M Shim
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Nighswonger, Williams, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 20 (Martin, 5); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Stepehen McGonagle, Chris Schurfranz
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
Weather: Rainy, 55 degrees
Attendance: 25,218
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
