Head Coach Tom Sermanni is satisfied with how his team has started their season. Although they didn’t leave Portland with a win on Sunday night, Coach Sermanni was pleased with how the team came together and he feels confident that they’ll continue to develop as the season progresses.
“Overall I was delighted with the players, I was delighted with their effort, delighted with the way they played,” Coach Sermanni said after the game. “To be honest in the last 15 minutes or so I thought we were the team that was more likely to score... I thought they deserved something.”
With Kristen Edmonds, Alex Morgan, and Jasmyne Spencer in the forward positions, Coach Sermanni said that he was hoping to use their speed and trouble Portland’s defense. “We thought we could exploit them with our pace if we played three quick players up front, and I thought the three of them did terrifically,” Coach Sermanni said. “This is the first game. We probably need a little bit more refinement.”
Coach Sermanni also acknowledged that the Portland Thorns are one of the best team’s in the league, and they were definitely a difficult opponent to take on in the team’s first game. “Outside of Seattle, this was our most difficult away trip,” Coach Sermanni said. “They are a team that’s been together and they have a lot of international players, so when I judge the game overall, I think we had a fantastic effort and players can be really proud of what they did tonight.”
Now, Coach Sermanni and the Orlando Pride are preparing for this weekend’s home match against the Houston Dash. The game kicks off at 7:30pm on Saturday night at the Citrus Bowl.
