Orlando Soccer Journal

Orlando Pride inaugural NWSL games announced

By MIKE GRAMAJO

Alex Morgan will make her return to Portland, only this time sporting purple during the National Women's Soccer League opening games in April. 

The Orlando Pride will begin its inaugural NWSL season at Providence Park when it takes on the Portland Thorns on Sunday, April 17 . Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. 

The Pride will commence their season at the Citrus Bowl the following weekend on Saturday, April 23 when they welcome the Houston Dash for a 7:30 p.m. game.

“With the successful launch of the MLS team, as well as the 2016 launch of the NWSL and USL teams, this region continues to reap the economic benefit of world class professional soccer,” Orlando City President Phil Rawlins told the club's website. “This is a thrilling time for our organization, our partners, and for fans in the ‘Soccer Capital of the South.'” 

Sources have confirmed with the Orlando Soccer Journal the full Orlando Pride schedule will be released next week. Stay tuned. 

The NWSL will feature 10 teams in 2016 with the Pride being the league's newest expansion team. 

Kaylyn Kyle and Josée Belanger named as Orlando Pride's Canadian allocated players

Staff reports

The Orlando Pride announced on Monday some changes to its roster.  

Josée Bélanger joined the expansion NWSL team as an allocated player of the Canadian national team from the Canadian Soccer Association. 

Kaylyn Kyle, who joined Orlando in October, was also named one of the Pride's allocated players from Canada. 

For Bélanger, it will be her first year as a Canadian national team allocated player.

Per the release, “The placement of Canada’s allocated individuals was accomplished using the league’s prior placement processes, as that process began prior to the adoption of the new rule. The new Player Allocation Process, which was announced on Jan. 15, 2016, will be in effect moving forward to distribute the rights to any new individuals to clubs in the league.”

Prior to joining the Pride, Bélanger spent eight years in Canadian and Swedish leagues, making 30-plus appearances. She is also a 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Championship gold medalist.

Orlando Pride acquires first supporter club

Staff reports

As the Orlando Pride enter their inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season, Orlando City Soccer Club has been hard at work acquiring recognized supporter clubs. On Wednesday, the organization sealed its first deal.

Per a press release, the Pride announced its first recognized supporter club, The Crown.

“We’re thrilled to welcome The Crown to the Orlando City family,” Orlando City SC chief executive officer Alex Leitão said. “Our club supporters have been instrumental in helping create an incredible match-day experience on the MLS side, and we look forward to seeing that same passion and loyalty for Orlando Pride."

The Crown is similar to the Iron Lion Firm, the Ruckus and Harbor City Hooligans in that it will focus on promoting Orlando Pride spirit.

“Our goal is to create a culture that is supportive of Orlando Pride in a family-friendly environment, while also supporting the Orlando community through numerous charitable and social activities,” The Crown president Lisa Raymond said.

Local restaurant chain Graffiti Junktion was also announced as a partner of The Crown, which will help coordinate away-game watch parties in Oviedo and other events related to the fan club. 

While the The Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm pay much of its attention to Orlando City SC of Major League, and the Harbor City Hooligans to Orlando City B of the USL, The Crown's focus will solely be toward the Orlando Pride. 

For more information regarding membership, contact: CrownLeadership@pridescrown.com. Membership fee for the Supporter club is $25, and includes an exclusive scarf.

Orlando Pride 2016 roster | January edition

Below is the most current Orlando Pride roster (20): 

Stadium: Orlando Citrus Bowl 

Head coach: Tom Sermanni 

Assistant coach: Khano Smith, Marcos Mechado

Goalkeepers (2): Ashlyn Harris, Aubrey Bledsoe 

Defenders (8): Camille Levin, Taryn Hemmings, Toni Pressley, Maddy Evans, Monica Alves, Stephanie Catley, Kristen Edmonds, Sam Witteman 

Midfielders (3): Kaylyn Kyle, Rebecca Edwards, Dani Weatherholt

Forwards (7): Alex Morgan, Sarah Hagen, Jamia Fields, Lianne Sanderson, Jasmyne Spencer, Christina Burkenroad, Josée Bélanger

Report: Orlando City to open new Lake Nona training facility

By VICTOR NG

Orlando City Soccer Club will soon have a new training ground. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando City will announce Friday it will partner with Lake Nona on a 23-acre training facility expected to open in 2017.

The new training ground will be home to Orlando City's MLS squad. Orlando City B of the USL and the club's U.S. Soccer Development academy teams will also train at the Lake Nona Facility, which will feature "as many as 12 fields on site." 

Orlando City currently trains at Sylvan Lake Training Center in Seminole County. They will begin training at the Lake Nona facilities by March 2017.

The Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League will inherit the training grounds at Sylvan Lake Park in 2017. 

If the ownership decides to expand the proposed Lake Nona site, Orlando City also has an option to acquire 20-plus acres in front of the new facilities. Per the Sentinel, “The Tavistock Group, which owns Lake Nona, will develop the privately funded campus.”

Already, $2 million has been spent to help renovate the Sylvan Lake facility, as it has a new gym, locker room, training room and practice fields.

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You can email the author at [email protected].

Orlando Pride's Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris named to U.S. national team for Olympic qualifying

Staff reports

Orlando Pride Pride forward Alex Morgan and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris were called up to the 2o-player U.S. women’s national team roster for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament. 

The tournament will take place in Frisco and Houston, Texas, and will run from Feb. 10-21.

“Orlando Pride will be well represented on the U.S. women’s national team as they pursue a berth in the Brazil Olympic Games,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said. “Both Alex and Ashlyn are instrumental to the success of that squad, and we look forward to their performance in the coming tour, as well as in the upcoming preseason for the NWSL.”

The U.S. will open tournament play on Feb. 10 against Costa Rica at 8:30 p.m., and will finish Group A play with a match against Mexico on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. ET. The World Cup champions will cap its run of games against Puerto Rico on Feb. 15 at 8:30 p.m.

All 20 players that will attend the qualifying championship were a part of the 26-player roster that defeated Ireland 5-0 on Jan. 23. In that match, Morgan recorded her 100th career appearance for the U.S., and also tallied her 57th career goal.

“This was an exceptionally challenging roster to select,” women’s national team head coach Jill Ellis said. “The players all worked and competed very hard in the January camp and that made the final decisions extremely difficult. With only 17 field players allowed on the roster, and minimal time in between matches, I think we have one of the most versatile rosters ever for a qualifying tournament.”

If the U.S. qualifies for the Brazil Olympic Games, it will be the sixth-consecutive Games they’ve made. In 2012, the U.S. also won the Olympic-qualifying tournament in Vancouver, B.C., where they would also win the Women’s World Cup three years later.

U.S. women’s national team roster (by position) for 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (7): Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thomas FC)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash)

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Victor Ng (@_VictorT24) contributed to this report.

Orlando Pride 2016 roster | December edition

By MIKE GRAMAJO

The City Beautiful is painted purple, and another platoon of Purple knights are destined to arrive in 2016. 

The Orlando Pride will kick off their inaugural 2016 season in the National Women's Soccer League, and they're headlined by some of the biggest names in the women's game. 

With the 2016 NWSL schedule still not released, the league usually runs from March to October, and may take a two-week break for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil this upcoming summer. 

Below is the most current Orlando Pride roster (16): 

Head coach: Tom Sermanni 

Assistant coach: Khano Smith, Marcos Mechado

Goalkeepers (2): Ashlyn Harris, Aubrey Bledsoe 

Defenders (7): Camille Levin, Taryn Hemmings, Toni Pressley, Maddy Evans, Monica Alves, Stephanie Catley, Kristen Edmonds 

Midfielders (2): Kaylyn Kyle, Rebecca Edwards

Forwards (5): Alex Morgan, Sarah Hagen, Jamia Fields, Lianne Sanderson, Jasmyne Spencer

Around the City: Ian Fuller out as Orlando City assistant; Khano Smith joins Pride coaching staff; and more

By MIKE GRAMAJO

Good afternoon, and welcome to the first edition of Around the City presented by the Orlando Soccer Journal. 

With the American soccer offseason already in full swing, the purpose of this series is to bring Central Florida soccer fans afternoon briefings on Orlando City Soccer Club, Orlando Pride and Orlando City B. 

After three years of typing content on Google's Blogger format, the OSJ has moved to a new host with Typepad. If you're liking the website so far, expect more changes to come periodically and the final changes to arrive before the 2016 soccer season.

So without further interruptions, here is what's going on Around the City for Wednesday, Dec. 16:

ORLANDO CITY SACKS IAN FULLER 

Longtime Orlando City assistant coach Ian Fuller will not help lead the Lions in 2016. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the former Orlando City player was relieved of his duties after five years with the organization, going back to the Austin Aztex days.

Fuller served as a player-coach during the Lions' USL era (2011-13) and became the assistant coach during Orlando's final season the lower division, which also saw him serve during the 2015 inaugural MLS season. 

Orlando City's coaching staff stands as: Adrian Heath (head coach), Mark Watson (assistant coach) and Marcos Mechado (goalkeeper coach). 

ORLANDO PRIDE NAMES ASSISTANT COACH 

In other coaching changes, the Orlando Pride named Khano Smith as its first-ever assistant coach heading into the 2016 inaugural season in the National Women's Soccer League.  

Smith, who is a six-year MLS veteran, will serve and assist Pride head coach Tom Sermanni in assembling the team's final pieces heading into preseason camp. 

“His experiences on and off the field are an important piece of the puzzle to help prepare the team for a positive 2016 season," Sermanni said in a statement. “Khano comes to us with tremendous experience across many levels, including professional play, youth development and broadcasting.”

Smith registered a 19-1-1 record during his time, and only time, with the Southern New Hampshire University men’s soccer team. 

LIONS TAKEOVER GOOGLE

Orlando City didn't make the MLS Cup playoffs in 2015, but it struck a global chord with search giant Google. 

The Lions announced Wednesday that it ranked No. 2 in Google’s Year in Search of Top 10 trending soccer teams of 2015 in the United States, with Spanish giant FC Barcelona claiming the top spot. 

“This is one of the proudest moments for our front office staff, technical team, players and fans,” Orlando City president Phil Rawlins said in a statement. “It’s a testament to the hard work we’ve all done to elevate this team and capture the hearts of a growing global fan base, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of our soccer community.” 

The #FillTheBowl campaign prior to Orlando's inaugural MLS game vs. New York City FC on March 8 played a big part in the club hitting trending sphere.

But other headlines dominated the social airwave for Orlando City: Kaka's late-game equalizer during its first MLS game was one, and the club's announcement of privately funding its downtown soccer stadium followed. 

What were your favorite moments? Answer int the comments section below. 

The Orlando Soccer Journal returns in 2016

By MIKE GRAMAJO 

I'm excited to announce the relaunch of the Orlando Soccer Journal for the 2016 MLS, NWSL and USL season.

Thank you to those who have been following me since the moment I started covering the Orlando soccer scene in 2012.

Some of the new looks set to launch heading into the new year are a new logo and a new web host with Typepad. Minor tweaks and touchups are set to follow periodically. 

Coverage on all Florida professional soccer teams will be added as well with a new series called: Around the State. The series will feature briefs on the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Jacksonville Armada and Miami FC. 

Other sets of series include: Around the City, which will also contain briefs on Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride and Orlando City B. 

With these two series, I can assure that not only Orlando soccer fans, but Florida soccer fans can have the latest up-to-date soccer news around the peninsula.

The OSJ also plans to add contributing writers to help with coverage on Orlando's three teams. To further the coverage, I have set a budget to travel to at least four MLS markets during the regular season to cover Orlando City road games. For those that have enjoyed my coverage on Orlando City, whether it be on Twitter, SBI Soccer or other media outlets, if you can help the OSJ fund the travel expenses with a small-financial contribution of $5.

However, if you're willing to help by donating $1 or less that will be fine or as the cliché goes, "Every penny counts."

I plan to raise $1,000, which will help the OSJ staff bring the best Orlando City coverage from the road instead of a press release.

Once again, thank you for the support, and I'm looking forward to delivering the best Orlando City news possible.

 

 

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