CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2019) – For the third year in a row, the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team will take part in the Thorns Spring Invitational running from March 24-30 in Portland, Oregon. The U.S. will take on three NWSL teams during their pre-season preparation with all the games taking place at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field.
This is the fourth year of the pre-season tournament, and this year’s field features the U-23 WNT, the Chicago Red Stars, Portland Thorns FC and Reign FC. The competition will take place over three matchdays, with an early game that has free admission and a later match featuring the Thorns that will be a ticketed event.
The USA opens up against Reign FC on Sunday, March 24 at 11:30 a.m. PT, while Portland will face Chicago at 5 p.m. PT. The second matchday on Wednesday, March 27, features Chicago vs. Reign FC at 1:30 p.m. PT and the USA taking on Portland at 7:30 p.m. PT. The U.S. finishes against the Red Stars on Saturday, March 30 at 1:30 p.m. PT and Portland wraps things up with rival Reign FC at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the matches featuring the Thorns are general admission. Individual tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday, March 19 at 10 a.m. PT online at www.thornsfc.com.
At last year’s Thorns Spring Invitational, U-23 WNT head coach B.J. Snow called in a roster of 23 collegiate players and one professional. The USA fell 2-1 to the Houston Dash, drew the Thorns 2-2 and took down the Red Stars 1-0. Stanford forward and 2018 Hermann Trophy winner Catarina Macario scored all four of the USA’s goals in the tournament.
2018 Thorns Spring Invitational Schedule – Merlo Field, University of Portland
Sunday, March 24
Reign FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT 11:30 a.m. PT
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars 5 p.m. PT
Wednesday, March 27
Chicago Red Stars vs. Reign FC 1:30 p.m. PT
Portland Thorns FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT 7:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, March 30
U.S. U-23 WNT vs. Chicago Red Stars 1:30 p.m. PT
Portland Thorns FC vs. Reign FC 7:30 p.m. PT