EVANSTON,\u00a0Ill. (March 25,\u00a02026) \u2013\u00a0The\u00a0Orlando Pride (0-1-1, 1 point)\u00a0earned its first win of the season,\u00a0defeating\u00a0Chicago Stars FC (1-1-0, 3 points)\u00a0via a 3-0 scoreline on Wednesday night at Martin Stadium in Evanston,\u00a0Ill.\u00a0Barbra Banda,\u00a0Jacquie\u00a0Ovalle and Hannah Anderson got on the scoreboard as\u00a0Orlando\u00a0ended\u00a0the\u00a0Stars\u2019\u00a0nine-game\u00a0unbeaten\u00a0run at home.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
The Pride opened the scoring early after capitalizing on a Chicago turnover. Midfielder Ally Lemos collected the loose ball and\u00a0quickly connected\u00a0with Banda, who turned under pressure, took a composed touch and finished cleanly while being challenged by a defender. The goal marked Banda\u2019s third in as many matches to begin the season, while\u00a0Lemos earned\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0assist\u00a0of her\u00a0professional career.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Orlando doubled its advantage through an impressive sequence\u00a0initiated\u00a0by rookie Solai Washington. Making her first professional start, Washington drove the ball toward\u00a0the endline and delivered a precise\u00a0low\u00a0cross\u00a0into the box.\u00a0Ovalle met the service with a back\u2011heel flick, guiding the ball past the Chicago goalkeeper for her first goal of the season. The play also earned Washington her first professional assist.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Ovalle continued her standout performance in the second half, delivering an\u00a0inswinging\u00a0corner that led directly to Orlando\u2019s third goal.\u00a0Anderson broke free from her defender\u00a0and volleyed Ovalle\u2019s service into the back of the net, securing the first goal of her professional career\u00a0in her\u00a0return\u00a0to Chicago for the first time since being traded to the Pride\u00a0from the Stars\u00a0during the offseason. The assist was Ovalle\u2019s second of the season, giving her three goal contributions across Orlando\u2019s last two matches.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
The Pride will now continue its two-game road\u00a0trip, traveling next to Sports Illustrated Stadium to take on Gotham FC on Sunday, March 29.\u00a0Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Victory+.<\/p>\n
\n Scoring Summary:<\/p>\n
Barbra Banda\u00a0(Ally Lemos)\u00a013\u2019\u00a0\u2013 ORL 1, CHI 0<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Jacquie\u00a0Ovalle\u00a0(Solai Washington)\u00a022\u2019\u00a0\u2013\u00a0ORL 2, CHI 0<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n