While Portland Thorns head coach Mark Parsons expressed pride when asked on Sunday about his team clinching a fourth-straight place in the National Women's Soccer League postseason, he was also clear about the team's bigger objectives, and how those have always played a bigger part in defining Portland's 2019 season.
"One of the objectives that we set was making the playoffs, so it's good to reach one of those," Parsons said," but, look, this (season) was always going to be about winning (NWSL) Shields and winning Championships."
Portland took one step toward their next objectives with Saturday's 1-0 victory over the Houston Dash, a win that helped locked up the team's place in the postseason.