Pride prevail at L.A. for 1st victory of season

It was Sydney Leroux’s weekend.

After celebrating her 32nd birthday just the day before, she celebrated Mother’s Day in style, scoring the only goal in the Orlando Pride’s 1-0 victory over host Angel City FC.

“It was really nice having both kids here and getting to celebrate with them,” Leroux said after the game. “My mom is here as well. So we got to celebrate together and I’m really happy that I got a goal for her. Yeah, it was a good weekend.”

The win marks the first of the season for the Pride and the first under coach Amanda Cromwell.

That victory for Cromwell came just 20 minutes away from where she was coaching just six months ago at UCLA. It is also the first win for the Orlando franchise over 14 games, dating to Sept. 11, 2021.

“Being back in L.A., driving to UCLA just gives me this feeling of just being super calm and peaceful and just like, ‘Hey, we got this,’ ” Cromwell said, “Being in L.A., after being here for nine years, it’s just kind of poetic getting the first one here.”

The goal from Leroux came just three minutes into the game as the Pride got the first good attack. Gunny Jonsdottir received a slotted pass from Darian Jenkins, who centered it to the back post for a waiting Leroux.

Angel City goalkeeper Didi Haracic misplayed the cross, leaving the Pride striker open on the other side. Her shot was fully pushed home by the defender on the line, but it counted for Leroux.

Orlando came out with a different look in its formation, putting fullback Carrie Lawrence at centerback while moving Megan Montefusco up into the midfield.

“It’s definitely a different view,” Montefusco said, “Getting the ball higher up the field is pretty fun. I felt really comfortable in there honestly. And Carrie was talking to me all game. I felt like we had a really great partnership and she knew what I needed. I told her before the game just what little things we could say to each other during the game just to stay on the same page, and we did that in the whole 90. I thought she did an awesome job covering, taking the space away, and talking to me all game. So overall it went really well.”

Those changes helped Orlando play the best it has in 2022 through the first 30 minutes.

The second half was more defending for the Pride. Leroux had a chance in the 67th minute that hit off the crossbar, but it was a lot of team defense throughout the final 45 minutes.

That defense delivered in the first minute of stoppage time when goalkeeper Erin McLeod made a last-ditch save on a shot from Tyler Lussi to help the Pride hold on to all three points.

Orlando next will host the Kansas City Current on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.