FILE — Portland Thorns FC forward Pietra Tordin (19) makes a play on the ball against Kansas City Current defender Kayla Sharples (27) during an NWSL soccer match in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Peter Aiken / AP
Pietra Tordin scored three goals and the visiting Portland Thorns held off the Boston Legacy 4-3 on Sunday in the first meeting between the teams.
In the day’s other National Women’s Soccer League matches, Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign played to a 2-2 draw, and Bay FC and the Chicago Stars went scoreless.
At Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Tordin’s first career hat trick gave Portland enough cushion to survive Boston’s comeback attempt after Thorns coach Robert Vilahamn was ejected in the 58th minute for intentionally deflecting a dead ball away from play.
Awarded a free kick in just the second minute of the match, Tordin pinged the shot off goalkeeper Casey Murphy’s gloves. Four minutes later, Sophia Wilson scored to put Portland ahead 2-0.
Tordin added her second goal after Jessie Fleming intercepted a pass, extending Portland’s lead to 3-0.
Six minutes after Boston’s Bianca St-Georges cut into Portland’s lead in the 31st minute, Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold sent a long ball forward that found Tordin running toward goal. Tordin finished the chance and became the youngest Thorn to ever score a hat trick at 22. She leads the NWSL with 15 goals.
Alba Caño and Amanda Gutierres each scored in the second half to pull Boston (5-10-5) within one, but Portland (10-6-4) held on in the highest-scoring NWSL match of the season.
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