PORTLAND, Oregon (Saturday, August 30, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-8-1, 27 points) suffered a 3-1 loss to Bay FC, Sophia Smith’s lone goal unable to erase the two-goal deficit.
The Thorns found themselves chasing the game early, with Bay FC scoring the opening goal in the seventh minute courtesy a header from Abby Dahlkemper. Bay doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Rachel Hill slid onto a cross to put the ball into the back of the net.
In the 34th minute Sophia Smith was able to pull one back, intercepting a pass from Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland before dribbling around her to take her shot on an open net, cutting the lead to 2-1 in favor of the visiting side. The goal marked Smith’s 11th of the season, the same number that won her the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot award.
The Thorns looked to have found the equalizer in the 42nd minute when Smith found Alexa Spaantra for an easy tap in, but the goal was called off due to Smith being in an offside position, leaving the scoreline 2-1 heading into the halftime break.
Minutes into the second half defender Nicole Payne sent a cross towards goal that bounced off the far post, inches from going over the line. In the 57th minute Racheal Kundananji launched a screamer towards the far post, but a fully extended save from Mackenzie Arnold pushed the ball out of danger.
Spaanstra nearly found the back of the net again, in the 68th minute, when she rocketed a shot towards goal, but Bay’s goalkeeper was able to push it over the crossbar to a corner kick.
Bay FC scored its third of the night in the 70th minute when Joelle Anderson hit one from deep to give her side the 3-1 lead. The Thorns would be unable to find the back of the net again, resulting in the 3-1 loss for the home side.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will remain at Providence Park beginning their campaign in the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Club America on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
BAY: Abby Dahlkemper (Dorian Bailey) 7th minute: Bailey lofted a cross, finding the head of Dahlkemper who flicked the ball into the back of the net.
BAY: Rachel Hill (Racheal Kundananji) 18th minute: Hill slid into a cross from Kundananji, directing the ball inside the near post.
POR: Sophia Smith 34th minute: Smith was able to intercept the ball from Katelyn Rowland, bringing the ball down before dribbling around the goalkeeper to take a shot on an open net.
BAY: Joelle Anderson (Rachel Hill) 70th: Hill found Anderson at the top of the 18-yard-box for her to rocket into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, Nicole Payne, Kelli Hubly, Isabella Obaze (Marie Müller 76’), Reyna Reyes, Hina Sugita, Sam Coffey (Becky Sauerbrunn 76’), Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Sophia Smith (Reilyn Turner 58’), Alexa Spaanstra (Payton Linnehan 76’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Meghan Klingenberg, Christine Sinclair, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Izzy D’Aquila
Bay FC (4-4-2): Katelyn Rowland, Alyssa Malonson, Emily Menges, Abby Dahlkemper, Caprice Dydasco, Tess Boade, Kiki Pickett, Dorian Bailey (Caroline Conti 90’_, Racheal Kundananji (Maddie Moreau 90’), Asisat Oshoala, Rachel Hill
Subs not used: Maya Doms, Deyna Castellanos, Jamie Shepard, Jordan Brewster, Joelle Anderson, Emmie Allen
PORTLAND, Oregon (Saturday, August 30, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-8-1, 27 points) suffered a 3-1 loss to Bay FC, Sophia Smith’s lone goal unable to erase the two-goal deficit.
The Thorns found themselves chasing the game early, with Bay FC scoring the opening goal in the seventh minute courtesy a header from Abby Dahlkemper. Bay doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Rachel Hill slid onto a cross to put the ball into the back of the net.
In the 34th minute Sophia Smith was able to pull one back, intercepting a pass from Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland before dribbling around her to take her shot on an open net, cutting the lead to 2-1 in favor of the visiting side. The goal marked Smith’s 11th of the season, the same number that won her the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot award.
The Thorns looked to have found the equalizer in the 42nd minute when Smith found Alexa Spaantra for an easy tap in, but the goal was called off due to Smith being in an offside position, leaving the scoreline 2-1 heading into the halftime break.
Minutes into the second half defender Nicole Payne sent a cross towards goal that bounced off the far post, inches from going over the line. In the 57th minute Racheal Kundananji launched a screamer towards the far post, but a fully extended save from Mackenzie Arnold pushed the ball out of danger.
Spaanstra nearly found the back of the net again, in the 68th minute, when she rocketed a shot towards goal, but Bay’s goalkeeper was able to push it over the crossbar to a corner kick.
Bay FC scored its third of the night in the 70th minute when Joelle Anderson hit one from deep to give her side the 3-1 lead. The Thorns would be unable to find the back of the net again, resulting in the 3-1 loss for the home side.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will remain at Providence Park beginning their campaign in the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Club America on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
BAY: Abby Dahlkemper (Dorian Bailey) 7th minute: Bailey lofted a cross, finding the head of Dahlkemper who flicked the ball into the back of the net.
BAY: Rachel Hill (Racheal Kundananji) 18th minute: Hill slid into a cross from Kundananji, directing the ball inside the near post.
POR: Sophia Smith 34th minute: Smith was able to intercept the ball from Katelyn Rowland, bringing the ball down before dribbling around the goalkeeper to take a shot on an open net.
BAY: Joelle Anderson (Rachel Hill) 70th: Hill found Anderson at the top of the 18-yard-box for her to rocket into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, Nicole Payne, Kelli Hubly, Isabella Obaze (Marie Müller 76’), Reyna Reyes, Hina Sugita, Sam Coffey (Becky Sauerbrunn 76’), Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Sophia Smith (Reilyn Turner 58’), Alexa Spaanstra (Payton Linnehan 76’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Meghan Klingenberg, Christine Sinclair, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Izzy D’Aquila
Bay FC (4-4-2): Katelyn Rowland, Alyssa Malonson, Emily Menges, Abby Dahlkemper, Caprice Dydasco, Tess Boade, Kiki Pickett, Dorian Bailey (Caroline Conti 90’_, Racheal Kundananji (Maddie Moreau 90’), Asisat Oshoala, Rachel Hill
Subs not used: Maya Doms, Deyna Castellanos, Jamie Shepard, Jordan Brewster, Joelle Anderson, Emmie Allen
