The Orlando Pride earned a 1-0 victory against the San Diego Wave last weekend, ending a three-game trip with an important win to get back on track.
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Now the Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) welcome Bay FC (3-5-2, 11 points) to Inter&Co Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to it, looking forward to being back home. It’s been a long road trip,” Orlando head coach Seb Hines said. “We know it’s a quick turnaround for both teams as well, so we want to make sure that we start off on the front foot and build on what we achieved last Sunday in San Diego and finish this part of the season on a high.”
Friday is the last match before the NWSL takes a monthlong break for the FIFA World Cup. Without another match until July, Hines can play a full-strength squad without the need to rotate. Marta missed the San Diego match, but she could see significant minutes against Bay if she is healthy. Orlando is hoping to earn a second consecutive win and head into the break with momentum, though Hines is more focused on the long-term process.
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“It would be absolutely amazing to win the game and finish this period with a high and three points, because it’s a long time until we’re back on the pitch again,” Hines added. “But as long as we do everything that we know we can do and are capable of doing, then the outcome and the score line should handle itself.”
Bay FC will be without starting goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz and defender Aldana Cometti. Both were sent off in a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Stars, and their suspensions leave Bay shorthanded on the back line. That opens the door for players such as Nicole Payne, who scored her first career goal against San Diego, to make an impact. Orlando needs to find attacking options beyond Barbra Banda, and a weakened Bay defense is as good an opportunity as they’ll get.
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Following Friday’s match, Orlando is off until a trip to Angel City on July 3.