After dropping an important game to the Thorns in week 11, the Pride needed to rebound with a win and make the most out of their upcoming matches. Breakers have only won a single game this season but, the Pride would have to overcome the adversities of losing players to National Play. This was just the opportunity that Kristen Edmonds seized to show that the Pride’s success can continue while key players are playing for their national teams.
A sudden downpour of rain delayed the start of the game by 50 minutes. A wet pitch wasn’t the only challenge waiting to present itself to the Pride. Only 5 minutes into the first half, Breaker Forward, Mollie Pathman would score after Pride keeper Kaitlyn Savage would make a botched attempt to corral a pass.
The Breaker’s offense did not take their foot off the peddle after that. Now smelling blood in the water, they would continue to apply pressure to the back line of the Pride looking to force another costly mistake. A new line-up of Pride defenders proved that they could weather the storm. Center Back for the match Katlyn Kyle stated in her post game interview ” When you take a completely new back line; Toni has been the only Center Back that has been in all season. I think for us it was a good performance”
The over aggression of the Breaker’s defense was a contributing factor to their downfall. As the game was reaching an end, multiple fouls breathed life into the Pride. Defender Brooke Elby was ejected from the game in the 88th minute of play.
Elby fouled Edmonds to earn her second yellow card of the evening. Edmonds responded to the foul by burying a free kick in the bottom right corner of the net that she took just outside of the eighteen. With the game now level, the Pride showed a sense of urgency by putting pressure on the Breakers defense. A ball played in the air by Leah Fortune fell in front of a running Edmonds. An aware Edmonds then chipped a shot just over the head of Breaker goalie Jami Koranic, who was charging out of the net. The shot from Edmonds was just the spark that the Pride needed to win the game. Edmonds was injured on the play despite scoring and may be questionable for next week’s game.
Coach Tom Sermanni expressed in the post game interview that Edmonds may have a concussion and suggested that her status is questionable looking toward next week’s game against the Chicago Red Stars.
Orlando Pride
Boston Breakers
