Pride monitor Irma ahead of next match
The Orlando Pride hope to extend their five-game winning streak and clinch a playoff berth this weekend against the Seattle Reign, but Hurricane Irma could alter that plan.
The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Orlando City Stadium. The most recent storm projections from the National Weather Service have Central Florida in Irma’s cone of uncertainty with winds and possible rain arriving as early as Saturday.
The Reign already are in Orlando and having training sessions scheduled at Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford this week, according to a spokeswoman for the club.
“We are monitoring the situation in Florida and will be consulting with the Orlando Pride and Seattle Reign FC over the coming days,” NWSL director of communications Patrick Donnelly told the Orlando Sentinel.
Pride coach Tom Sermanni echoed that statement after Pride training Tuesday, saying it is too soon to tell if the game will be impacted. The personable coach then smirked a bit as he called on fans to not let any storm keep them away from the game.
“I want our supporters to be the toughest in the league,” Sermanni said. “Come rain or storm we want our supporters at the game. Our fans are tough enough.”
Orlando City also plays Saturday but should be in Washington, D.C., before weather changes significantly here. The Lions are scheduled to fly out Friday afternoon. The return trip could be impacted depending on the storm’s track.
Winning ways
The Pride convincingly beat Boston on Saturday 4-2, but Sermanni said he saw things the team still needs to shape up in order to keep up this winning streak.
“We should have had it finished and dusted, and we allowed Boston to come back and get some glimmer of hope in the last 10 minutes,” Sermanni said. “So we’ve go to tighten up in those areas. But, overall, touch wood, if everyone stays fit and healthy the advantage of going on a good run is you get consistency in selection and generally consistency in performance. So, if we can keep that going then we’ve got the ability to win games.”
The team is winning collectively. Though Alex Morgan’s goal scoring streak made headlines recently as she racked up eight goals in seven games, three different players scored the four goals in Boston — Marta, Chioma Ubogagu and two from rookie Rachel Hill.
“I think everyone has contributed on the team,” Ubogagu said. “That’s why it feels special that we’re building this momentum now. I think everyone’s been a part of it and I think it’s great to have everyone contribute.”
And she means everyone. In addition to points, all the winning recently has given the Pride opportunities to spread around playing time. Players such as Danica Evans and Nickolette Driesse, both 22 years old, contributed in the last three home games.
“It has allowed us to do that ... get other players game time that you might not do if the game is really tight,” Sermanni said. “So, that’s been handy and it’s really helpful because it makes, hopefully, players feel that they are important. If you’re not in that starting team, you are just as important as a starter is, it’s just that you’re playing a slightly different role. So, by being able to give players game time it helps to reinforce that.”