May 29, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Portland Thorns FC rallied twice from a deficit to earn a point on the road, playing to a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night. Two minutes after conceding in the first half, Portland leveled the match through Hina Sugita’s first NWSL regular season goal. Trailing 2-1 early in the second half, Sophia Smith scored her third of the campaign to level the match and help Thorns FC secure a draw.
Smith File
Playing in her fifth game of the regular season, Sophia Smith scored her team-leading third goal of the campaign. The goal was the 10th of Smith’s NWSL career with Portland. With the goal, she becomes the eighth player in club history to register double-digit goals. Notably, Smith has scored three goals in three career games against the Red Stars.
NWSL Firsts
Hina Sugita scored her first career NWSL regular season goal in the match. Yazmeen Ryan recorded her first professional career assist. Saturday’s game marked Portland’s first road match of the 2022 season. Dating back to the 2021 season, Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last three road matches in regular season play, posting a record of 1-0-2.
Goal-Scoring Plays
CHI – Mallory Pugh (Ava Cook), 5th minute: Ava Cook delivered the ball to Mallory Pugh in the midfield. Pugh dribbled down the left side and into the box, firing a shot low and hard inside the left post.
POR – Hina Sugita (Yazmeen Ryan), 7th minute: Off a corner kick, Sam Coffey whipped a ball into the center of the box. Yazmeen Ryan flicked the ball on with her head, and Hina Sugita made a late run to the back post and delivered a powerful left-footed strike from a tight angle near the left edge of the six-yard box into the right corner of the goal.
CHI – Rachel Hill (Ava Cook), 20th minute: Ava Cook played the ball into space behind the Portland backline and Rachel Hill ran onto the ball, dribbled into the box and…