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Match Recap: Gotham FC defeats Orlando Pride 3-1
October 20, 2024

Match Recap: Gotham FC defeats Orlando Pride 3-1

HARRISON, NJ (Sunday, October 20, 2024) - NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated Orlando Pride 3-1 on Sunday night, extending the club’s regular season winning streak to seven straight regular season matches. During this unbeaten streak Gotham FC has posted a 6W-0L-1D record, while accumulating 16 goals and conceding six goals. Gotham FC not only secured the win tonight but also paid tribute to NWSL and Gotham FC legend Kelly O'Hara, celebrating her remarkable career.

Gotham FC took the lead early, with defender Sam Hiatt found the back of the net in the 13th minute of the first half by redirecting a shot from forward Ella Stevens. This marked the seventh straight regular season match that Gotham FC took a 1-0 lead.

In the 31st minute, the Pride equalized at 1-1 with a penalty kick by forward Adriana.

Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was called upon in the 38th minute. The Pride surged down the field with a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Berger made a brilliant save to keep the scoreline 1-1.

Gotham FC reclaimed the lead in the 45th minute following a goal from midfielder Rose Lavelle. After a few deflections, the ball fell to Lavelle and she buried her shot first time.

Entering the half Gotham FC led Orlando Pride 2-1, while also leading in shots 8-4, and shots on goal 3-2.

Gotham FC extended their lead to 3-1 in the 49th minute with a goal from Stevens. Lavelle played a crafty ball to Bruninha behind Orlando’s backline, where she then drove the ball at the front post towards Stevens.

Orlando Pride could not find the back of the net for the rest of the match, going scoreless in the second half.

Gotham FC will travel to San Antonio, Texas to play the Kansas City Current in the Summer Cup Final on Friday, Oct. 25 (8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports).



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Key Match Notes

  • Sam Hiatt put away her first career goal in her 60th regular season match to open scoring.
  • Rose Lavelle scored her sixth career regular season game-winning goal and 16th regular season goal overall.
  • Ella Stevens scored her 15th career regular season goal and won possession a team-high 11 times.
  • Bruninha's assist to Stevens was the second of her regular season career.
  • Mandy Freeman captained the side in earning her 94th Gotham FC start in all NWSL competitions, passing Erica Skroski for second in club history.
  • Yazmeen Ryan took a team-high 4 shots and won 10 of 19 duels.


QUOTES:

Gotham FC Assistant Coach Shaun Harris

On the strategy that went into Orlando and maintain their biggest targets this season..

We played them not too long ago. So the strategy hadn't changed too much. We just wanted to make sure that we tied it up on a few things defensively and made sure that we stopped them offensively. Everyone knows what their threats are, and how we manage that we also wanted to be better on the ball, going forward and keeping the ball a bit more in the opposition half, which I think worked to our strengths. Ultimately it led to being more deadly and ruthless in front of goal, which is when we can start to kill games off now, and helps us over the longer period of the game.

On Kelly’s impact on the team this year and organization…

Kelly is a remarkable human being. First and foremost she's an incredible person to be around, her energy and her attitude are so infectious in and around the group, not just for players, but for staff as well. She never gives less than 100 percent, and just having her winning mentality and her experience in and around, and always talking to players and always giving extra advice helps. A lot of players look up to her, so for me and the rest of the guys, Kelly's been fantastic. Obviously, we're sad to see her go, but we're happy how she got to end her career here with us, and hopefully, we can go on a bit further and get her a ring to finish on.

Gotham FC Midfielder Yazmeen Ryan

On her success at Gotham FC and the team schedule…

I think consistency is what's key for the team, and why we've been able to stay at the top and compete for championships, be in the Concacaf tournament, fighting for second place in the NWSL. Our focus is consistency, and we have a style and stick to it. We work together and I think that separates us from different teams, and why we can continue to climb, no matter who we're playing and what tournament it is there's always the one goal at hand, and that is to win. Everybody being on the same page is what just completely helps us soar. I'm super proud of the group for that. I think playing a couple of different positions, and what the coaches have demanded of not just me, but everybody on the field and the way that Gotham plays, I’ve learned a lot, and my eyes have been opened to a lot of different things on the field. I just continue to push. Consistency is also what's key to that every day in training, working on one. Shooting and playing off my teammates. I think just consistency and the demand from not only the coaching staff, but the teammates around you as well is what has helped me a lot.

On what it means to be selected to the national team…

That means everything. I mean, that's the goal. Everybody's goal when they play this sport at this level is, how far can they go, and how high of a level can they get to. I'm super honored to wear that crest and finally represent my country. I'm really looking forward to it. Tonight was great with the team. Individually, I had more opportunities in the first half, but in the second half, defensively, that's why we win games, and that's why we create shutouts most of the time because of our defensive work to keep the lead. I thought it was a really good performance tonight.

Gotham FC Forward Ella Stevens

On her season and playing for Gotham FC…

I think they've helped me in a lot of ways. The players have helped me just because the level is so high here. I feel like in training, I've learned so much. I've been put into different positions and learned a lot about my game and what needs to improve. I feel like I've been given the opportunity to do that. And Juan Carlos has put me on the field, and I think that's the best way to learn and improve, and maybe my most favorite way. So I guess just the opportunity to play with these girls has helped my game a lot. And I'm really thankful for them.

On her goal in the match and Orlando…

Going into the match, we've played them earlier in the season. So I think there are a lot of things that they broke us down in a lot of ways the first time we met, and I think we were able to look over the film and see what we needed to do. I think we worked really well on the press, and I think that helped us a lot. I think our defense did so well shutting down their attack.They have a lot of really good players, and I think it all just came together. The goal. I remember, I think Rose played a really good ball to Bruno. We work on that slip, run a lot. I knew Brunawas gonna try to put it back across. So I just needed to get front post. And I did. I don't really remember. I remember looking up and seeing it go in. I was happy I could connect with it. But I think it was really good setup play from everyone

MATCH SUMMARY

Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride

October 20, 2024 | Red Bull Arena

Goals by Half 12F

Gotham FC 2 1 3

Orlando Pride1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

GFC: Sam Hiatt (13’), Rose Lavelle (45+1’) Ella Stevens (Bruninha 49’)

ORL: Adriana(31’)

Misconduct Summary:

GFC: YC: Jenna Nighswonger (54’) Nealy Martin (88’)

Lineups:

GFC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Sam Hiatt, Mandy Freeman, Jess Carter, Nealy Martin, Delanie Sheehan (McCall Zerboni 77’), Yazmeen Ryan, Jenna Nighswonger, Esther Gonzalez (Bruninha 46’), Ella Stevens (Taryn Torress 90’), Rose Lavelle

ORL: Anna Moorhouse, Kerry Abello (Viviana Villacorta 67’), Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke, Morgan Gautrat (Summer Yates 46’), Angelina Costantino, Adriana Leal da Silva (Ally Watt 60’), Julie Doyle (Haley McCutcheon 60’), Barbra Banda, Marta Vieira da Silva (Evelina Duljan 75’)

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