May 6, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
CARY, N.C. – Portland Thorns FC rallied to earn a point on the road after trailing three separate times, earning a 3-3 comeback result against the North Carolina Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night. Crystal Dunn notched a brace and Olivia Moultrie tallied the equalizer in the 83rd minute to extend Portland’s unbeaten run to six games to start the campaign.
Comeback Kids
After trailing three times in the match, Thorns FC found a way to equalize with goals from Dunn and Moultrie. Dunn recorded her first career brace for Thorns FC and the sixth of her NWSL career across the regular season and the playoffs. Scoring her fourth goal of the season, Dunn is tied with Sophia Smith for the team lead in goals. Moultrie registered her first goal of the season and a goal contribution in a second straight match after tallying an assist against Angel City FC on April 29. Smith recorded her team and league-leading fifth assist of the season, and her ninth goal contribution (4g, 5a) of the 2023 campaign. Meghan Klingenberg also registered an assist in the match, marking her second of the season, while Natalia Kuikka tallied her first assist of the year.
Streaking Through Six
Portland is unbeaten in its first six regular season games to start the 2023 campaign, outscoring its opponents by a margin of 17-8. Dating back to last season, Portland is unbeaten in its last 11 regular season games with a record of 6-0-5 and 13 games overall including playoffs (8-0-5). Thorns FC’s longest regular-season 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-Scoring Plays
NCC – Own goal (Emily Menges), 1st minute: Ryan Williams attempted a cross from near the right endline, but the ball took a deflection off Emily Menges’ foot and snuck inside the near post.
POR – Crystal Dunn (Sophia Smith), 22nd minute: Sophia Smith dribbled down the left wing and delivered a pass to the top of the 6-yard box for Crystal Dunn, who fired a first-time shot with her left foot into the back of the net.
NCC – Kerolin, 26th minute: Kerolin received the ball in the middle of the field and drove a right-footed shot from distance into the lower left corner of the goal.
POR – Crystal Dunn (Meghan Klingenberg), 52nd minute: Building from the back, Portland finished off the…