May 1, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Orlando Pride News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride (0-1-0, 0 points) dropped a 3-0 decision to NJ/NY Gotham FC (1-0-0, 3 points) on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium in the Club’s 2022 NWSL regular-season opener.
Gotham FC saw goals from McCall Zerboni, Margaret Purce and Kristie Mewis in the 29th, 30th and 41st minutes, respectively, to send the New Jersey-based side into the halftime break with the three-goal lead. The Pride created chances in the second half to try and cut into the deficit, including a low cutting shot from Angharad James in the 86th minute that forced a diving save from Ashlyn Harris to keep the Pride off the board at the end of the match.
Sunday’s match saw four players make their NWSL regular-season debuts and one player make her professional debut. Starters Mikayla Cluff and Kerry Abello as well as second-half subs Carrie Lawrence and forward Julie Doyle achieved the same milestone. Doyle was selected 11th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft, while Lawrence was signed via Discovery in January 2021.
Midfielder Viviana Villacorta made her professional debut for the Pride in the 72nd minute of tonight’s match. Villacorta was selected by the Pride at No. 9 overall in the 2021 NWSL College Draft out of the University of California Los Angeles. The midfielder returned to UCLA following the Draft for her senior season but picked up a season-ending injury in the team’s first game of 2021.
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