September 25, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Orlando Pride News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride (5-9-7, 22 points) split the points with 2022 expansion side San Diego Wave (10-6-5, 35 points) in a 2-2 draw on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium. With the result, the Pride finish unbeaten against both 2022 expansion teams this season, holding a combined 2-0-2 record against the San Diego Wave and Angel City FC.
Forward Meggie Dougherty Howard began the scoring for the Pride on the evening, finding the back of the net for the third time this season. Dougherty Howard scored in the inaugural matchup between the two sides back on Aug. 13, providing the game-winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 victory for the Pride. The Pride were scoreless in their last three games until tonight, with Dougherty Howard also providing the team’s last goal in a 2-1 loss to the OL Reign on Aug. 26.
Midfielder Gunny Jónsdóttir also found the back of the net for the Pride, counting for her second goal in the regular season and her fourth across all competitions during the 2022 campaign. Leah Pruitt collected her first assist of the year on the Dougherty Howard goal and Courtney Petersen picked up her second assist of the regular season on the Jónsdóttir finish.
Orlando Pride Interim Head Coach Seb Hines:
“I am really proud of the players. It has been tough the last four games [with] injuries, three-game week, and you could see, today, they went above and beyond to try and get a result today. The effort and the commitment and the players coming into the lineup, playing their part, and players coming off the bench, playing their part, we took it all the way to the final whistle. I am really proud of the players and everything they have put into this week to get a result today.”
Scoring Recap:
33′ Meggie Dougherty Howard (Leah Pruitt) – ORL 1, SD 0
The home side opened the scoring after Leah Pruitt collected a ball from Haley Hanson just outside the box and sent a rocket of a pass across the face of goal. Meggie Dougherty Howard came sliding into the path of the ball and poked it past the Wave goalkeeper for the lead.
68′ Gunny Jónsdóttir (Courtney Petersen) – ORL 2, SD 0
The Pride doubled the advantage when second-half substitute Haley Bugeja got in behind the Wave backline and laid the ball back for Courtney Petersen. Petersen whipped a cross into the box that found the head of Gunny Jónsdóttir, who made no mistake with the finish for the goal.
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