Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
Opening Statement
“A roller coaster of emotions but managed to get the job done tonight. One thing I will give credit to: this team will go to the final whistle and we’re so pleased that we managed to get that goal towards the end and come away with three points.”
On the starting lineup
“We made a lot of changes going into this game and I stick by it. You have to take into consideration the amount of travel that some of our players have done, the competitiveness of international football, as well. And it's not ideal, but this is why we have a great squad. And so players come in and they play a role in what you're trying to achieve, and you know, it was like Julie [Doyle’]s first game back since the start of the season, so, yeah, of course, it's difficult to get to the pace of the game, but I thought she did well. Likewise, with Summer [Yates], as well. But yeah, listen, we've got to use our roster, we've got to use our players, they’re great players and they need opportunities to play and sometimes the ones who have played significant minutes need to have a step back and reflect and look from a different perspective and then come on and make a difference, and I felt like our players did that tonight."
On Julie Doyle’s performance after returning from injury
“I think all our players have different qualities and I think one of Julie's qualities is her movement and her ability to be unpredictable with defenders. I think her ability to drop down and get a player, a defender, to come in, it may free up someone else to run in behind and it's just building that connection with the players that are around her. It didn't always work today in the first half, but she's a quality player. We needed her to get onto the field and play minutes so she can build that momentum going into the next two games before the summer break, so yeah, it was a challenge for Julie, but she stood up to the challenge. We got a good 45 minutes out of her.”
Orlando Pride Defender Cori Dyke
Opening Statement
“I thought it was a good, hard game. I thought the team played well, and we're super happy to get the three points tonight. Houston was a good opponent, and they play really good soccer, so I think we had some different challenges breaking that down, but we were super resilient and persistent in that pursuit of the goal. We had the chances and we knew it was coming and I'm just really proud of the whole group for staying committed to it.”
On her goal
“I do think those are the moments that you dream about—the last play of the game, something super cool like that—so to have that happen was so special and all I thought about in that moment was that I just want to celebrate with my teammates. They've been so great and so supportive of me through my entire journey here, so once I saw the ball hit the back of the net, that was my first thought, ‘I can't wait to go run and celebrate with them."
On getting the win on Kylie Nadaner’s 100th Pride appearance
“I mean, I would run through a brick wall for Kylie, so I told her that after the game. I was like, ‘that was all for you.’ She's been such an incredible leader and player, and someone I really look up to. I can't say that enough. She's the best, so it was really special to do that for her tonight.”
Orlando Pride Defender Kylie Nadaner
Opening Statement
“That was crazy. We were pretty much in control of the game. We had a feeling we were going to score. It was coming, we were putting it on them. They were playing great defensively. Their backline, their keeper, made some unbelievable saves, so they were a tough opponent for sure. Had to have Cori [Dyke] come in and have the game winner. I'm so pumped for her. That was so big time.”
On making her 100th career appearance for the Club
“It's a surreal moment for sure. To be honest, it's something I never thought I would achieve. My journey's been kind of crazy. Even before here, even since I got here, so to achieve that and to have my family and my husband and all my teammates here, it was a really special moment to celebrate with the fans and everybody. It's up there in my career, for sure. I have to thank Cori Dyke for putting the cherry on top because it wouldn't have been as sweet without the win. Without the win, I don't enjoy that half as much as I did, so thank you, Cori.”
