For veteran goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, today was day two of training with the Orlando Pride. “It’s been so much fun. I love it,” Harris said with a smile. “I love being here. It just feels like home, I can’t explain it.”
While experienced players like Harris are expected to come in and be leaders on the team, Harris says that she wanted to come in quietly and earn the respect of her fellow players. “I think gaining respect and coming in and working hard...that’s my goal right now.”
In Saturday’s game against Eastern Florida State College, Harris says that organization is key. But Harris also knows that, when building a team from scratch, strong connections between the players are important. “We’re gonna have great chemistry, but it’s gonna take time,” Harris said. “I just gotta keep going out of my comfort zone too and keep building those relationships.”
Saturday’s game will be the first game that Orlando Pride plays as a team. But for Harris, the game is also incredibly special on a personal level. Harris grew up in Satellite Beach, and her family still lives in Brevard. For Harris, the opportunity for some of her friends and family to come watch her play is exciting. “My whole family is coming,” Harris said. “It’s been a long time since a lot of these people have been able to come see me play in person.”
Harris said that a lot of these people hadn’t seen her play in person since high school. But she laughed off questions of nervousness. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Never nervous if you’re prepared.”
“I’ve been living the dream for a long time now,” Harris said. “But to be able to come home and wave to my family is gonna be a pretty special moment.”
