Pride push to extend win streak
Orlando Pride players were drenched in sweat, jockeying for position during the final minutes of their training session Friday.
They shouted and sprinted with purpose until coach Tom Sermanni called them in to wrap up the workout.
The Pride may be riding a four-game win streak and among the most dangerous sides in the National Women’s Soccer League, but there seems to be little danger the club will relax now that it finally sits above the playoff cut line.
“You have to fight for your position on every team, but this
team has so much talent that you have to really work for every opportunity,” Pride forward Chioma Ubogagu said. “You cannot take any plays off. We really push each other to work hard and try to be the best. If you don’t do that, you don’t get to play. No one is letting up.”
The Pride (9-6-5, 32 points) will work to extend their streak and improve their playoff position when they take on the Boston Breakers (3-10-7, 16 points) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando sits in fourth place in the NWSL table and points would help improve their playoff position. The Pride are tied with Chicago at 32 points, but the third-place Red Stars own a head-to-head tiebreaker in the series with Orlando. The Pride are five points away from Portland (11-5-4, 37 points), which owns the second place spot and homefield advantage in the playoffs.
While Boston is in ninth place, with three losses and two draws during its past five games, Pride coach Tom Sermanni expects the Breakers’ best effort.
Orlando had to adapt to more defensive pressure from Boston during a 2-1 road win over the Breakers on Aug. 19 and could face a different look when the teams face off again.
“We’re having to raise our game even higher and teams are taking much more tactical care when they play against us,” Sermanni said.
“When we played Boston last week, they played five in the back, so they [kept] things really tight. Teams are putting in extra preparation to play against us and nullify us.”
Pride midfielder Dani Weatherholt said the team feels confident and well prepared for each match after their intense training sessions.
“I’ve never been on a team this talented and it’s possible I’ll never be on a team this talented again in the future,” she said. “It’s amazing. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can from every single person every day. It’s an incredible opportunity. We believe in each other, we’re working well together and we haven’t accomplished all our goals yet. “
Orlando’s depth will be valuable, with defender Kristen Edmonds out due to a right calf strain and forward Jasmyne Spencer sidelined for a second week because of a right hamstring strain.
The team still has strong leaders at every position, with goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris; defenders Steph Catley and Ali Krieger; midfielder Marta; and forward Alex Morgan all expected to play.
Brazilian Camila is among many versatile players who could easily slide back to help fill Edmonds’ spot.
The Pride have gained confidence from a surge in scoring, including Morgan’s seven goals in August, and their recent run of tough road wins.
Despite their talent and success, Ubogagu said the Pride still expect it to take their best effort to keep winning.
“It’s hard to beat a team multiple times in a season,” she said of the Breakers. “You have to keep the same intensity and the same focus that we’ve had during our wins. You can’t let up at all. We need to stick to our game plan. I think we’ve been playing really well and we just need to build on it.
“We’ve had good energy, good vibes and we need to keep it going.”