2015 Portland Thorns FC season

The 2015 season is the Portland Thorns FC's third season of existence in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Portland Thorns FC
2015 season
PresidentMerritt Paulson
Head coachPaul Riley
StadiumProvidence Park
Portland, Oregon
(Capacity: 21,144)
National Women's Soccer League6th
NWSL PlayoffsDNQ
Top goalscorerLeague: Allie Long (10 goals)
All: Allie Long (12 goals)
Highest home attendance21,144
(July 22nd vs. Seattle Reign)
(August 30th vs. Washington Spirit)
Lowest home attendance12,223
(July 3 vs. Sky Blue)
Average home league attendance15,639

After a disappointing end to the 2014 season that saw the team knocked out of the 2014 NWSL Championship Playoffs by eventual league champions FC Kansas City, head coach Paul Riley sought to make changes that would bolster the team's roster to account for the players who would be called up to their respective national teams during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[1] After stellar performances in 2014, goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and midfielder Verónica Boquete were both named to the ten player shortlist of the 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year[2] and Boquete was named to the NWSL Best XI[3] as well as being named 2014 Supporters' Player of the Year.[4]

The team made a number of signings before the 2015 season including Genoveva Añonma who captains the Equatorial Guinea women's national football team,[5] a 2015 NWSL College Draft day trade of the Thorns' 2014 season leading scorer Jessica McDonald for Jodie Taylor of the England women's national football team and leading scorer of the Washington Spirit,[6] and defender Kat Williamson, former Thorns player who had been traded away during the 2014 season.[7]

Several players were loaned out in the offseason including defender Rachel Van Hollebeke to Iga Football Club Kunoichi of the Japanese Nadeshiko League,[8] and goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and defender Stephanie Catley to the Melbourne Victory of the W-League.[9]

Midfielder Verónica Boquete chose to sign with 1. FFC Frankfurt rather than remain with the Thorns for the 2015 season,[10] and three players retired in the offseason, including defender Nikki Marshall,[11] midfielder Sarah Huffman,[12] and midfielder Angie Kerr.[13]

On April 6, 2015, the Thorns unveiled their 2015 kits that were the first custom designs by Nike in the league.[14]

Due to the national team player callups for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the league announced that they would be taking a two-week break and shortening the season from 24 to 20 games.[15]

The Thorns finished the 2015 season with 23 points from 20 games and did not reach the playoffs, the first (and as of 2020, the only) season in which they did not reach the playoffs.

Club

Coaching staff

Position Staff
Head Coach Paul Riley
Assistant Coach Skip Thorp
Goalkeeper Coach Scott Vallow
Fitness Coach Garga Caserta
Athletic Trainer Katie Donnelley
Equipment and Player Relations Manager Megan Lovich

Last updated: September 5, 2015
Source: Portland Thorns

Roster

* – denotes amateur call-ups

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  GER Nadine Angerer
2 DF  USA Emily Menges
4 DF  AUS Stephanie Catley
5 DF  USA Kat Williamson
6 MF  USA Meleana Shim
7 MF  USA Sinead Farrelly
8 FW  EQG Genoveva Añonma
9 DF  AUS Clare Polkinghorne
10 MF  USA Allie Long
11 DF  CAN Kaylyn Kyle
12 FW  CAN Christine Sinclair
13 FW  USA Alex Morgan
14 FW  ENG Jodie Taylor
15 DF  USA Kendall Johnson
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF  USA Rachel Van Hollebeke
17 MF  USA Tobin Heath
18 GK  USA Michelle Betos
20 FW  USA Sarah Jackson*
21 DF  CAN Sarah Robbins
22 DF  CAN Rhian Wilkinson
25 DF  USA Courtney Niemiec
26 DF  USA Taylor Comeau*
28 FW  SWE Hanna Terry
29 FW  USA Kelsey Haycook*
30 DF  USA Alyssa Kleiner*
77 MF  USA McCall Zerboni

Source: Portland Thorns (archived)

Match results

Key

  Win   Tie   Loss

Pre-season

March 21, 2015 1 Portland Pilots 0–4 Portland Thorns FC Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Report Long 70' (pen.)
Haycook 75'
Speck 76'
Johnson 82'
Stadium: Merlo Field
Attendance: 1,582
Referee: Ray Moffatte Jr.
March 25, 2015 1 FC Tucson 0–2 Portland Thorns FC Tucson, Arizona
18:30 (PDT) Marquez  22'
Davidson  53'
Report Taylor 24'
Haycook 88'
Stadium: North Kino Stadium
Attendance: 1,118
Referee: Ramy Touchan
March 28, 2015 1 Arizona Wildcats 0–6 Portland Thorns FC Tucson, Arizona
18:30 (PDT) Report Taylor 25'
Long 29'
Haycook 40'
Comeau 76', 80'
Monogue 89'
Stadium: North Kino Stadium
Referee: Nat Stewart

Regular season

April 11, 2015 1 Portland Thorns FC 4–1 Boston Breakers Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Farrelly 21'
Shim 38'
Long 71', 72'
Report Pathman  33'
McCaffrey 63'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 13,386
Referee: Margaret Domka
Apr 18, 2015 2 Portland Thorns FC 1–0 Western New York Flash Portland, Oregon
16:00 (PDT) Long 22'
Wilkinson  74'
Report Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 13,148
Referee: Karen Abt
Apr 25, 2015 3 Chicago Red Stars 2–2 Portland Thorns FC Lisle, Illinois
17:30 (PDT) Press 4', 8'
Johnston  16'
Report Sinclair 29'
Shim 47'
Stadium: Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex
Attendance: 2,136
Referee: Levi Rippy
May 9, 2015 4 Portland Thorns FC 2–2 Washington Spirit Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Shim 28'
Van Hollebeke  34'
Long 51'
Report Dunn 3'
Ordega 14'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 14,236
Referee: Elvis Mahmutovic
May 16, 2015 5 Boston Breakers 1–0 Portland Thorns FC Boston
13:00 (PDT) Mewis 93+' Report[16] Williamson 40'
Betos 92'
Stadium: Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 2,669
Referee: Christopher Spivey
May 23, 2015 6 Portland Thorns FC 0–1 Houston Dash Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Report McDonald 24'
Pressley  86'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 14,409
May 30, 2015 7 Washington Spirit 2–1 Portland Thorns FC Germantown, Maryland
16:00 (PDT) DaCosta 26' (unassisted)
Dunn 28' (unassisted)
Johnson 61'
Report Anonma 18' (Long)
Long 57'
Williamson 61'
Farrelly 71'
Jackson 72'
Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,519
June 6, 2015 8 Houston Dash 0–0 Portland Thorns FC Houston
17:30 (PDT) Pereira  35'
Bock  45'
Report Terry  65' Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 4,864
Referee: Danielle Chesky
June 19, 2015 9 Portland Thorns FC 1–1 FC Kansas City Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Long  44'
Johnson  60'
Zerboni  70'
Betos 90+5'
Report Hagen 51'  61'
Groom  71'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 15,214
Referee: Brandon Artis
July 3, 2015 10 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 Sky Blue FC Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Kyle  54'
Long 70' (pen.)
Farrelly 79' (Kleiner)
Report Freels 27' (Lytle)
Stanton  56'
Levin  69'
Foord  80'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 12,223
Referee: Levi Rippy
July 11, 2015 11 Sky Blue FC 1–0 Portland Thorns FC Piscataway, New Jersey
16:00 (PDT) Kerr 52' (Hayes) Report Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 3,014
Referee: Randall Kelley
July 22, 2015 12 Portland Thorns FC 0–1 Seattle Reign FC Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Report Little 57'
Cox  90+3'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Karen Abt
July 26, 2015 13 Seattle Reign FC 3–0 Portland Thorns FC Seattle, Washington
16:00 (PDT) Fishlock 38'
Yanez 46', 50'
Report Johnson  82'
Anonma  89'
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,303
Referee: Matthew Franz
July 29, 2015 14 Western New York Flash 0–2 Portland Thorns FC Rochester, New York
16:00 (PDT) Report Williamson  28'
Sinclair 33'
Zerboni  79'
Long 80'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 2,979
Referee: Brandon Artis
August 5, 2015 15 Portland Thorns FC 5–2 Boston Breakers Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Taylor 16'
Zerboni 49', 53'
Shim 54'
Long 66'
Report Pires  30'
Williamson 36' (o.g.)
Mewis 87' (pen.)
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 15,624
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer
August 9, 2015 16 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 Chicago Red Stars Portland, Oregon
19:00 (PDT) Long 38', 69' (Farrelly) Report Mautz 29' Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 15,858
Referee: Margaret Domka
August 12, 2015 17 FC Kansas City 3–0 Portland Thorns FC Kansas City, Missouri
17:00 (PDT) Laddish 60' (Robinson)
Rodriguez 63' (O'Reilly)
Tymrak 76' (Laddish)
PTFC report
NWSL report
Menges  70' Stadium: Swope Soccer Village
Attendance: 2,982
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
August 22, 2015 18 Sky Blue FC 1–0 Portland Thorns FC Piscataway, New Jersey
16:00 (PDT) Nadim 19' (O'Hara)
Haagsma  59'
Killion  73'
Cameron  89'
Report Zerboni  68' Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 5,547
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
August 30, 2015 19 Portland Thorns FC 3–3 Washington Spirit Portland, Oregon
18:00 (PDT) Morgan 53' (Sanderson)
Long  67'
Heath 71' (pen)
Taylor 80' (Morgan)
Williamson  86'
Ordega 6' (Dunn)
Matheson  17'
Dunn 45+1', 81'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
September 4, 2015 20 Western New York Flash 3–2 Portland Thorns FC Rochester, New York
16:00 (PDT) Ayinde 6' (Heyman)
Spencer 8' (Heyman)
Mewis 24'
B.Taylor  65'
Report J.Taylor 29' (Morgan)
Morgan  59'
Farrelly  62'
Long 90+2' (Shim)
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,147
Referee: Karen Abt

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Seattle Reign FC 20 13 4 3 41 21 +20 43 NWSL Shield
2 Chicago Red Stars 20 8 9 3 31 22 +9 33 NWSL Playoffs
3 FC Kansas City (C) 20 9 5 6 32 20 +12 32
4 Washington Spirit 20 8 6 6 31 28 +3 30
5 Houston Dash 20 6 6 8 21 26 5 24
6 Portland Thorns FC 20 6 5 9 27 29 2 23
7 Western New York Flash 20 6 5 9 24 34 10 23
8 Sky Blue FC 20 5 7 8 22 28 6 22
9 Boston Breakers 20 4 3 13 22 43 21 15
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champion
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGD
20 23 6 9 5 27 29  −2 5 2 3 20 13  +7 1 7 2 7 16  −9

Last updated: September 5, 2015
Source: National Women's Soccer League
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920
GroundHHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHA
ResultWWDDLLLDDWLLLWWWLLDL
Updated to match(es) played on September 5, 2015. Source: National Women's Soccer League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Squad statistics

Source: NWSL

Key to positions: FW – Forward, MF – Midfielder, DF – Defender, GK – Goalkeeper

NPosPlayerGPGSMinGAWGShotSOGCroCKOffFoulFSYCRC
8FWGenoveva Añonma1287591103211101416310
[n 1]23MFKate Bennett1145000000002200
4DFStephanie Catley32179000000000000
26DFTaylor Comeau95377000520031200
7MFSinead Farrelly19191652221188109322720
29FWKelsey Haycook4181000100002100
17MFTobin Heath121210621102250123121500
20FWSarah Jackson72201000420051110
15DFKendall Johnson17121218010105400182020
30DFAlyssa Kleiner84418010300003300
11DFKaylyn Kyle1265870004101412710
10MFAllie Long202017931042532706624223230
2DFEmily Menges17171529000100016910
13FWAlex Morgan432851201570050410
25DFCourtney Niemiec43273000111001200
9DFClare Polkinghorne99779000200004200
[n 2]21MFSarah Robbins102000000000000
23FWLianne Sanderson52275010410002500
6MFMeleana Shim1813112744121134907600
12FWChristine Sinclair987352211580076400
14FWJodie Taylor7538530017601101200
28FWHanna Terry60130000100122210
16DFRachel Van Hollebeke1310879000100013210
22DFRhian Wilkinson1045000000001010
5DFKat Williamson20201705010310014840
77MFMcCall Zerboni1818145920174002281821
  1. Number 23 was later assigned to Lianne Sanderson
  2. Number 21 was later assigned to Emily Menges
NPosGoal keeperGPGSMinWLTShotSOGSavGAGA/GPenPKFSO
1GKNadine Angerer66540123773423111.833001
18GKMichelle Betos141412605721306345181.286122

Player Transactions

National Team Player Allocation

On January 14, 2015, the league held its NWSL Player Allocation with Portland receiving six players: returning United States women's national soccer team players Alex Morgan, Rachel Van Hollebeke, and Tobin Heath, returning Canada women's national soccer team player Christine Sinclair, and new Canadian internationals Kaylyn Kyle, and Rhian Wilkinson.[17]

National Women's Soccer League College Draft

The Thorns did not have a pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft, but through a series of draft day trades they acquired forward and England women's national football team player Jodie Taylor from the Washington Spirit.[18]

Transfers In

Date Player Pos Previous Club Notes Ref
November 6, 2014 Kat WilliamsonDF Western New York FlashPart of trade for Amber Brooks.[19]
November 6, 2014 McCall ZerboniMF Western New York FlashPart of trade for Amber Brooks.[19]
January 14, 2015 Kendall JohnsonDF Western Sydney WanderersRights traded from Sky Blue FC for the 25th and 34th overall selections in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.[20]
January 14, 2015 Kaylyn KyleMF Houston DashNWSL Player Allocation[21]
January 14, 2015 Rhian WilkinsonDF Laval CometsNWSL Player Allocation[21]
January 16, 2015 Jodie TaylorFW Washington SpiritTraded for the 13th pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft and two second-round picks in the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[18]
February 24, 2015 Genoveva AñonmaFW 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam[22]
February 26, 2015 Sarah RobbinsMF Åland United[23]
April 10, 2015 Taylor ComeauDF CaliforniaAmateur call-up[24]
April 10, 2015 Kelsey HaycookFW La SalleAmateur call-up[24]
April 10, 2015 Sarah JacksonFW Santa ClaraAmateur call-up[24]
April 17, 2015 Alyssa KleinerDF Santa ClaraAmateur call-up[25]

Transfers Out

Date Player Pos Destination Club Notes Ref
August 25, 2014 Verónica BoqueteMF 1. FFC Frankfurt[26]
September 10, 2014 Angie KerrMFNonePlayer waived.[27]
November 6, 2014 Amber BrooksMF Western New York FlashTrade to acquire Kat Williamson and McCall Zerboni.[28]
November 18, 2014 Sarah HuffmanDFNonePlayer retired.[29]
January 14, 2015 Jackie AcevedoFWNonePlayer not reallocated in the 2015 NWSL Player Allocation.[21]
January 16, 2015 Jessica McDonaldFW Houston DashTraded to acquire the 13th pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft and a second-round pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[30]
January 20, 2015 Rebecca MorosDF FC Kansas CityTraded to acquire an international roster spot.[31]
February 5, 2015 Nikki MarshallDFNonePlayer retired.[32]

National team participation

Several Thorns players have been selected to play for their national teams in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Team Players
 AustraliaStephanie Catley
 CanadaChristine Sinclair (captain), Kaylyn Kyle, Rhian Wilkinson
 EnglandJodie Taylor
 GermanyNadine Angerer (captain)
 United StatesTobin Heath, Alex Morgan

See also

References

  1. "Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley looks ahead to the 2015 season: Video". 28 August 2014.
  2. FIFA.com
  3. "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2014 BEST XI - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  4. http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/09/thorns-fc-announce-2014-club-awards
  5. "Official: Thorns sign Genoveva Añonma". 24 February 2015.
  6. "Spirit trade leading scorer Taylor to Portland – Equalizer Soccer".
  7. "Portland Thorns trade defenders Kat Williamson and Courtney Wetzel". 5 April 2014.
  8. "Portland Thorns defender Rachel van Hollebeke will spend offseason playing in Japan". 9 October 2014.
  9. "Portland Thorns loan out goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and defender Stephanie Catley". 5 September 2014.
  10. "VERONICA BOQUETE SIGNS WITH 1. FFC FRANKFURT - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  11. "Thorns' Nikki Marshall announces retirement – Equalizer Soccer".
  12. "Thorns defender Huffman announces retirement – Equalizer Soccer".
  13. "Portland Thorns midfielder Angie Kerr announces her retirement". 21 October 2014.
  14. "The Thorns New Kits Have Dropped". 6 April 2015.
  15. "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 SCHEDULE FORMAT - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  16. "BREAKERS WIN 1–0 THRILLER OVER THORNS FC; Kristie Mewis scores game-winner in 93rd minute". nwslsoccer.com.
  17. "Kaylyn Kyle and Rhian Wilkinson added to Portland Thorns roster through allocation process". 14 January 2015.
  18. "Portland Thorns acquire forward Jodie Taylor through a series of trades". 16 January 2015.
  19. "Thorns Bring Back Williamson; Welcome Zerboni". 6 November 2014.
  20. "Thorns FC acquire defender Kendall Johnson from Sky Blue FC in exchange for third, fourth-round draft picks in 2015 | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  21. "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 ALLOCATED PLAYERS - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  22. "Portland Thorns sign decorated striker Genoveva Anonma". 24 February 2015.
  23. "Portland Thorns sign midfielder Sarah Robbins". 27 February 2015.
  24. "Thorns bolster roster with three amateur players". 11 April 2015.
  25. "Thorns call up amateur player Alyssa Kleiner for Western New York match". 17 April 2015.
  26. "Thorns FC midfielder Vero Boquete signs with FFC Frankfurt | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on 2014-08-27.
  27. http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/09/thorns-fc-waive-midfielder-angie-kerr
  28. "Thorns FC acquire defender Kat Williamson, midfielder McCall Zerboni from Western New York Flash in exchange for midfielder Amber Brooks | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on 2014-11-08.
  29. "Thorns FC defender Sarah Huffman announces retirement | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
  30. "Portland Thorns trade Jessica McDonald to the Houston Dash". 17 January 2015.
  31. "Thorns Acquire International Spot for Becca Moros". 20 January 2015.
  32. "Thorns FC defender Nikki Marshall announces retirement | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10.
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