Pride fall at home to Courage

Before the Orlando Pride could get settled in their match against the North Carolina Courage, the home side already was down three goals and wound up losing 4-2.

By the 10th minute in Saturday’s match, the Pride had a mountain to climb to get back in the game after conceding in the 3rd, 6th, and 9th minutes, respectively.

All the chances for the Courage came down the right wing as players were caught out of position and high up the pitch, allowing North Carolina to do as it pleased in the attack.

Merritt Mathias started off things by sending in a cross that was bundled home for an own goal by Orlando’s Megan Montefusco. Then Taylor Smith crossed the ball for Jaelene Daniels to turn home just three minutes later. Smith scored one of her own from the wing, firing the ball past Pride keeper Anna Moorhouse.

Three chances from the right side, three goals scored by the Courage.

For a team in the Pride that had scored only once in their first four games, it seemed like that deficit was too daunting. The team proved otherwise. Darian Jenkins scored her first goal for the Pride in the 15th minute to get Orlando on the scoresheet. A turnover by Courage keeper Katelyn Rowland gave the ball right to Leah Pruitt, who slotted the ball to Jenkins to score.

Orlando settled down as the game went on, getting to halftime down two goals. The

second half started much sharper for the Pride with players such as Gunny Jonsdottir, Kerry Abello and Amy Turner coming into the match, giving the team some new life on both ends of the pitch.

In the 54th minute, the Pride pulled another one back. After some good passage of play, Celia got a ball into the back post for Abello, as she headed it toward the goal. Jenkins was again in good position to tap it home and get Orlando within a goal with plenty of time to play.

As the game wore on, the Pride found it harder and harder to string chances together as the Courage began to impose themselves in the second half.

Orlando was able to survive the onslaught and create some chances late in the game, but the Courage held on, scoring a goal with just two minutes to spare thanks to Debinha.

The Pride will finish out their Challenge Cup run as they travel to New Jersey to take on Gotham FC on Saturday at 7 p.m.