Edmonds: Pride never found stride
If any Orlando Pride player could serve as a representation for the lack of a consistent starting lineup for the club this season, it would be
She’s a player who is used to being deployed in different roles, but that lack of consistency is something that spread through the entire club this season. Orlando coach
has tinkered with his lineups in response to injuries and national-team call-ups, but even when his stars have been available, he’s tried new formations in an effort to get the most out of players. The lack of consistency was bemoaned by both veteran defender and star forward
after a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, and Sermanni himself said he wasn’t fond of constantly switching things up so late into the season.
Edmonds, who started at right back on Saturday, has been deployed in a variety of positions this season, from right back to defensive midfielder to left-side forward to wingback on either side of the pitch.
“For me, honestly, I’m kind of used to it because that’s been season-in-andout for me,” said Edmonds, who has been with the Pride since the club’s inaugural season in 2016. “I am kind of used to being all over the COMMENTARY place. At times it gets frustrating because we never found our stride. I never really knew what to do or expect, playing in certain positions at times. But I think it comes down to as a collective team, we never got going this season. Individually and as a team, it’s kind of the same frustration.”
That frustration boiled over Edmonds during the club’s loss to the Red Stars, which eliminated the Pride from playoff contention. After Edmonds was subbed off in the 54th minute of the match — when the Pride were down 2-0 — she walked away from the bench and sat alone. The Red Stars scored a third goal in the 59th minute.
“I was just frustrated, obviously,” Edmonds said. “We were down 2-nil at that point. Coming off in that circumstance, I thought that that was kind of our chance to make it into the playoffs. That was our make-orbreak-it game and at that point, it seemed like our season was kind of coming to an end, so I was just frustrated.”
The Pride still have one match remaining. Orlando takes on Sky Blue FC for the third time this season on Sept. 8. Edmonds said the match represents a chance for the Pride to end on a high note after a tumultuous 2018 campaign.
Orlando (8-9-6, 30 points) is winless in its last seven matches and has lost three in a row.
“I don’t think we ever really got a grasp on the season,” she said. “Beginning to end, I feel like we never kind of put a string of games together. We never found our stride to get going forward. It comes down to a ton of factors. Top to bottom, it just … nothing clicked for this season, for us.” Orlando Pride goalkeeper
earned NWSL Save of the Week honors for the seventh time this season for denying Red Stars star in a one-on-one situation after Kerr got in behind the Pride’s back line in the 31st minute of Saturday’s match. The save kept the match scoreless at the time. Kerr went on to score two goals to go with an assist in an NWSL Player of the Week performance against Orlando.