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After heartbreak in 2018, Thorns look to make it back to the final

By Jordan Small

PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 18, 2018: Portland Thorns celebrate their second goal of the evening by forward Christine Sinclair, assisted by midfielder Tobin Heath, during the Chicago Red Stars 2-2 tie with the Portland Thorns on August 18, 2018, at Providence Park, Portland, Oregon (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 18, 2018: Portland Thorns celebrate their second goal of the evening by forward Christine Sinclair, assisted by midfielder Tobin Heath, during the Chicago Red Stars 2-2 tie with the Portland Thorns on August 18, 2018, at Providence Park, Portland, Oregon (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /
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Can the Portland Thorns balance a tough away schedule to start the season and the World Cup break to return to the final for the third straight year?

The 2018 season ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Portland Thorns as they fell to the North Carolina Courage 3-0 in front of their home crowd in the NWSL Championship game. After finishing the regular season in second place two years in a row, the Portland Thorns will look to get back into the number one seed heading into the playoffs in search of their third NWSL Championship.

Portland are another team that will be hit especially hard in the leadup to and during the World Cup. They’ll most likely be missing eight players for a good portion of the season as Canada, Australia, and the U.S. prepare for the World Cup. This will really test the depth of the Thorns lineup as they will be missing players from all four positions on the field.

In goal, the Thorns will be returning both Adrianna Franch and Britt Eckerstrom. Eckerstrom will be tasked with a number of games to start because of pre-tournament camps for the U.S. that will call Franch away. It appears Franch will be one of the two backups to Alyssa Naeher at the World Cup but she did have a rough first cap and Jane Campbell has been called up as one of four goalkeepers for the April friendlies. It is unlikely Campbell will take Franch or Ashlyn Harris’ spot in France, but it is possible that the Thorns have their first choice goalkeeper for longer than they think.

On defense, the Thorns should be in good shape. They are returning all four starters from last season, when they allowed just over a goal a game. Ellie Carpenter will be out for a portion of the season due to national team duties for Australia. Emily Sonnett will most likely miss time as the U.S. prepares for France. Sonnett is another one of those players who is on the bubble right now. Emily Menges is really the glue for this backline, though, so having her around all season will be very important.

It will be really interesting to see how the midfield shakes out for the Thorns. Obviously, they’ll be without the services of Tobin Heath and 2018 MVP Lindsey Horan because of the tournament. Celeste Boureille and Midge Purce had good 2018 campaigns but will have to pick up more of the load this season. Dagny Brynjarsdottir also returns to the Thorns after giving birth to her son in June.

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The front line for the Thorns scored just over 1.5 goals per game in 2018. This season they’re returning their big names up front in Caitlin Foord and Christine Sinclair. Hayley Raso will also return to Portland after missing the last three games of the year due to a broken back. Those three will all likely be in France this summer for their national teams so they will have to lean heavily on players like Ana Crnogorcevic and Tyler Lussi to keep up their goal production.

Portland will also play their first six games on the road this season and won’t see Providence Park until the beginning of June. Because of construction, the Thorns will have a grueling away stretch to start the season.

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