April 30, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – In the 97th minute, Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby scored a dramatic equalizer becoming the second goalkeeper in league history to tally a goal, helping Portland earn a 3-3 draw, and remain unbeaten through its first five games, earning a point against Angel City FC at Providence Park on Saturday night.
Goalkeeper Goals + Late-Game Drama
Bixby joins former Thorns FC goalkeeper Michelle Betos as one of two goalkeepers to score a goal in NWSL history. Betos tallied her goal in a 1-1 draw against FC Kansas City on June 19, 2015, in the 95th minute at Providence Park. Notably, it marks the second straight match Portland has scored a late-game equalizer in stoppage time to earn a draw against Angel City. In 2022, Yazmeen Ryan tallied the game-tying goal in the 96th minute to help Thorns FC earn a 1-1 draw on July 1, 2022.
Unbeaten Run Continues
Portland is now unbeaten in each of its last 12 regular season and playoff games (8-0-4). Of the seven unbeaten streaks of more than 10 games in league history (regular season and playoffs), three have been by Thorns FC, the most by any single team. Portland is unbeaten in its first five regular season games to start the 2023 campaign, outscoring its opponents by a margin of 14-5. Dating back to last season, Portland is unbeaten in its last 10 regular season games with a record of 6-0-4. Thorns FC’s longest unbeaten streak is 12 games, which spanned across the first 12 games of the 2016 season from April 17-July 9. In 2022, Portland put together an 11-game unbeaten run, spanning May 28-Aug. 10.
Goal Scorers and Playmakers
Morgan Weaver scored her third goal of the season and one in a second straight match. Dating back to the end of the 2022 regular season, Weaver has six goals in her last seven regular season appearances with five of those goals coming in games at Providence Park. Hina Sugita tallied her second goal of the year. Sugita is the fourth player to score multiple goals for Portland this season, which is two more than any other team in the league. Olivia Moultrie recorded her first assist of the 2023 campaign. It marked the sixth of her NWSL career, which makes her the only player with multiple assists before turning 19 in league history at the age of 17 years and 224 days old.
Goal-Scoring Plays
ACFC- Alyssa Thompson (Jun Endo), 10th minute: Angel City sprung a quick attack down the left side…