Every thorn has its rose Racing 1- Portland Thorns 2
Savannah DeMelo uses her fancy footwork to taunt the Thorns early in the match.
And now that song is stuck in my head.
Michael (Shaw, not Bret Michaels) called it around the 70th minute: “I’d be happy with a 1-1 draw.” Being the loving wife that I am, I rolled my eyes and told him to shut up*, that Racing was going to score again. They really looked like they were. I thought they did a couple of times. Evidently someone put a force field around the net at the Estopinal end during half-time when we were distracted with trivia and games. Neither ball nor woman nor Mr. Fantastic was getting into that net.
Despite the disappointing ending, it was such a fun game to watch, and we were sitting right behind Katie Lund, sweet Mama Lund, Kayla Fisher, and team chaplain Melissa Lopez. We were surrounded by loud, passionate fans (unaware of the royalty in our midst) but they listened and giggled like absolute queens who had just left Sunday School and had never heard a foul word in their lives. I loved watching their reactions almost as much as the match.
They didn’t scream about the fouls that weren’t called (guess they figured the crowd had that covered pretty well), and they didn’t demand a penalty when Sonis was fouled (ed: nope) in the box. They objectively enjoyed watching an incredibly well-played game that involved friends and teammates. We should all be so calm.
Just kidding. That would be zero fun.
*Because his mom and dad sometimes read this, I will point out that I didn’t actually tell Michael to shut up. I just punched him in the mouth.
Section 109 had more Racing players in it than the Racing bench last evening. They were spotted during warm-ups and Katie O’Kane, Bethany Balcer, and Marisa DiGrande had the sweetest reactions.
Maddie Pokorny and Lauren Milliet chat pre-match and of course stopped to take pictures with happy little fans.
Speaking of happy little fans, check out these smiles hanging out on the Racing bench and then on the pitch with Racing and Portland players in my Soccer Fans Gallery. As always, free to download. Most are 4x6 and only thumbnails are shown because technology. BTW if orange jersey is your girl, just know she is my hero. She had the Bloomer vibe and was dancing to her own music. This gal is going places.
Shout-out to Rockin Cowboys for another amazing performance of the National Anthem to kick off the match! Talented and polite young gentlemen who should open the next Super Bowl.
Emma Sears doing the cha-cha slide and keeping the Thorns’ defense takin’ it back now y’all the entire match.
Ary Borges lit up midfield, filling in for Taylor Flint who was out shopping for high heels.
Katie O’Kane (she’s in there somewhere!) celebrates her first NWSL goal. Her teammates swarmed her like a Wawa Grand Opening. That pass from Sarah Weber was a beautifully choreographed play that made me so happy to be a Racing fan.
Let’s-savor-Katie’s-first-goal-with-her-for-a-bit-longer Gallery
Not what anyone thought our backline would look like at the start of the season, but here we are, holding our own. This is some fantastic defensive talent, but I do miss the plays that Lauren Milliet used to set up. (Btw how on earth did she do that from her spot on the field? Oh yeah, she’s the fastest person on earth. While I’m on my Lauren-Milliet-for-president soapbox, can I just say that I think we should retire the jockey references (we get it, she’s petite) and replace them with Lightning McQueen. Lightning Lauren. Milliet McQueen. We have options. Can I get a Ka-Chow?)
NWSL statisticians everywhere were booking this one for Sears. Now NASA researchers are looking into the physics that didn’t allow this ball into the net.
Jordyn Freakin’ Bloomer. She always knows which way the ball is going. Admittedly the ball just sorta drifted left like your car does when you text and drive but only in your neighborhood because there are no cars around and everyone does it so yes Bloomer saw this coming. Still freakin’ fantastic.
Michael (not Shaw, Bret Michaels this time) will not stop talking about how awesome Bloomer’s next save was, where there were players everyone, the ball was wielding its invisibility cloak, and Jordyn managed to come up with, like the elusive golden snitch. I thought this was save was more impressive because of how Jordyn snagged this out of the air above the Thorns’ player and also I got a great picture of this one.
Exhibit F in the people’s case against whoever cast the force field (do you “cast” a force field?) over our net in the 2nd half. This ball bounced off the left post, then the top post, then the little patch of grass that is 0.01 mm in front of the goal line. No goal.
I’m in total awe of the grace and control that Sav exhibits as she dances around the field controlling an 8.7-inch diameter sphere meanwhile if I get up from the coach too fast I have to sit back down.
DeMelo and Sonis have discussed which McDonald’s Sav is hitting up for her post-match Filet o Fish and are now patiently waiting for Whiny Thorns player to end her rant about her shorts which have evidently shrunk mid-match. She must’ve put them in the dryer for too long.
Ary teases a Thorn player “catch me if you can” and of course she can’t.
This time it just HAS to go in, right? Look how close it is. No. It does not go in. We’re going to rewind (kids, this is when you drag the button to the left when you’re watching something on YouTube and want to watch it again) but in pictures.
Emma-Sears-and-the-Cursed-Net Gallery (Hope you pronounced it curs-ed because that’s how I wrote it)
Here’s another set of snaps that demonstrate 1) Racing should’ve had a penalty shot over that stolen goal from Sonis, or else that jersey pulling on Balcer on a scoring drive, 2) Makenna Morris is here to play, and 3) Ellie Jean and Emma both may be magic.
Unnamed Gallery Number 9 (If Beethoven could do it, so can I)
