Orlando Pride Returns to Exploria Stadium for Midweek Match against NC Courage
September 20, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Orlando Pride News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride (5-8-6, 21 points) is set to welcome the North Carolina Courage (7-8-4, 25 points) to Exploria Stadium on Wednesday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with the match available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and internationally on Twitch.
Wednesday night’s match, presented by Walt Disney World, will see the Pride host their inaugural “Woof Wednesday” game with fans able to bring their dogs to Exploria Stadium for the match. Pup Cups (whipped cream) will be available at the Pride Grill, located behind section 17 as well as a special performance by Halftime Dogs who display a unique blend of athleticism, entertainment and music making for an unforgettable experience.
“There’s still moments for us to build, we want to finish the season on a high. We’ve put so much work in. There’s still a lot to play for, we want to finish as high [in the standings] as possible and we can start that with North Carolina at home in front of our fans,” Interim Head Coach Seb Hines said. “[North Carolina has] dangerous players that we have to be aware of but we also have to play our game, our style of play and still grow and build on what we’ve achieved so far. It’s another opportunity for us to do that.”
In the first regular season matchup between the two sides, the Pride earned a 2-1 victory over the Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park. Mikayla Cluff scored her first professional goal in the match, serving as the deciding finish on the night for the Pride. Sydney Leroux also found the back of the net for the Pride with both goals coming in the first half of the match. The match also saw Viviana Villacorta and Julie Doyle make their first professional starts along with Jordyn Listro recording her first regular season start with the Pride.
The Pride dropped their most recent match to Racing Louisville by a 2-0 scoreline at Lynn Family Stadium. The Pride led in nearly every category on the evening, including a 14-11 advantage on shots, but could not find the back of the net. The match saw defender Haley Hanson make her first start for the Pride, after being acquired via trade in August.
The North Carolina Courage fell to OL Reign, 2-1, in their most recent game on Saturday night. The Courage scored in the sixth minute thanks to an own goal by the OL Reign, but weren’t able to hold off the attack of the Reign. The Courage’s three-match win streak and four-match home win streak were snapped with the loss.
At Wednesday’s match, fans can also get their hands on “The Futures Collection”, which will be available for purchase at The Den. The Pride and goalkeeper Erin McLeod unveiled “The Futures Collection” , a clothing line driven and designed by the Pride goalkeeper, last week. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between an NWSL team and a player, the collection is made from upcycled scrap materials, eliminating the need for fabric milling and reducing the climate impact from production. A portion of the proceeds from each item sold will be donated to the Zebra Coalition, an Orlando-based non-profit that aids LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness, bullying and much more.
Following Wednesday’s match, the Pride face a quick turnaround as they get set to host the San Diego Wave at Exploria Stadium for the first time in the Club’s history, which will also mark the last home game for the Pride this year. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and tickets can be purchased at Orlando-Pride.com.
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