2015 Portland Thorns FC season

Portland Thorns FC
2015 season
President Merritt Paulson
Head Coach Paul Riley
Stadium Providence Park
Portland, Oregon
(Capacity: 21,144)
Top goalscorer League: Allie Long (10)
All: Allie Long (12)
Highest home attendance 21,144
(July 22nd vs. Seattle Reign)
(August 30th vs. Washington Spirit)
Lowest home attendance 12,223
(July 3 vs. Sky Blue)
Average home league attendance 15,639
Home colors
Away colors

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.

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 2018 only) season in which they did not reach the playoffs.

Club

Coaching Staff

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

Last updated: April 21, 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. Position Player
1 Germany GK Nadine Angerer
2 United States DF Emily Menges
4 Australia DF Stephanie Catley
5 United States DF Kat Williamson
6 United States MF Meleana Shim
7 United States MF Sinead Farrelly
8 United States MF McCall Zerboni
9 Equatorial Guinea FW Genoveva Añonma
10 United States MF Allie Long
11 Canada DF Kaylyn Kyle
12 Canada FW Christine Sinclair
13 United States FW Alex Morgan
14 England FW Jodie Taylor
15 United States DF Kendall Johnson
No. Position Player
16 United States DF Rachel Van Hollebeke
17 United States MF Tobin Heath
18 United States GK Michelle Betos
20 United States FW Sarah Jackson*
21 Canada DF Sarah Robbins
22 Canada DF Rhian Wilkinson
25 United States DF Courtney Niemiec
26 United States DF Taylor Comeau*
28 Sweden FW Hanna Terry
29 United States FW Kelsey Haycook*
30 United States DF Alyssa Kleiner*

Match results

Key

  Win   Tie   Loss

Pre-season

Regular season

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
9FWGenoveva Añonma1287591103211101416310
[n 1]23MFKate Bennett1145000000002200
4DFStephanie Catley32179000000000000
26DFTaylor Comeau95377000520031200
24MFSinead Farrelly19191652221188109322720
29FWKelsey Haycook4181000100002100
17MFTobin Heath121210621102250123121500
20FWSarah Jackson72201000420051110
15DFKendall Johnson17121218010105400182020
30DFAlyssa Kleiner84418010300003300
11DFKaylyn Kyle1265870004101412710
10MFAllie Long202017931042532706624223230
21DFEmily Menges17171529000100016910
13FWAlex Morgan432851201570050410
25DFCourtney Niemiec43273000111001200
19DFClare Polkinghorne99779000200004200
[n 2]21MFSarah Robbins102000000000000
23FWLianne Sanderson52275010410002500
6MFMeleana Shim1813112744121134907600
12FWChristine Sinclair987352211580076400
14FWJodie Taylor7538530017601101200
28FWHanna Terry60130000100122210
16DFRachel Van Hollebeke1310879000100013210
22DFRhian Wilkinson1045000000001010
5DFKat Williamson20201705010310014840
8MFMcCall 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, 2014United States Kat WilliamsonDFUnited States Western New York FlashPart of trade for Amber Brooks.[19]
November 6, 2014United States McCall ZerboniMFUnited States Western New York FlashPart of trade for Amber Brooks.[19]
January 14, 2015United States Kendall JohnsonDFAustralia Western Sydney WanderersRights traded from Sky Blue FC for the 25th and 34th overall selections in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.[20]
January 14, 2015Canada Kaylyn KyleMFUnited States Houston DashNWSL Player Allocation[21]
January 14, 2015Canada Rhian WilkinsonDFCanada Laval CometsNWSL Player Allocation[21]
January 16, 2015England Jodie TaylorFWUnited States 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, 2015Equatorial Guinea Genoveva AñonmaFWGermany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam[22]
February 26, 2015Canada Sarah RobbinsMFFinland Åland United[23]
April 10, 2015United States Taylor ComeauDFUnited States CaliforniaAmateur call-up[24]
April 10, 2015United States Kelsey HaycookFWUnited States La SalleAmateur call-up[24]
April 10, 2015United States Sarah JacksonFWUnited States Santa ClaraAmateur call-up[24]
April 17, 2015United States Alyssa KleinerDFUnited States Santa ClaraAmateur call-up[25]

Transfers Out

Date Player Pos Destination Club Notes Ref
August 25, 2014Spain Verónica BoqueteMFGermany 1. FFC Frankfurt[26]
September 10, 2014United States Angie KerrMFNonePlayer waived.[27]
November 6, 2014United States Amber BrooksMFUnited States Western New York FlashTrade to acquire Kat Williamson and McCall Zerboni.[28]
November 18, 2014United States Sarah HuffmanDFNonePlayer retired.[29]
January 14, 2015Mexico Jackie AcevedoFWNonePlayer not reallocated in the 2015 NWSL Player Allocation.[21]
January 16, 2015United States Jessica McDonaldFWUnited States 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, 2015United States Rebecca MorosDFUnited States FC Kansas CityTraded to acquire an international roster spot.[31]
February 5, 2015United States 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

References

  1. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2014/08/portland_thorns_coach_paul_ril_30.html
  2. ↑ https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2014/m=10/news=women-s-shortlists-for-fifa-ballon-d-or-2014-revealed-2461275.html
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". 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. ↑ http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/2/24/8105207/thorns-sign-genoveva
  6. ↑ http://equalizersoccer.com/2015/01/16/washington-spirit-trade-jodie-taylor-portland-thorns/
  7. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2014/04/portland_thorns_trade_defender.html
  8. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2014/10/portland_thorns_defender_rache_9.html
  9. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2014/09/portland_thorns_loan_out_goalk.html
  10. ↑ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  11. ↑ http://equalizersoccer.com/2015/02/09/nikki-marshall-portland-thorns-retires-nwsl/
  12. ↑ http://equalizersoccer.com/2014/11/19/sarah-huffman-retires-portland-thorns/
  13. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2014/10/portland_thorns_midfielder_ang_4.html
  14. ↑ http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/4/6/8354447/the-portland-thorns-new-kits-have-dropped
  15. ↑ "{title}". 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. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/01/kaylyn_kyle_and_rhian_wilkinso.html
  18. 1 2 http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/01/portland_thorns_acquire_forwar_1.html
  19. 1 2 http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2014/11/6/7170715/portland-thorns-bring-back-kat-williamson-welcome-mccall-zerboni
  20. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2015/01/thorns-fc-acquire-defender-kendall-johnson-sky-blue-fc-exchange-third-fourth-round-draf
  21. 1 2 3 "{title}". Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  22. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/02/portland_thorns_sign_decorated.html
  23. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/02/portland_thorns_sign_midfielde_2.html
  24. 1 2 3 http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/04/thorns_call_up_three_amateur_p.html
  25. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/04/portland_thorns_call_up_amateu.html
  26. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/08/thorns-fc-midfielder-vero-boquete-signs-ffc-frankfurt
  27. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/09/thorns-fc-waive-midfielder-angie-kerr
  28. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/11/thorns-fc-acquire-defender-kat-williamson-midfielder-mccall-zerboni-western-new-york-fl
  29. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/11/thorns-fc-defender-sarah-huffman-announces-retirement
  30. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2015/01/portland_thorns_trade_jessica.html
  31. ↑ http://www.stumptownfooty.com/portland-women/2015/1/20/7861595/thorns-acquire-international-spot-for-becca-moros
  32. ↑ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2015/02/thorns-fc-defender-nikki-marshall-announces-retirement

See also

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