Photo Courtesy of Orlando Pride

In their first preseason match under new Head Coach Marc Skinner, the Orlando Pride played to a 4-0 defeat against the North Carolina Courage Saturday in Cary, North Carolina.

The Pride had only started training with their full complement of players on the roster on Friday, going up against the defending champions. Despite the result, Skinner saw glimpses of his new mindset and gameplan being put into place, still very early in the preseason.

“I think North Carolina took chances we gave to them,” Skinner said following the loss. “What today was about was finding the best opposition, which they are clearly from their league status, and seeing how we can find a way around beating them. What we found today was lots and lots of learning experiences. Of course, the one thing I’ll never be happy with is the result, I want to win every game, but I’m also three weeks into what we are trying to do. We put things in place today and I was really, really pleased with the girls’ attitude toward doing that…I think from today, I’ve seen a lot of quality moments though obviously, the scoreline suggests differently.”

Goal summary

35′ Meredith Speck (North Carolina)

61’ Jessica McDonald; asst: Lynn Williams (North Carolina)

69′ Lynn Williams; asst: Leah Pruitt (North Carolina)

89’ Julia Spetsmark; asst: Liz Eddy (North Carolina)

Up next 

Closed preseason match against the University of South Florida on March 30.

How the Pride lined up

Orlando Pride XI: Ashlyn Harris © (Lainey Burdett, 74’); Ali Krieger (Camila 81’), Toni Pressley, Shelina Zadorsky (Erin Greening, 74’), Carson Pickett (Dani Weatherholt 46’);  Emily van Egmond (Bridget Callahan, 74’), Alanna Kennedy (Joanna Boyles, 81’), Marta (Marisa Viggiano, 74’); F Rachel Hill (Caitlin Farrell, 74’), Alex Morgan (Abby Elinsky, 81’), Chioma Ubogagu (Danica Evans 81’)

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