Also in today’s roundup, Michelle Betos makes her debut for Norweigan club Valerenga and Orlando Pride add partner in Florida Dairy Farmers
Tobin Heath to miss the first two games of the regular season with the Thorns due to injury (photo copyright EriMacPhoto for The Equalizer)
Mark Parsons told The Oregonian today that Tobin Heath will not be traveling with the Thorns this weekend to North Carolina where they are set to take on the Courage on Saturday, April 22. He stated that she will be training next week and hopes to see her get some minutes under her belt against Chicago in Week 3.
Heath was withdrawn from USWNT camp earlier this month ahead of the two-game friendly series against Russia due to a minor back injury. She missed last weekend’s opening game with the Thorns as well.
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In addition to Heath, the Thorns will be without defender Katherine Reynolds and midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir who also missed last weekend’s opener. Reynolds will be out for the next couple of weeks whereas Brynjarsdottir should be in full training next week ready for Chicago.
For the Courage, Elizabeth Eddy has a hamstring injury but her status for Saturday is not yet known.
Betos makes Valerenga debut
Michelle Betos made her first appearance for Valerenga in a match up against Avaldsnes in both team’s first games of the 2017 Norweigan Toppserien season on Monday. Avaldsnes scored once in each half courtesy of Hanna Dahl and Francielle to secure a 2-1 win over Betos’ Valerenga. A late first half goal from forward Sofie Christiansen was not enough as Valerenga started the season off with a loss.
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In February, Betos, then goalkeeper for the Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL, confirmed that she was leaving the team to pursue an opportunity to play in Norway with Valerenga. Her last season in Portland was a memorable one as she became the starter for head coach Mark Parsons in 2016 who then went on to win the NWSL Shield that year. In 2015 Betos was NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and produced one of the most memorable highlights ever when she scored in stoppage time to earn a draw with FC Kansas City.
Orlando Pride form partnership with Florida Dairy Farmers
The Pride partnered with Florida Dairy Farmers for the 2017 NWSL Season (photo: Orlando Pride)
Today, the Orlando Pride announced its partnership with Florida Dairy Farmers. Through this partnership with the club, Florida Dairy Farmers also becomes the official partner of Orlando City Youth Soccer as well as an associate partner of the Orlando City Foundation’s Soccer for Success Program.
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Florida Dairy Farmers are very active in the community in encouraging youth to live a healthy life and make smart choices when it comes to their health. Such initiatives are a main reason why the partnership fit so well according to Rob Parker, vice president of corporate partnerships at Orlando City SC. “We are proud to have Florida Dairy Farmers’ support for both the Pride and our youth-facing programs, ” he said in the club’s official release. “They have been great stewards in the community helping empower youth to achieve healthy lifestyle choices and that is something we aim to do as well though out teams and athletes.”
The Pride are looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat last week in Portland in this weekend’s first home game at Orlando City Stadium. They will host the Washington Spirit in both team’s second game of the fifth NWSL season.
