Portland to shift focus to NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.
PORTLAND, Oregon (Friday, March 7, 2025) – The Portland Thorns closed out their 2025 preseason schedule against Utah Royals FC on Friday evening at Providence Park, falling 1-0 in the team’s final test ahead of its 2025 NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.
The Thorns would get off to a strong start offensively in the first half. Dominating in possession and shots to consistently test the Royals backline in the first 45 minutes, the Thorns came close several times to strike first, most notably off a penalty box strike from Olivia Moultrie and a long-distance freekick by Deyna Castellanos that bounced off the crossbar. However, the Royals would walk away at the end of the half with a 1-0 lead, having opened the scoring off an Ally Sentnor strike outside the box in the 20th minute.
Coming out in the second half, the Thorns would make several changes to continue applying pressure against Utah’s defense. Amongst those changes were new signings Jayden Perry, Carissa Boeckmann, Pietra Tordin as well as trialists Maddie Kemp and Moira Kelley (Deyna Castellanos and Sam Hiatt also made their first appearances for the Thorns at Providence Park as starters).
Notably in the second half, goalkeeper Bella Bixby also made her long-awaited return to action for Portland at Providence Park, with fans in attendance cheering and applauding loudly as she ran onto the field.
The Thorns continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, finding chance after chance in the box. Reilyn Turner came closest in the dying minutes to get the Thorns back in the match, with her shot unluckily hitting the post. Unfortunately, Portland was unable to find the equalizer but managed to showcase to the fans in attendance a team that was hungry to dominate and entertain.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns FC will open the 2025 NWSL season on the road at Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 15.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
UTA: Ally Sentnor (Mina Tanaka), 20’: Off a pass from Mina Tanaka, Sentnor would shoot from outside the box to send the ball into the bottom right corner.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold (Bella Bixby 63’), Reyna Reyes, Isabella Obaze, Sam Hiatt (Jayden Perry 63’), Kaitlyn Torpey (Moira Kelley 75’), Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Maddie Kemp 83’), Jessie Fleming (Carissa Boeckmann 83’), Olivia Moultrie (Alexa Spaanstra 63’), Payton Linnehan (Pietra Tordin 63’), Deyna Castellanos (Reilyn Turner 75’)
Subs not used: Morgan Messner, Eres Freifeld
Utah Royals (4-2-3-1): Amanda McGlynn, Kate Del Fava, Ana Tejada, Nuria Rabano, Paige Monaghan-C, Claudia Zornoza, Dana Foederer (Mikalya Cluff 66’), Bianca St-Georges (KK Ream 66’), Macey Fraser, Ally Sentnor (Aria Nagai 66’), Mina Tanaka (Aisha Solorzano 66’)
Subs not used: Cristina Roque, Sydney Jones, Danika Serassio, Madison Pogarch
Portland to shift focus to NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.
PORTLAND, Oregon (Friday, March 7, 2025) – The Portland Thorns closed out their 2025 preseason schedule against Utah Royals FC on Friday evening at Providence Park, falling 1-0 in the team’s final test ahead of its 2025 NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.
The Thorns would get off to a strong start offensively in the first half. Dominating in possession and shots to consistently test the Royals backline in the first 45 minutes, the Thorns came close several times to strike first, most notably off a penalty box strike from Olivia Moultrie and a long-distance freekick by Deyna Castellanos that bounced off the crossbar. However, the Royals would walk away at the end of the half with a 1-0 lead, having opened the scoring off an Ally Sentnor strike outside the box in the 20th minute.
Coming out in the second half, the Thorns would make several changes to continue applying pressure against Utah’s defense. Amongst those changes were new signings Jayden Perry, Carissa Boeckmann, Pietra Tordin as well as trialists Maddie Kemp and Moira Kelley (Deyna Castellanos and Sam Hiatt also made their first appearances for the Thorns at Providence Park as starters).
Notably in the second half, goalkeeper Bella Bixby also made her long-awaited return to action for Portland at Providence Park, with fans in attendance cheering and applauding loudly as she ran onto the field.
The Thorns continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, finding chance after chance in the box. Reilyn Turner came closest in the dying minutes to get the Thorns back in the match, with her shot unluckily hitting the post. Unfortunately, Portland was unable to find the equalizer but managed to showcase to the fans in attendance a team that was hungry to dominate and entertain.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns FC will open the 2025 NWSL season on the road at Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 15.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
UTA: Ally Sentnor (Mina Tanaka), 20’: Off a pass from Mina Tanaka, Sentnor would shoot from outside the box to send the ball into the bottom right corner.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold (Bella Bixby 63’), Reyna Reyes, Isabella Obaze, Sam Hiatt (Jayden Perry 63’), Kaitlyn Torpey (Moira Kelley 75’), Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Maddie Kemp 83’), Jessie Fleming (Carissa Boeckmann 83’), Olivia Moultrie (Alexa Spaanstra 63’), Payton Linnehan (Pietra Tordin 63’), Deyna Castellanos (Reilyn Turner 75’)
Subs not used: Morgan Messner, Eres Freifeld
Utah Royals (4-2-3-1): Amanda McGlynn, Kate Del Fava, Ana Tejada, Nuria Rabano, Paige Monaghan-C, Claudia Zornoza, Dana Foederer (Mikalya Cluff 66’), Bianca St-Georges (KK Ream 66’), Macey Fraser, Ally Sentnor (Aria Nagai 66’), Mina Tanaka (Aisha Solorzano 66’)
Subs not used: Cristina Roque, Sydney Jones, Danika Serassio, Madison Pogarch
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