June 19, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC recorded a second consecutive shutout win with a 6-0 victory over the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon. Five different players scored a goal for Portland (Hina Sugita, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sophia Smith, Natalia Kuikka, Taylor Porter), while four players added an assist (Janine Beckie, Sauerbrunn, Olivia Moultrie, Yazmeen Ryan). Notably, Smith recorded a brace in a second consecutive match, while Sauerbrunn notched a goal and an assist – her firsts with Portland. Thorns FC are now unbeaten in five straight matches (3-0-2).
Last Five’s Form
Today’s win extended Portland’s unbeaten streak to five straight matches (3-0-2). Notably, Thorns FC have tallied multiple goals in each of those matches, marking the first time the team has scored multiple goals in five straight regular season matches. During its unbeaten run, Portland has scored 17 goals and conceded four, earning three shutouts. Including Thorns FC’s 4-0 win over Houston on June 12, the team has registered back-to-back shutout wins with four or more goals for the first time in club history. They became the second team to score 10 or more goals in a two-match span in NWSL history, taking 20+ shots in each of those games. Thorns FC lead the league in goals (21) with the best goal differential (+14), and are tied for the most clean sheets (5).
Playmakers and Goal Scorers
Sugita opened Portland’s account today, scoring her second goal of the season. Beckie earned the assist, her second of the season. Sauerbrunn registered her first career goal and assist with Thorns FC. The goal marked the fifth of her NWSL career. Sophia Smith notched a second-half brace, scoring in a third straight match and recording a goal contribution in a fifth straight match (6g, 2a). Notably, with her brace against Houston on June 12, Smith became the first player in club history to record back-to-back multi-goal games. Smith now leads the team with eight goals, already surpassing her final 2021 tally (7). Kuikka got on the scoresheet with her second-half goal, marking her first NWSL regular season goal, with an assist from Moultrie. In Portland’s last two matches, Moultrie has registered a goal and two assists. Closing out the final score, Porter scored her first NWSL goal assisted by Ryan. The assist was Ryan’s second of the match and her team-leading third of the season.
Goal-Scoring…