Eckerstrom Snags Five Saves in 2-0 Loss to Portland Thorns FC
NWSL News: The Western New York Flash (5-4-0) fell to the undefeated Portland Thorns FC (4-0-5) in a tough match on Friday night in Rochester, N.Y. The two sides battled hard for 90 minutes, but the Thorns came out on top with goals from Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim.
Former Flash star and Canadian National Team member Christine Sinclair opened the scoring in the 48th minute as she got into open space and bent a ball around the hands of rookie goalkeeper and reigning NWSL Player of the Week Britt Eckerstrom. The Thorns pushed their lead to two in the 73rd minute as Tobin Heath drew a penalty in the box after tangling up with Elizabeth Eddy, allowing Nadia Nadim to convert for just her second goal of the season.
The Flash managed to hit woodwork three times in the match. In the 22nd minute, defender Jaelene Hinkle slotted a ball into the box for Mewis who turned and took a shot that ended up hitting the crossbar. In the 00’ Kennedy bent a beautiful free kick in around a wall of Thorns that didn’t manage to drop enough and hitting the crossbar again. Forward Lynn Williams had a header go off the post in the final minutes of action, which left the surging Flash scoreless.
McCall Zerboni made her highly anticipated return to the Flash to start the second half. The midfielder was acquired in a trade from the Boston Breakers last week and suited up in a Flash uniform for the first time since 2014. Zerboni made a couple of deep runs in her 45 minutes of play but was unable to find the back of the net.
The Flash will remain home in Week 10 as they play host to U.S. National Team member Whitney Engen and the Boston Breakers. The last time the teams met, the Flash managed to put four into the net. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match are available at wnyflash.com/tickets and a live stream available at YouTube.com/NWSL.
NWSL Match Report
Match: Western New York Flash vs. Portland Thorns FC
Date: June 17, 2016
Venue: Rochester Rhinos Stadium; Rochester, New York.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Attendance: 2,235
Weather: 82° Sunny
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
WNY 0 0 0
POR 0 2 2
POR – Christine Sinclair (Allie Long) – 48’
POR – Nadia Nadim (Penalty Kick) – 72’
Lineups:
WNY: Eckerstrom; Hinkle, Kennedy, Dahlkemper, Eddy; Erceg* (Hamilton 80’), Hahn (Zerboni 46’), Mewis, Doniak; Williams, McDonald (Smith 67’)
Unused Substitutes: Hamilton, Leon, Niemiec, Speck
POR: Franch; Reynolds, Sonnett, Menges, Morris (Weber 21’); Long, Horan, Nadim (Raso 78’); Sinclair*, Heath, Brynjarsdottir (Henry 52’)
Unused Substitutes: Betos, Berryhill, Boureille, Klingenberg, Raso
*Captain
Stats Summary: WNY / ORL
Shots: 12 / 8
Shots on Goal: 7 / 7
Saves: 5 / 7
Corner Kicks: 7 / 2
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offside: 0 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
WNY – Mewis (Yellow Card – Reckless Foul) 47’
WNY – Kennedy (Yellow Card – Reckless Foul) 55’
POR – Raso (Yellow Card – Reckless Foul) 81’
WNY – Doniak (Yellow Card – Reckless Foul) 90’
Officials:
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referee 1: Amanda Ross
Assistant Referee 2: Joseph Zawistowski
Fourth Official: Sandra Hunt
