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
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 season was 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 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 Germany GER Nadine Angerer
2 DF United States USA Emily Menges
4 DF Australia AUS Stephanie Catley
5 DF United States USA Kat Williamson
6 MF United States USA Meleana Shim
7 MF United States USA Sinead Farrelly
8 FW Equatorial Guinea EQG Genoveva Añonma
9 DF Australia AUS Clare Polkinghorne
10 MF United States USA Allie Long
11 DF Canada CAN Kaylyn Kyle
12 FW Canada CAN Christine Sinclair
13 FW United States USA Alex Morgan
14 FW England ENG Jodie Taylor
15 DF United States USA Kendall Johnson
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF United States USA Rachel Van Hollebeke
17 MF United States USA Tobin Heath
18 GK United States USA Michelle Betos
20 FW United States USA Sarah Jackson*
21 DF Canada CAN Sarah Robbins
22 DF Canada CAN Rhian Wilkinson
25 DF United States USA Courtney Niemiec
26 DF United States USA Taylor Comeau*
28 FW Sweden SWE Hanna Terry
29 FW United States USA Kelsey Haycook*
30 DF United States USA Alyssa Kleiner*
77 MF United States 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 Yellow card 22'
Davidson Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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] WilliamsonYellow card 40'
BetosYellow card 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 Yellow card 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)
JohnsonYellow card 61'		 Report Anonma 18' (Long)
LongYellow card 57'
WilliamsonYellow card 61'
FarrellyYellow card 71'
JacksonYellow card 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 Yellow card 35'
Bock Yellow card 45'		 Report Terry Yellow card 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 Yellow card 44'
Johnson Yellow card 60'
Zerboni Red card 70'
Betos 90+5'		 Report Hagen 51' Yellow card 61'
Groom Yellow card 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 Yellow card 54'
Long 70' (pen.)
Farrelly 79' (Kleiner)		 Report Freels 27' (Lytle)
Stanton Yellow card 56'
Levin Red card 69'
Foord Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 82'
Anonma Yellow card 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 Yellow card 28'
Sinclair 33'
Zerboni Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 59'
Killion Yellow card 73'
Cameron Yellow card 89'		 Report Zerboni Yellow card 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 Yellow card 67'
Heath 71' (pen)
Taylor 80' (Morgan)
Williamson Yellow card 86'		 Ordega 6' (Dunn)
Matheson Yellow card 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 Yellow card 65'		 Report J.Taylor 29' (Morgan)
Morgan Yellow card 59'
Farrelly Yellow card 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) Champions
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
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
StadiumHHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHA
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

N Pos Player GP GS Min G A WG Shot SOG Cro CK Off Foul FS YC RC
8 FW Genoveva Añonma 12 8 759 1 1 0 32 11 1 0 14 16 3 1 0
[n 1]23 MF Kate Bennett 1 1 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0
4 DF Stephanie Catley 3 2 179 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 DF Taylor Comeau 9 5 377 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 3 1 2 0 0
7 MF Sinead Farrelly 19 19 1652 2 2 1 18 8 1 0 9 32 27 2 0
29 FW Kelsey Haycook 4 1 81 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0
17 MF Tobin Heath 12 12 1062 1 1 0 22 5 0 12 3 12 15 0 0
20 FW Sarah Jackson 7 2 201 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 1 1 1 0
15 DF Kendall Johnson 17 12 1218 0 1 0 10 5 4 0 0 18 20 2 0
30 DF Alyssa Kleiner 8 4 418 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0
11 DF Kaylyn Kyle 12 6 587 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 4 12 7 1 0
10 MF Allie Long 20 20 1793 10 4 2 53 27 0 66 24 22 32 3 0
2 DF Emily Menges 17 17 1529 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 9 1 0
13 FW Alex Morgan 4 3 285 1 2 0 15 7 0 0 5 0 4 1 0
25 DF Courtney Niemiec 4 3 273 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0
9 DF Clare Polkinghorne 9 9 779 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0
[n 2]21 MF Sarah Robbins 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW Lianne Sanderson 5 2 275 0 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 2 5 0 0
6 MF Meleana Shim 18 13 1127 4 4 1 21 13 4 9 0 7 6 0 0
12 FW Christine Sinclair 9 8 735 2 2 1 15 8 0 0 7 6 4 0 0
14 FW Jodie Taylor 7 5 385 3 0 0 17 6 0 1 10 1 2 0 0
28 FW Hanna Terry 6 0 130 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 2 2 1 0
16 DF Rachel Van Hollebeke 13 10 879 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 0
22 DF Rhian Wilkinson 1 0 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
5 DF Kat Williamson 20 20 1705 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 4 8 4 0
77 MF McCall Zerboni 18 18 1459 2 0 1 7 4 0 0 2 28 18 2 1
  1. ^ Number 23 was later assigned to Lianne Sanderson
  2. ^ Number 21 was later assigned to Emily Menges
N Pos Goal keeper GP GS Min W L T Shot SOG Sav GA GA/G Pen PKF SO
1 GK Nadine Angerer 6 6 540 1 2 3 77 34 23 11 1.833 0 0 1
18 GK Michelle Betos 14 14 1260 5 7 2 130 63 45 18 1.286 1 2 2

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 United States Kat Williamson DF United States Western New York Flash Part of trade for Amber Brooks. [19]
November 6, 2014 United States McCall Zerboni MF United States Western New York Flash Part of trade for Amber Brooks. [19]
January 14, 2015 United States Kendall Johnson DF Australia Western Sydney Wanderers Rights traded from Sky Blue FC for the 25th and 34th overall selections in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. [20]
January 14, 2015 Canada Kaylyn Kyle MF United States Houston Dash NWSL Player Allocation [21]
January 14, 2015 Canada Rhian Wilkinson DF Canada Laval Comets NWSL Player Allocation [21]
January 16, 2015 England Jodie Taylor FW United States Washington Spirit Traded 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 Equatorial Guinea Genoveva Añonma FW Germany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam [22]
February 26, 2015 Canada Sarah Robbins MF Finland Åland United [23]
April 10, 2015 United States Taylor Comeau DF United States California Amateur call-up [24]
April 10, 2015 United States Kelsey Haycook FW United States La Salle Amateur call-up [24]
April 10, 2015 United States Sarah Jackson FW United States Santa Clara Amateur call-up [24]
April 17, 2015 United States Alyssa Kleiner DF United States Santa Clara Amateur call-up [25]

Transfers Out

Date Player Pos Destination Club Notes Ref
August 25, 2014 Spain Verónica Boquete MF Germany 1. FFC Frankfurt [26]
September 10, 2014 United States Angie Kerr MF None Player waived. [27]
November 6, 2014 United States Amber Brooks MF United States Western New York Flash Trade to acquire Kat Williamson and McCall Zerboni. [28]
November 18, 2014 United States Sarah Huffman DF None Player retired. [29]
January 14, 2015 Mexico Jackie Acevedo FW None Player not reallocated in the 2015 NWSL Player Allocation. [21]
January 16, 2015 United States Jessica McDonald FW United States Houston Dash Traded 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 United States Rebecca Moros DF United States FC Kansas City Traded to acquire an international roster spot. [31]
February 5, 2015 United States Nikki Marshall DF None Player 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
 Australia Stephanie Catley
 Canada Christine Sinclair (captain), Kaylyn Kyle, Rhian Wilkinson
 England Jodie Taylor
 Germany Nadine Angerer (captain)
 United States Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

See also

References

  1. ^ "Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley looks ahead to the 2015 season: Video". August 28, 2014.
  2. ^ FIFA.com
  3. ^ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2014 BEST XI - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/09/thorns-fc-announce-2014-club-awards[dead link]
  5. ^ "Official: Thorns sign Genoveva Añonma". February 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "Spirit trade leading scorer Taylor to Portland – Equalizer Soccer".
  7. ^ "Portland Thorns trade defenders Kat Williamson and Courtney Wetzel". April 5, 2014.
  8. ^ "Portland Thorns defender Rachel van Hollebeke will spend offseason playing in Japan". October 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Portland Thorns loan out goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and defender Stephanie Catley". September 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "VERONICA BOQUETE SIGNS WITH 1. FFC FRANKFURT - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  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". October 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "The Thorns New Kits Have Dropped". April 6, 2015.
  15. ^ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 SCHEDULE FORMAT - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  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". January 14, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Portland Thorns acquire forward Jodie Taylor through a series of trades". January 16, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Thorns Bring Back Williamson; Welcome Zerboni". November 6, 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 April 2, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 ALLOCATED PLAYERS - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  22. ^ "Portland Thorns sign decorated striker Genoveva Anonma". February 24, 2015.
  23. ^ "Portland Thorns sign midfielder Sarah Robbins". February 27, 2015.
  24. ^ a b c "Thorns bolster roster with three amateur players". April 11, 2015.
  25. ^ "Thorns call up amateur player Alyssa Kleiner for Western New York match". April 17, 2015.
  26. ^ "Thorns FC midfielder Vero Boquete signs with FFC Frankfurt | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on August 27, 2014.
  27. ^ http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/09/thorns-fc-waive-midfielder-angie-kerr[dead link]
  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 November 8, 2014.
  29. ^ "Thorns FC defender Sarah Huffman announces retirement | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  30. ^ "Portland Thorns trade Jessica McDonald to the Houston Dash". January 17, 2015.
  31. ^ "Thorns Acquire International Spot for Becca Moros". January 20, 2015.
  32. ^ "Thorns FC defender Nikki Marshall announces retirement | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on February 10, 2015.

External links

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