Tag: Thorns

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Food Not Soccer Thorns Timbers

The Rose City Review’s Menu Review

Head Chef Garrett Boisture, CEO Heather Davis, & Bold Reuse CRO and Co-Founder Heather Watkins-Smith

The start of the 2024 season brings a new food menu to fans at Providence Park. Earlier this week, I attended the annual food tasting event at to try out the new options.

This was my most anticipated event outside of the openers, finales, and playoffs.

There were definitely hits, but also, unfortunately, some misses.

Head chef Garrett Boisture’s in-house culinary menu will feature new items such as chimichurri tri-tip sandwiches, Hawaiian loaded nachos, kalua pork bowls, loaded BBQ nachos, kalbi beef rice wraps, and s’mores donut holes. The event featured local hospitality partners including Cha Cha Cha, Killer Burger, Humble Pie, Society Pie, Reyka Vodka, Aviation Gin, 10 Barrel Brewing, and Precept Wine Battle Creek Cellars. Portland Timbers CEO Heather Davis was also in attendance.

At the event, Heather Watkins, the CRO and co-founder of Portland-based Bold Reuse, discussed the implementation of her company’s programming at Providence Park. The group will eliminate single-use plastics at games.

@timbersfc

POV: I’m Dylan and ordered one of everything and you steal all of my food #foodiereview #mls #foodtok #newfood #foodie #portland

♬ original sound – video_surge

Without further ado, here’s a look at this year’s Providence Park menu offerings. Of course, everyone has different tastes and preferences, so be sure to pick your favorites!

The entrees

Society Pie: Different toppings for pizza available, but how could you ever go wrong with a slice of pepperoni?
Grade: 7.5/10

Chimichurri Tri-Tip Sandwich: The sauce is solid, and the meat is cooked to perfection, but it doesn’t have enough seasoning and has too much bread.
Grade: 6/10

Loaded BBQ Nacho: This was one of my favorite items on the list. The only issue is you’ve got to eat these quickly, before the chips get soggy. The entree comes with chips, jalapeños, chicken, cheese, and beans.
Grade: 8/10

Hawaiian Loaded Nacho: This was the best item on the menu, in my opinion. Kalua pork with mac salad and chips? Yes, please.
Grade: 8.75/10

Kalua Pork Bowl: This one’s the same concept as the Hawaiian Loaded Nacho, but with rice instead. Unfortunately, the rice was a bit dried up. so that took it from first place to second.
Grade: 8.25/10

Kalua Jackfruit Bowl: This one’s a great vegetarian alternative, with jackfruit instead of kalua pork.
Grade: 8/10

Kalbi Beef Rice Wrap: It’s cooked and presented very well. The beef could use a bit more seasoning, but this is a solid option.
Grade: 7.25/10

Killer Burger: They’re still one of my favorite burgers in the city. There is an option for everyone.
Grade: 7.75/10

Dessert

S’mores Donut Holes: This was what I was most excited to try, but  it was a something of a let down. It needs a bit more marshmallow and chocolate drizzle.
Grade: 6.5/10

Humble Pie: Marionberry pie? Sign me up! I wished there was a bit more punch to the flavor, but it’s definitely a good option.
Grade: 7/10

Drinks

Browne Family Vineyards: If you’re trying to do something lighter than a beer, this is a good option. The taste is not overwhelming at all—if anything, it could be stronger.
Grade: 7/10

10 Barrel Brewing: They literally have something for everyone. Whatever you’re up for, there is a drink for you. The overall menu is fantastic.
Grade: 8/10

Aviation American Gin: Hi, Ryan Reynolds! (Okay, he wasn’t there, because he didn’t want to upstage anyone.) The gin and mixed drinks this group comes up with is absolutely superb. If I’m ever at a game as a fan, they’ll be my first choice.
Grade: 8.25/10

Thank you

This was such a fun experience!

Last year this event was held during the first day of the snowstorm, and I wasn’t able to attend. I am so glad my bad luck didn’t strike twice.

Thanks to all of the staff, hospitality partners, and everyone in attendance for making this an amazing time.

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Soccer Thorns

The Path to Portland

Reyna Reyes made her regular season debut against Maria Sánchez and the Houston Dash. Photo by Matthew Wolfe.
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Soccer Thorns

Preseason Takeaways: Thorns 4, USWNT U-23 1

Photo by Nikita Taparia

The Thorns met with the USWNT U-23 team Wednesday night and came away with a sound 4-1 victory. Still, the game was not as comprehensively dominant for the Thorns as the scoreline would suggest.

The U-23s got on the scoreboard early, in the 13th minute, with a chipped ball from inside the box that sailed into the side netting. The Thorns wouldn’t score their first goal until nearly an hour later.

Portland’s starting XI was heavily rotated from Sunday night’s game against Racing Louisville:

Hogan

Nally- Menges – Provenzano – Beckman

Sinc – Porter – Rodríguez

Beckie – Bedfort – Vasconcelos

Here is a quick breakdown of how these starters played:

Players I want to see more from

Hannah Betfort: Betfort is the definition of a player who doesn’t quit. She is often taken to the ground and is unlucky to not be rewarded with more fouls. However, for the amount of chances she had on Wednesday alone, she should have had more positive output. There was one moment in particular when a loose ball made its way to her feet within the six yard box, the U-23 keeper caught off her line. Instead of tapping it in, Betfort ended up completely skying the ball, unable to tie the score. Before Betfort can compete for a starting spot in the Thorns, her scoring and shooting needs to be much more consistent. 

Michelle Vasconcelos: Vasconcelos was one of the only players to start both preseason games so far. Unfortunately, neither performance has been that convincing. She played on the left wing on Wednesday, but was often caught losing the physical battles to the U-23 defenders, getting the ball poked out from under her, or unable to round the corner to get off a cross. With the forward pool so deep for the Thorns, I don’t foresee Vasconcelos getting many minutes, but it does seem that Mike Norris rates her and is giving her plenty of opportunities to show her skills.  

Christine Sinclair: Sinc is an absolute legend of the game; that I cannot deny. However, watching her play, especially against a team of entirely college students, her age and speed are on full display. While her soccer IQ is still undoubtedly high, her body seems to be moving much slower than her mind is. Her first touch was often off, and she played the ball backwards more frequently than she did forwards—a problematic distinction for an attacking midfielder. She had a shot or two on goal, but both were tame, rolling straight at the U-23 keeper. Unless Sinc can show she can keep up with the pace of the game, she is much more adept in a role of mentor and supersub for the Thorns. 

Players I thought played well

Izzy D’Aquilla: The newly-signed Thorn was subbed on in the 20th minute after Janine Beckie was injured. From the moment she stepped on the field, which is always more difficult when you’re coming on at the last minute to replace an injured player, D’Aquilla showed her pace and nose for goal. In only her second preseason game, she has shown her quality and her readiness for the league. With Beckie’s devastating injury, I would expect her to immediately get deserved minutes. 

Natalie Beckman and Gabby Provenzano: The two 2022 draft picks have been showing consistent growth as they begin their second year in the NWSL. The two played next to one another on the left side of the backline and had good chemistry and communication. Provenzano has the necessary calm presence of a veteran center back, and Beckman’s high press on the wing caused frequent turnovers and created dangerous opportunities in the box. 

Taylor Porter: Porter is starting her first full year under contract with the Thorns strong. She is a solid back-up No. 6, and in the second half, was able to show her talents alongside Sam Coffey in a double-pivot. Against the U-23d, she was able to dictate play forward toward Rocky Rodríguez and D’Aquilla. I would like to see her get minutes with the likes of Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver up front in the next games. 

The goals

One of the largest takeaways from the night was that the Thorns’ starting XI, largely comprised of players who got limited minutes in the 2022 championship campaign, are just as strong as the super team of the best college players in the country. In a year where depth will be paramount to success, seeing all the Thorns players put on a strong showing provides reasons for optimism. However, it must be said that all four of the Thorns’ goals came after their starting players from the championship game took the pitch. Sam Coffey and Natalia Kuikka came on in the 64th minute, while Smith, Weaver, Crystal Dunn, and Reyna Reyes came on in the 72nd minute. 

Portland’s first goal was a pinpoint cross from Dunn to D’Aquilla, which was deftly redirected away from the keeper. The second, third, and fourth goals—all of which were scored after the 84th minute—came from recycled balls that the veterans preyed upon. Smith, Weaver, and Hina Sugita, respectively, were able to settle rebounded balls and calmly slot them home. To me, this is one of the most positive takeaways of the night, as it showed a linear improvement from last season, where the team often almost immediately lost set pieces and recycled balls. 

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Soccer Thorns

All Paths Aren’t the Same

Photo and edit by Nikitia Taparia.

Portland Thorns defender Kelli Hubly played for Chicago Red Stars Reserves team in the summers of her college career, so she had their gear. The only other team she has merchandise of is the Thorns.

Besides the Red Stars, “The only other pro team that I ever had a connection with was the Portland Thorns,” she says. “This kind of feels like it was meant to be.”

After almost quitting soccer in college, going undrafted, and receiving limited opportunities in the early years in the pros, Hubly has shown that all paths to the league aren’t the same. Through rediscovering her love for the game and believing in her abilities as a player, she has forged a path for others to follow and succeed in the NWSL.

Hubly’s journey to PTFC stardom has been truly extraordinary. Her story represents a lifetime of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Although it was an extremely difficult path, she would not change it one bit.

“My path has been crazy, says Hubly. “Looking back, it was really hard. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything because it’s gotten me exactly where I need to be. I’ve needed each step that I had to take.”

Hubly’s love for sports started at a young age. She enjoyed playing soccer and basketball. She was always around sports, thanks to her family.

“I started like, as young as I could,” she says. “I have two older siblings and younger one. My two older siblings would always be on a 3v3 tournament. So they threw all the younger siblings together. It was, like, boys and girls co-ed.”

She wasn’t always just a soccer player; Hubly’s love extended to basketball, too. For a long period of time, it was her preferred sport, but soccer was always calling.

“I realized that the club team that I had, we were pretty good,” Hubly says. “We started together really young. So, once I kind of realized like our team was pretty good, I started doing [U.S. Soccer’s Olympic Development Program] and everything.”

Even though she was getting called up into youth national team camps, Hubly still needed more belief in her own talent before she could go all-in.

“At 15, I was going to National Team camps,” she says. “I never thought I was that good. I thought I was decent, but to go into national team camps, I still didn’t believe I was good enough to be there.”

But, she says, “I kept getting called in, so  obviously I had to  then start to realize, okay, like maybe soccer is the way to go.”

The love of the game has its highs and lows. In college, Hubly experienced both. The time period would be a huge reflection point in her life. She spent three years at the University of Kentucky before transferring to DePaul.

“Kentucky was really an interesting experience because  SEC schools are huge,” Hubly says. “Going there my freshman year, I honestly didn’t even feel like I was there for school. I was mostly there for soccer.”

After her third year at Kentucky, she decided to transfer to DePaul. Hubly’s love for soccer was fading, and she didn’t even know if she wanted to play anymore.

“When I transferred to DePaul, I kind of, like, wasn’t gonna play soccer anymore,” Hubly says.

Hubly says Kentucky wasn’t the best fit for her, but Depaul was. “I really lost my love of the game,” she says. “Going to DePaul, finding my love for soccer again is what got me wanting to continue to play soccer. I didn’t ever think I was gonna play pro.”

Kelli Hubly defends Christen Press against Angel FC. Photo taken by Matthew Wolfe
Kelli Hubly defends Angel City’s Christen Press. Photo by Matthew Wolfe.

After going undrafted in 2017, Hubly’s career could have been over before it even started. Luckily, fate had other ideas. Former Thorns head coach, Mark Parsons reached out and asked her to come to preseason. When the Portland Thorns offered her an opportunity as a National Team Replacement Player that year, Hubly wanted to give it a real chance.

Hubly’s start with Portland was definitely not what she imagined, but she always remained strong and determined.

In her rookie season of 2017, she made two substitute appearances.

“I think that year, I needed that to grow,” she says, “and it wasn’t fun. I didn’t have a of friends. I was really quiet.” The normally-outgoing Hubly found herself watching Love Island eight hours a day, by her estimate.

“I was sad, but I promised myself: I’m gonna give it a year,” she says. “The next year, I came back and earned a roster spot. So I think it was just like, putting my head down doing the dirty work to get here.”

From 2018 to 2021, she earned 22 appearances with 18 starts. In 2020 and 2021, she started all the NWSL Challenge Cup matches for the Thorns.

Hubly blossomed in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup. She was dominant and staked her claim as a starter at center back moving forward—but also as one of the top defenders in the league.

Dubbed “unsung hero” of Portland’s defense, per Just Women Sports’ Hanna Martin, Hubly had the stats to prove it. She had a 100% success rate in tackles, a 68.2% success rate in duels, a 75% success rate in aerial duels, and successfully completed 84% of her passes. “Often overlooked among the Thorns’ star names, Hubly is as reliable as they come in the defensive third,” writes Martin.

In 2022, Hubly became Thorns’ Iron Woman by starting and playing in every game. She was one of only seven players in NWSL to achieve this honor.

On June 3, 2022 she scored her first ever goal off a ridiculous header against Angel City at Providence Park.

At the end of 2022 season, she would be an NWSL champion for the second time. However, for the first time, she was named NWSL Best XI Second Team.

“Honestly, I didn’t even [know],” Hubly says. “I skipped over the email because it wasn’t even a thought in my head.”

Kelli Hubly didn’t read the entire message at first, but when she looked at the NWSL email congratulating her, it was pure disbelief.

“I’ve never been the player even in college [to] win awards like that,” she says. “I’m just used to it by now. So, I was really shocked that I got the award.”

Naturally, the first person Hubly told was her other half of Portland soccer’s premier power couple: boyfriend, Portland Timber, and USMNT player Eryk Williamson.

Williamson continues to be her biggest supporter and fan, Hubly says. “He is always pushing me to be even more, even more, and even more,” she says. “He never wants me to settle.”

She then went onto tell her parents. “They’re just so happy for me,” she says, “all the hard work that is finally being recognized. I think for me, that’s the biggest part: just being recognized, like, how far I’ve come.”

In 2022, Hubly signed a contract extension that runs through 2024 and looks to be a player who could spend her entire career with the Thorns. After a lifetime of dedication to soccer, she is finally being recognized for her talent, work ethic, and consistency.

Her development since 2017 is why the NWSL matters, but also why being patient and developing players is so important. Hubly has shown that she’s only getting better and will continue to do so from here.

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Soccer

NWSL Semifinal Preview: Let the Players Play

Credit: Kris Lattimore

The Thorns are in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs for a seventh time in their history. They face off against the San Diego Wave, against whom they are 2-2-1 in 2022—between the regular season and Challenge Cup matches. Their most recent meeting was a disappointing Portland 0-2 loss at home in August. San Diego revealed in their quarterfinal game that Taylor Kornieck, who has scored three of the Wave’s six total goals against the Thorns, and Alex Morgan were healthy enough to go the full 90 minutes and into extra time, despite missing out of the USWNT’s European tour the week prior due to injury. 

With a bye due to the Thorns’ second-place league finish, the international players have had time to reintegrate with the squad, and the players have had time to decompress and refocus their energy after a frustrating 3-3 draw with last-place Gotham FC to end the regular season. The USWNT internationals had a positive break, despite their two losses, with Sophia Smith scoring a banger in Wembley, Sam Coffey making two more strong appearances, Crystal Dunn getting her first USWNT minutes as a mother, and Becky Sauerbrunn anchoring the backline. 

The semi-final will come down to who wants it more. San Diego, an expansion club, have already made history by reaching the playoffs and will want to put a cap on their impressive inaugural season. The Thorns, however, have played nice soccer on the pitch whilst being plagued with the abusive history and culture of their club’s ownership. They will want to win for themselves, to find joy in the sport despite all the difficulty surrounding it.

The Thorns and the Wave are evenly matched. Having Crystal Dunn back in the roster against San Diego for the first time could be the game-changer that pushes the game open in Portland’s favor. Both Morgan and Smith, top two in the Golden Boot race, are still consistently scoring, and each team’s defense will need to do all they can to limit the opposing striker’s time on the ball. 

Tactically, it should be a thrilling and fun game to watch at home in Providence Park. But the choice to attend the game has been heavily debated in the weeks since the Yate’s Report dropped on Oct. 3. Since then, Merritt Paulson, Gavin Wilkinson, and Mike Golub, all implicated in the report, have resigned from their positions at the head of both the Timbers and Thorns. The caveat is that Paulson and his family’s company, Peregrine Sports, still own both teams, making him still financially involved despite his public resignation. This is the holdup that many fans are divided on. 

I want to make my position clear, which is that it is necessary for Paulson and Peregrine Sports to sell both teams. So long as he collects a paycheck from PTFC, the players are not truly free to speak their minds and feel safe within the organization. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected within their job, and so long as someone who covered up abuse is at the head, that culture can simply not exist. Much like the art cannot be separated from the artist, the NWSL and its club cannot be fully separated from their abuses until they are burned down and restructured. 

At the same time, I am allowed to state that opinion because I am not employed by the Thorns. I do not owe Merritt or any other management anything, and I have no fear of being reprimanded, fired, or abused for stating my opinion. The vast majority of the players who are in the middle of the abuse do not have that luxury. 

When reporters repeatedly ask players and head coaches to speak out on the abuse that is occurring within their organization, the players often do not have the ability to speak freely on these issues. Their job, housing, and lives depend on being employed by these clubs. And with Paulson, someone with a reputation for retaliation, still at the helm, the players must protect themselves first. 

 Sauerbrunn, in a media appearance for the USWNT stated, “It’s my opinion that every owner and executive and U.S. Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players and failed to protect the players, who have hidden behind legalities and have not participated in these investigations, should be gone.”

Sauerbrunn, beloved USWNT Captain and stalwart of the league, has an innate level of protection that other players do not have. It’s unlikely that Sauerbrunn will be removed from the roster of either team she plays for because she has spoken out. Dunn and Smith, on the other hand, do not. Dunn, just returning from maternity leave, does not have a solidified spot in rosters. We’ve seen USSF cut players like Megan Rapinoe and Christen Press from rosters due to them speaking out, and it would be easier to do on a player just returning from an absence. Smith, despite all her talent, is still barely 22 years old. Her career is just starting. She can’t jeopardize that by rebelling against her employer. 

At open practice on Oct. 21, two days out from their important semi-final match, Sauerbrunn, Dunn, and Smith were all asked questions relating to the Yates Report and Thorns’ ownership. Sauerbrunn had set a precedent by speaking her dissent of Paulson owning both teams, and fans and media now expect all players to be able to be this free with their words and form a concrete opinion. 

All three players spoke about how they wanted fans to be there for them, cheering in the stands to support the players. They dodged questions about ownership and a sale of the team, which in one light can read as though they are in support of Paulson and his ownership. Silence is often associated with complacency and complicity, but when you’re asking an employee about their employer, this is no longer the case. I admit that myself, as a fan, want the players to speak out about Paulson and Peregrine Sports, but I need to stop putting that pressure on players. 

It is unacceptable to expect a player to comment on their employers without fear of retribution. 

There are rookies, players with just one or two years in the league, practice players, on field staff and trainers, all of whom don’t have much of a voice in the league. Using their voice could cause them to end up without a job, or without a support structure. 

The best result from the semifinal game will be the Thorns playing freely and with passion. Aside from a win, of course. 

It’s up to the fans individually if they want to show up in person at Providence Park on Sunday and cheer for the Thorns. It’s unacceptable that Paulson is still profiting off of the players and fans right now. But, the players still have to play. The season isn’t over yet. What media and fans can do now is stop expecting answers out of players. Direct this energy towards sponsors, upper management, and the like. They’re the ones who have the power to make change. Demand it of them. 

Categories
Soccer Thorns

The way to stop Sophia Smith is not to injure her

Sophia Smith is a menace for defenders both on the club and international level. Her footwork and finesse on the ball make her incredibly difficult to mark as she spins her way towards the goal, and defenders have caught on that one of the only ways to stop her is to foul her. 

Smith tweeted earlier this week that she needed to “practice how to shoot the ball when both legs get completely taken out from under me” in reference to a clip of a foul from Portland’s game against Kansas City on Sept. 18. The tackle, which came from behind when Smith was in on goal, one-versus-one with the KC keeper, was not called as a foul. 

She followed up her statement with a clip from a college game at Stanford, where she broke her leg during a nearly identical tackle from the opposition. 

Forwards are meant to be brave as they drive the ball toward the goal, and Smith certainly is. But when dangerous plays aren’t called, it incentives the defense to continue making reckless challenges, and leaves the forward hurt, even sidelining them for months like Smith was during college. Referees are on the pitch in order to protect players, and refusing to do so is willful neglect. 

Post-game on Wednesday night, Smith said that being repeatedly fouled is “frustrating for sure… But if I let it get to me, then it will affect how I play. So I try to not think about it too much going into games and just accept the fact that I’ll probably be getting fouled left and right.”

Players should not be forced to have this type of mindset while playing professionally. They should not be resigned to the fact that they are going to be repeatedly fouled and potentially incur a season-ending-injury. They should feel both physically and mentally safe when they walk onto the field. Until referees start calling dangerous and repeatedly plays on players like Smith, the number of fouls and injuries will only increase exponentially. 

The Thorns’ two previous games against the Kansas City Current and Racing Louisville were both physical. The Current committed 10 fouls that were called, while Racing Louisville committed 12. However, the crucial element here is the number of fouls that are not called. Per Statsbomb, Smith has been fouled 38 times, 12more times than the next highest player, Hina Sugita. 

However, in each game against the Current and Racing Louisville, Sophia Smith only won one foul.  

Here is a list of all the challenges where Sophia Smith was brought down: 

9/18 vs Kansas City Current

16′: Sophia Smith is double teamed at the top of the box. As she turns towards goal, Claire Lavogez comes in as the third defender on Smith and sticks her leg out, tripping Smith. The ball goes out of play for a goal kick. 

45+3′: Adrianna Franch comes off her line and collides with Smith as they both go for the ball. Both receive medical attention and the ball comes in on a goal kick. 

48′: Smith is played a ball over top of the defenders and runs onto it, getting there first. She takes a few touches, then once she is in the box is tackled from behind by Addisyn Merrick. No foul called. 

60′: Smith receives a ball with her back to goal. She makes the turn inside, and Merrick sticks her foot out late. Foul called for Smith. 

86′: Smith is double teamed. One player boxes her out while the other swipes at her feet and she goes down at the top of the box. No foul called. 

9/21 vs Racing Louisville

45+1′: Gemma Bonner was already between Smith and the goal when Bonner stuck her leg out, causing Smith to fall to the ground. There was an immediate whistle called. 

45+2′: Smith and Satara Murray both go after the ball, as it’s loose around the top of the box. Smith hip checks Murray, and Murray falls on top of Smith. The whistle is immediately blown against Smith. 

54′: Smith is dribbling towards goal on a threaded pass by Natalia Kuikka. Bonner swipes at Smith’s legs from the inside, doesn’t connect with the ball, and brings Smith to the ground. No whistle is blown. 

71′: Smith is subbed out. 

These are only the stats of two games, and Smith is only one person. While the data alone cannot identify a trend, when set alongside the rest of the season, they tell a more complete story. Smith has only scored once in her last five games in a Thorns jersey, compared to two in her previous two for the USWNT.  Coupled with the seeming endemic of SEI and ACL tears among NWSL players, a trend emerges indicating that players are in more danger of serious injury. With referees not calling these tackles, they will only increase, thus increasing the number of season ending injuries as well. 

The players need to be protected; it’s as simple as that. With the signing of a historic CBA, players have finally had their rights recognized, but this recognition must extend to the pitch. The first step is making sure that the referees are trained and able to call all hard tackles. If not, the risks will only escalate, and players like Sophia Smith could leave the NWSL for their own safety. 

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ICC Soccer Thorns

Women’s International Champion’s Cup 2022 Preview

Photo Credit: Matt Wolfe

Women’s soccer is producing some of the best athletes in the world alongside some of the highest quality games—and we are able to see them live and in person in Providence Park. On Wednesday, Lyon and Chelsea, the runner-up of France and champions of England face off against one another, immediately followed by the Thorns against Monterrey. The following Saturday will see the winners of each game play another to see who will be crowned winner of the fourth iteration of the Women’s International Champion’s Cup. The three other teams are all in preseason, with their regular season starting in September, but all four games will showcase the immense amount of talent that can be found in leagues internationally.

Here is a brief recap of each team’s previous season and players to watch, just in case you don’t follow leagues outside the United States. 

Monterrey

CF Monterrey Femenil is the two-time winner of Liga MX Femenil, and the first Mexican club to compete in the WICC. Monterrey are one of the most dominant teams in Liga MX Femenil, a league known for drawing huge crowds and intense rivalries. The Rayadas won the Grita México Apertura 2021 tournament, confirming that they are a top team in North America. 

Monterrey are currently leading the Liga MX Femenil table and will be in mid-season form, much like the Thorns. The 18-team Liga MX Femenil was created in 2016 to help foster an elite environment for the Mexican national team player pool, and Monterrey boats a large number of international players, represented countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. 

The Rayadas will be no strangers to the large crowds at Providence Park. Liga MX Femenil games regularly draw crowds of over 20,000, and over 51,000 people watched the final game between Monterrey and Tigres, which resulted in the Rayadas capturing the title for the second time. 

Desirée Monsiváis was the team’s top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, netting 14 goals.

Players to watch:

Rebeca Bernal

Captain Rebeca Bernal is back with the Rayadas after a head injury sustained in a Mexican international game against the USWNT, and is ready to lead her team. Bernal is a center back with 126 appearances and 30 goals for Monterrey, and 36 additional appearances for Mexico. She was awarded a spot in the Best XI for the past five years in the Liga MX Femenil, the only Rayada to earn that award. Bernal is known for her pinpoint passes and crosses to set up her teammates, deftly navigating through crowded midfields to connect the lines. 

Isabella Echeverri

Isa Echeverri is CF Monterrey’s other stalwart at defense alongside Bernal. The Colombian international is in her first season with the club, but has already begun to make a name for herself. Known for her mental attitude and “never quit” spirit, Echeverri has spoken about pushing her team forward. Echeverri has competed at the 2015 WWC and 2016 Olympics with Colombia, and has won the 2019 Pan American Games with the squad. She is also leading the fight for gender equality in Colombia, and is looking to continue that work in Mexico. 

Christina Burkenroad

American Christina Burkenroad has been on fire this season for CF Monterrey. Originally drafted by the Orlando Pride in 2016, Burkenroad has made 88 appearances and scored 37 goals for CF Monterrey since joining in 2020. She says that the Liga MX Femenil is the most professional league she has competed in, both on and off the field. She holds the record for the fastest goal scored in Mexican history at just seven seconds after the first whistle. She averages one goal every 86 minutes for the Rayadas, and will look to continue this form at the WICC. 

Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais are fresh off of their eighth UEFA women’s championship league win, beating FC Barcelona 3-1. Head coach Sonia Bompastor became the first person to win the UWCL title as both a player and a coach. Lyon has won the Division 1 Arkema, the top flight in France, a record 14 times in a row. 

At the previous iteration of the Women’s ICC, Lyon fell to the Thorns in the final thanks to a last minute, physics defying goal from Morgan Weaver. Lyon won the 2019 iteration of the tournament, defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0. 

Lyon’s return to Portland also marks the return of Lindsey Horan to her home club. She is currently spending the 2022-2023 season on loan in France. 

Unfortunately, like what feels like most of women’s soccer, Lyon has been hit with a plague of season-ending injuries. Catarina Macario, former Thorn Ellie Carpenter, and Dzsenifer Marozán have all torn their ACLs, while Amel Majiri recently gave birth to her son. 

Players to Watch:

Selma Bacha

Selma Bacha, 21, has featured for Lyon 61 times and cemented herself as a starting left-back for the club. While Bacha has been performing consistently for ages, her play against Barcelona in the Champion’s League final fast-tracked her name into the general media. The 2022 UWCL Young Player of the Year had nine assists, the most of any player, including one in the final. Her strong tackles pocketed Jenni Hermoso and Caroline Graham Hansen, two of the strongest players in the game, preventing them from scoring crucial goals and stifling Barcelona’s offense. Bacha has also been nominated for the 2022 Balon D’or. Look to see Bacha provide more assists and pinpoint passes at the WICC. 

Damaris Egurrola

After joining OL in January 2021, Dama Egurrola quickly established herself as a linchpin in the midfield and as a starter. The Dutch player already has three goals in her eight international appearances after making the one-time switch in nationality earlier in 2022. Egurrola is a traditionally defensive midfielder, but her time playing youth football for Spain has given her a flair for footwork. She is the axis of attack, and will be a crucial player to look out for switching the point of attack and giving the offense room to go for goal. 

Griedge Mbock-Bathy

Griedge Mbock-Bathy has made 101 appearances for Lyon as a center back since joining the side in 2015. The French international has won the UWCL six times and recently helped France achieve their first semi-final finish in a major international tournament, ever. Her ball control and ability to slice-and-dice defenders at either box has proved her to be a ruthless assistant. She posted a 100% passing completion rate at the 2022 Euros against Belgium, and even scored from her center-back position. Look for Mbock-Bathy to be a force all across Providence Park, scoring goals and blocking others. 

Chelsea

Chelsea is full of the top European talent. Head coach Emma Hayes has an eye for scouting talented youth, and the budget and facilities to draw them to London. Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Beth England, and Fran Kirby were a part of the Lionesses squad that captured the 2022 Euro trophy, and are in game form. Overall, 13 members of the current Chelsea squad represented seven different countries at the tournament. 

The Blues have won the three previous Barclays Women’s Super League titles, although the 2022 season went down to the last game in a race between Arsenal and Chelsea. As the competition in England grows greater, Chelsea have still managed to remain on top. 

Current Thorns player Crystal Dunn spent the 2017-2018 season at Chelsea, helping them capture FAWSL Spring Series title, as well as reach the UWCL quarter-finals—the furthest Chelsea had gone at the time. 

Players to watch:

Jessie Fleming

Jessie Fleming, 24, already has numerous accolades at both the domestic and international levels under her belt. These include an Olympic gold and bronze medal, three FAWSL titles, and two FA Women’s Cup titles. Fleming is a dynamic midfielder with a strong technical ability and vision to link up the defense and attack. After spending the majority of her first season at Chelsea on the bench as a late-game substitute, Fleming was determined to elevate her game and earn more playing time. Her effort has proved effective, as she earned Canadian Player of the Year honors in 2021. Despite her young age, Fleming has stepped up as a leader for her country, wearing the captain’s armband when Christine Sinclair is out, and being handed the game-winning PK to take in the Olympic semi-final game against the United States. 

 

Kadeisha Buchanan

Olympic gold medalist Kadeisha Buchanan could feature for Chelsea for the first time after she transferred from fellow WICC competitor Lyon over the summer. Buchanan is a center-back who is known for her build-up play and one-on-one skills. Her ability to read the game is unmatched, and she excels at putting herself and the rest of her backline in the proper positions. She most recently won Canada’s Player of the Year in 2020, her third time winning the award, and was nominated for the 2015 Balon D’or after her performance in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Buchanan currently has 124 international appearances, with 119 of those being starts. 

 

Beth England

Beth England, a Blue since 2016, is a scoring fiend. Her goal scoring ability ranks second only to Sam Kerr (of course), and won WSL player of the 2019-2020 season due to her accuracy in front of goal. Despite making many of her Chelsea appearances from the bench, England had 14 goals in her 34 apparances in the previous season. England was a member of the 2022 Euro’s winning squad, and has made 19 international appearances, scoring nine goals. Chelsea will be looking to use her pace and finesse on the ball to drive at defenders and confidently find the back of the net. 

 

Categories
Not Soccer Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 2, Red Stars 2

Photo by Nikita Taparia

It’s been a few games since we have provided a recap, but honestly, soccer has felt insignificant against the horrors of the world. Since we last wrote, the Thorns drew 1-1 against the Washington Spirit, and fell 0-2 in their first loss of the regular season against the Dash.

The Thorns tied for the third time in the 2022 season against the Red Stars on Saturday night, 2-2. 

Hina Sugita’s and Sophia Smith’s goals leveled the score after a Thorns deficit, and both were scored off of set pieces. The Thorns have been unable to create a goal in the run of play in three games—and that pattern held true in Chicago where they were unable to generate the game-winner. 

Maybe it’s so many lackluster or frustrating games in a row, but I’m finding it hard to feel happy when watching the Thorns play. It’s not for a lack of effort on the players’ part—there are many brilliant things happening on the pitch. Sugita scored her first NWSL regular season goal. Meaghan Nally dominated her passing game, with a 94% accuracy on her 59 passes. Sophia Smith is still an absolute force on the field and in front of goal. Sam Coffey is having one of the most complete rookie seasons the NWSL has ever seen, assisting both of the goals on Saturday. 

Coffey and Smith spoke post-game about the dissatisfaction the team felt toward their recent results, despite seeing growth on the field. 

It’s from that dissatisfaction that growth is born, as players push themselves to be better than they were the day before. But, how come that same mentality doesn’t seem to exist off the pitch? 

The state of the world has become so untenable that not even my favorite team playing my favorite sport seems to bring joy. If that’s my personal perspective, I cannot imagine the mentality of the players who have to work and preform for the public each week. 

Three mass shootings in the past two weeks, targeting people of marginalized identities—Vietnamese, Black, Latinx children. Yet, nothing is being done. There is no change or growth coming from these tragedies; we are just forced to be scared and numb to these horrors. 

Soccer is a game. It is not a microcosm of life. It isn’t meant to solve world peace or cure cancer. But it is meant to be fun. 

Seeing players—people—visibly frustrated and disappointed on and off the pitch is understandable. You can’t expect them to play or be their best selves when they aren’t protected and safe, just as you can’t expect people to enjoy the product in the same way. 

The Thorns’ game against the Red Stars was probably as perfect as a metaphor as I could be searching for here. They went down early, and immediately rallied back, leveling the score. Near the end of the first half, they let another transitional goal in, and went into the locker room down. 

Yet, they persevered. They didn’t give up, didn’t stop fighting. They got that equalizing goal off of Smith assisting herself via volley. They kept driving at the goal, even when they weren’t being successful. They wanted at least a point on the road, and the Thorns got just that. 

It may not have been what they wanted, especially off the back of three games in which they earned just two points. But sometimes in the circumstances you are placed in, you don’t need to thrive, just survive. And that’s what the Thorns are doing. They are surviving, picking up points when they can. That’s what we all should be doing right now. 

Categories
Soccer Thorns Timbers

Photos: PTFC For Peace

Photo by Matthew Wolfe.
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Categories
Soccer Thorns

Photos: Reflecting on the Thorns’ First Game Against LA

Photo by Matthew Wolfe.
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