Consider all the options
New opportunities, questions surface with allocated players
The allocation of four Orlando Pride players by the Canadian and U.S. soccer federations opened up new possibilities and questions for the 2021 season.
American stars Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger and Alex Morgan remained allocated by the U.S. women’s national team, as they were in 2020. But the new inclusion of goalkeeper Erin McLeod on Canada’s allocated list added several new wrinkles to the Pride’s roster landscape.
Injuries knocked McLeod out of the Canada call-up pool for several years. She was last allocated in 2015, when she also served as starting keeper for Canada in the FIFA World Cup.
For McLeod, the selection garnered a celebration, fittingly timed one day before
her birthday.
“It’s an honor,” McLeod said. “I turned 38 today and to still do what I love every day is just something I’m so proud of . ... I’m just even more motivated than ever to get back into that environment.”
Besides signaling a return to form for McLeod, her allocation also opens an international slot. After Marta’s green-card acquisition, the team now holds two open international slots.
Coach Marc Skinner said the Pride are
keeping their options open for how to use the two slots. He attended all three days of the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando this week, using the opportunity to scout potential players to target for the Pride.
Although Skinner said the Pride are interested in bringing in international players, he and general manager Ian Fleming are also considering the value of an international slot to bulk up potential future trades.
“It allows us to be very selective,” Skinner said. “We are looking into the potential to use those spaces. The good thing is now that you know you can also use those to benefit your team in different ways.”
McLeod’s allocation also means the top two goalkeepers in the Pride’s depth chart will be allocated and therefore expected to earn callups throughout the majority of the year.
When Harris and McLeod serve national team duty, they’ll leave behind only one rostered goalkeeper — Brittany Wilson.
Wilson earned a place on the Pride after trying out as a preseason invitee ahead of the 2020 season. The second-year keeper is still new to the professional stage after playing one match of the NWSL Fall Series.
The Pride also drafted goalkeeper Kaylie Collins out of the University of Southern California in the 2021 draft, offering a backup if both allocated keepers are called up concurrently.
Skinner knows this could present a new challenge, but he’s confident in his young keepers. The coach cited the training environment created by McLeod, Harris and keeper coach Lloyd Yaxley, and he believes it can prepare the rookies to start more regularly this year.
“We’re hopeful that we can have that challenge for the top level one, but also have a lot of learning from underneath from the younger goalkeepers,” Skinner said. “We have to look after the future as well . ... If it happens and we’ll put our trust and our faith in our younger keepers and they’re learning a lot every single day. They’ve got two great role models to learn from so we’re pretty comfortable in where we’re at. “
Pride announce preseason schedule
The Orlando Pride will play five preseason matches in March and April to prepare ahead of the Challenge Cup, which kicks off April 9.
The team will face two NWSL opponents — at home against Kansas City March 3 and on the road in D.C. against the Washington Spirit March 20.
The Pride will also play two preseason matches against Florida State University, once at home March 13 and once in Tallahassee April 3. The team’s other preseason match will come against Flagler College March 14.
All five matches will be closed to fans and will not be broadcast.
Full preseason schedule March 3 vs. Kansas City March 13 at Florida State University
March 14 vs. Flagler College March 20 at Washington Spirit
April 3 vs. Florida State University