Ali Krieger: Uninterrupted...
Since joining Orlando in 2017, Ali Krieger has played every single minute of each of the Pride’s competitions for a total of 2,520 minutes. Krieger currently leads the Orlando Pride in consecutive games started and minutes played. With Orlando, Krieger has double the number of consecutive starts (28) as the team’s second leader, Alex Morgan (14), and over two times more minutes played than Toni Pressley (1,170) who is second in consecutive minutes played for the Club.
Dating back to her time with Washington Spirit, Krieger has started 32 straight games and has totaled 2,947 straight minutes, with her start streak dating back to Sept. 11, 2016 and minute streak starting on Sept. 6. The span includes three postseason games: two 120-minute games with the Spirit in 2016 and last year’s semifinal with Orlando.
...and Always Active
After North Carolina’s Abby Dahlkemper missed the Courage’s mid-week match, Krieger is now second in active consecutive regular-season minutes. Krieger has played 2,617 straight regular season minutes, dating back to Sept. 6, 2016 with Washington. Portland Thorns defender Emily Sonnett now holds the active streak with 2,880 consecutive regular-season minutes, 263 more than Krieger. Houston Dash defender Amber Brooks is in third with 2,434 minutes.
Harris Earns Her Keep
With six saves in the last match against Portland, Ashlyn Harris passed the 300 career saves mark, becoming the third NWSL goalkeeper to do so. Harris also earned her first Save of the Week honor, with a diving 17th-minute stop on Tyler Lussi. The win marked the 16th time Harris has earned the fan-voted honor, the most since the award’s inception in 2016.
Welcome to the Club
In the 67th minute of last week’s match against Portland Thorns FC, midfielder Abby Elinsky made her professional debut as a substitute for Carson Pickett. Elinsky was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash. She then joined Orlando as a trialist and was signed as a National Team Player Replacement on March 29.
Dashing to Victory
Of the nine teams currently in the league, Houston is the only team Orlando has defeated on four separate occasions. The first three victories occurred during the Club’s inaugural season in 2016 with the fourth taking place on June 17, 2017. The Pride are 4-2-0 all-time against the Dash. The Pride previously defeated the former Boston Breakers four times as well
Queen of the Assist
Midfielder Christine Nairn leads the league in all-time assists and recorded her 20th career assist - and first as a member of the Orlando Pride - on Sunday, April 15. Nairn had nine assists in two seasons with Seattle, nine in three seasons with Washington, as well as one during the 2016 postseason.
Florida State Friends
Defender Carson Pickett and Houston Dash midfielder Michaela Hahn were teammates at Florida State from 2012-15. During their four years, Pickett and Hahn tied former Orlando Pride player Jamia Fields for the second- most appearances in school history with 103. In addition, the duo made history when they led their team to Florida State’s first NCAA College Cup Championship in 2014. Pride defender Toni Pressley also attended Florida State from 2008-11.
The 1,000-mile Journey
Four Pride players previously appeared for the Houston Dash. Camila (2015), Chioma Ubogagu (2016) and Poliana (2016-17) began their NWSL careers with in Houston and Toni Pressley (2015) played for the Dash during her third season in the league.
Before being traded to Orlando, Lotta Ökvist was acquired by Houston in the 2018 Dispersal Draft and National Team Replacement midfielder Abby Elinsky was drafted by the Dash but was eventually released.
Ready For The Reload
Sunday’s match will be the last for the Pride without their Brazilian and Australian national team players. Fresh off competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Championship, Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond are expected to attend Sunday’s match but will not be available for selection. Marta, Monica and Poliana will return next week following completion of the Copa America Femenina. All five players are anticipated to be available for Orlando’s April 28 match against Seattle Reign FC.
