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PTFC: From the Archives | Featured Thorns match marked beginning of Parsons era in 2016

Do you remember how you felt when Steph Catley scored? Oh, I suppose some context might help.

This was back on April 17, 2016 – the first game of a new 2016 National Women’s Soccer League season. Portland Thorns FC were coming off their worst league campaign, the only one in which they’ve ever missed the playoffs, and had undertaken a dramatic offseason overhaul. Mark Parsons had replaced Paul Riley as head coach. Alex Morgan was traded for a slew of assets. The team was debuting talents like Lindsey Horan, Emily Sonnett, Meghan Klingenberg, Nadia Nadim and Dagny Brynjarsdottir.