April 30, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – In their 2022 NWSL regular-season home opener, Portland Thorns FC earned a 3-0 shutout victory over the Kansas City Current at Providence Park on Saturday afternoon. Morgan Weaver, Christine Sinclair and Sophia Smith tallied a goal each. Thorns FC are 9-0-0 in home openers and 7-1-1 in season openers. It also marked Portland’s fifth clean sheet in a season opener.
Thorns FC’s 10th Anniversary
Portland kicked off its 10th season of play in the National Women’s Soccer League, improving to 7-1-1 in season openers. Thorns FC have recorded five shutouts (2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) on the opening weekend of NWSL play, which is the most of any team in league history. Sinclair is one of six active players in the NWSL to have spent every season with the same club since 2013 (Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, Tori Huster, Alyssa Mautz, Megan Rapinoe, Sinclair).
Portland Home Openers
Thorns FC are 9-0-0 in NWSL regular-season home openers, outscoring opponents 26-5 in those matches. Weaver, Sinclair and Smith each contributed to a goal for a second consecutive regular-season opener. Weaver tallied two assists in the 2021 home opener and added a goal in the 2022 opener. Smith scored two goals in last year’s home opener and one in today’s home opener. Sinclair has scored in back-to-back home openers, and in three out of the last four home openers (2018, 2021, 2022).
Debuts
Sam Coffey made her NWSL regular season debut, also earning the start for Portland. Janine Beckie made her Thorns FC regular season debut. It was Beckie’s first NWSL regular season appearance since July 21, 2018, when she played for Sky Blue FC against Portland. Meaghan Nally earned her first start in an NWSL regular season match. Hina Sugita recorded her NWSL regular-season debut, entering as a second-half substitute.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Morgan Weaver, 8th minute: Following build up play from the…