Orlando rookies gain experience during loss
The Orlando Pride got a glimpse of the future during the tough loss Saturday to the Seattle Reign FC.
For the first time, coach Tom Sermanni’s starting lineup featured three rookies — Sam Witteman, Christina Burkenroad and Dani Weatherholt.
Witteman, who was selected highest among the group in the NWSL draft, had already worked her way into a regular starting job before six players were called up for the Rio Olympics.
But Burkenroad and Weatherholt were promoted from supersub roles during a difficult road trip.
“Those players have come on and really energized the team,” Sermanni said of Burkenroad and Weatherholt. “It was an opportunity for them to on out there and see if we could maintain that kind of energy and intensity from the start of the game.
“They earned their opportunity.”
It was a rough debut in the starting lineup, with Seattle featuring five international players not called up for the Olympics anchoring a potent Reign attack. Seattle applied relentless pressure and rolled to a 5-2 win over the Pride.
Sermanni didn’t hold that against the rookies.
“On the night, no matter who we put out there, it was going to be a pickle,” he said.
He hopes, however, this loss will one day become a win of sorts.
Witteman, Burkenroad and Weatherholt had never faced a grueling match quite like this one and Sermanni expects them to grow from it.
“It’s part of what we’re doing this year as an expansion team,” he said. “We know we’re going to be tested. We know these are new experiences for younger players. We’re looking to the future to see how players are going to progress.”
The Orlando Pride returned home to train before playing at last-place Boston Sunday.
NWSL will then take an extended break during the Rio Olympics.
OCB earns draw
Orlando City B has extended its unbeaten streak to seven games.
OCB (6-6-7, 25 points) recorded a 2-2 draw against the Wilmington Hammerheads (6-7-6, 24 points) at Titan Soccer Complex in Melbourne Sunday night.
Michael Cox scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season and Tony Rocha later put away his first. The draw extends OCB’s unbeaten streak to seven games.
Rocha’s score could have been a game winner in the 82nd minute, but Wilmington’s Liam Miller put away the equalizer in the 90th minute.
“I thought we were going to be able to see out the victory,” OCB coach Anthony Pulis said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t kill the game off.
“I think we got better as the game went on. I thought there were some strong individual performances that we can build on going forward.”
Lions goalkeeper Mark Ridgers, who entered the match leading the Eastern Conference with 59 saves, finished with three saves.
OCB’s next game is Saturday at Louisville City FC, the club’s former USL affiliate.