March 16, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – With a four goal second-half surge, Portland Thorns FC registered a 4-1 victory over the U.S. U-23 Women’s Youth National Team at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Izzy D’Aquila, Sophia Smith, Hina Sugita and Morgan Weaver each tallied goals in the team’s second match as part of their preseason tournament.
Goal Scorers and Playmakers
Four different Thorns FC players scored a goal tonight (D’Aquila, Smith, Sugita, Weaver) and two tallied an assist (Dunn, Sugita). D’Aquila, this year’s first round (No. 12 overall) NWSL draftee, scored her first preseason goal for Portland, logging 71 minutes. Smith tallied her first goal of the preseason and fourth with Thorns FC in preseason tournament play. Her four goals are tied for the most by a Portland player in the tournament since it began in 2016. Sugita added a goal and an assist. Sugita joins Christine Sinclair as the only other player with at least one goal and one assist for Portland in Thorns FC preseason tournament action.
Thorns FC Preseason Tournament Notes
Portland is unbeaten in its last six preseason tournament matches (4-0-2), which includes four consecutive wins. Reyna Reyes, Crystal Dunn and Morgan Weaver made their preseason tournament debuts, logging 18 minutes as second-half substitutes. Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan also appeared in her first preseason game for Portland, starting and playing 90 minutes.
Goal-Scoring Plays
U-23 WYNT – Sarah Weber, 13th minute: Eva Gaetino headed the ball into the box off a corner kick. Rocky Rodríguez attempted to clear the ball, but Sarah Weber pounced on the clearance, hitting a right-footed volley into the top left corner of the goal.
POR – Izzy D’Aquila (Crystal Dunn), 73rd minute: Dunn drove the ball down the left wing of the 18-yard box, cutting past a U.S. defender before sending a pinpoint cross to D’Aquila near the penalty spot. D’Aquila finished the play with a header into the lower left corner of the goal.
POR – Sophia Smith, 73rd minute: Dunn crossed the ball into the box where D’Aquila fired a shot from close range that was blocked. Smith took possession of the ball off the rebound near the edge of the box, controlled it with one touch and fired a right-footed ball into the bottom right corner of the goal.
POR – Morgan Weaver (Hina Sugita), 90th minute: Smith served the ball into the box from the left and Sugita redirected the ball toward the left…