Bay FC vs Portland Thorns Full Post-Match Press Conference

[QUESTION]: Just overall thoughts a massive win tonight here in Portland. ALBERTIN MONTOYA: Yeah absolutely. We got three points as I told the team in our huddle here. They like to do things the hard way. We went into Utah and I thought we could have maybe gotten three points there, but we didn't. So then we decided to come into maybe one of the most difficult places to play. arguably one of the top teams in the league. And we get three points here. First half I thought we were outstanding in so many ways. the way we possessed the ball, the way, we just kind of committed to our runs and the understanding of our defensive responsibilities. And then in the second half, it was interesting. but it's a good thing. We didn't necessarily keep the ball as much as we would like to. But what was important about it, it's the character they showed because we we didn't break, so they moved the ball around, didn't necessarily have any clear opportunities. I thought Kaitlyn responded really well after that first goal. And the way she handled herself and, cut out all the crosses and, just, excellent. And just, a great performance by the entire team defensively. And then in the attack, just so happy for them. I mean, I knew this would happen. Would happen. it's the way they've been training the mentality. And I said, let's, you know, get on board because, we're going to have fun and we're going to go a long way to this season. So, I'm just really happy for the players. They deserved it. [QUESTION]: Talk about tonight, too, Abby's first start in a regular season game. Her and Menges really looked like they, you know, only playing, what, 45 minutes against Barcelona and 90. Just immense performance there together tonight. Talk about the performance of Abby and Emily Menges in the back for this group. MONTOYA: Again, So much experience between the two of them. They both have won championships. That goes a long ways. And when you have two leaders like that leading our backline and and players in front of them, it's going to be extremely helpful like that. Abby was outstanding in every single way, with her distribution and her defending and just this kind of, air and just confidence that she brings and it's infectious. It goes. All of our players are feeling it. And there's this belief in even against Barcelona in that first half I'm going back to that game. It's just kind of the way they played. And they're starting to believe it in themselves. And I've known that our coaching staff has known that, but now they're starting to put together. Now we all again, we have to follow up with another three points in the next game because, we're we're not done. We've got a lot of work to do. And, credit to Abby and Emily because, they led our team today to, a great game. [QUESTION]: And talk a little bit about the attack, a couple players, Rachel Hill, just another outstanding performance from her getting her first goal for the club, and then another nice assist to set up Joelle and then talking about another player to come in and make an impact. How important was that third goal when Joelle came in and scored that? MONTOYA: Well, first of all, with Rachel Hill, she just never stops running and she does everything for her team. And that's one of the things I think to her after the game, it's every every time she steps on the field, it's like, like I'm going to do whatever I need to do to help our team win. And if it means just off running for 90 minutes, and making it difficult on the other team, great. She'll do that. But she also now getting herself in really good positions for either goals or assists. And that's going to continue happening. And with Joelle, this is something we see with from her all the time at practice. And we've seen in some of the games which falls on her left foot, she's lethal. And as soon as she cut back and put her left foot on top of the 18, I actually said goal because she doesn't miss from there. I mean, she really doesn't. And, so, you know, you have to give her credit. She comes in without, just like getting that many minutes in the last couple of games and then, performs, gets a goal for us and, does what she needed to do defensively. So, again, very proud of both of those two players as I am with everyone else. [QUESTION]: Overall thoughts on a massive win for the club tonight in Portland. yeah. EMILY MENGES: First of all, huge three points. We needed those three points. and a really incredible team effort. I think from start to finish we had moments where we were controlling the game, moments where they were on top of us. But, through the roller coaster of the 90 minutes, we, it was it was it took everybody on the field and it was really good to see. [QUESTION]: And a new center back partnership with you and Abby Dahlkemper. You played 45 minutes again on Tuesday and a full 90 tonight. Just talk about kind of that first full 90 minute experience and how important the defense was in helping you get the win tonight. MENGES: Yeah, I think especially in the second half and towards the end when people were getting tired and it was turned into absolute chaos, I just think the communication in the back was important. We kind of hold people in front of us, tightened it up a little bit, made them play a little bit more around us. so yeah, I think that was something Abby and I could add, but other than that, it was all kind of seamless. So, so happy for Abby to be here and excited for the rest of the season with her. [QUESTION]: And it was kind of an interesting game. Like a lot of momentum in the first half. Get a couple goals. They get one back and then in the second half they kind of took the momentum. And then Joelle comes in and scores that third goal and {MENGES]: It's so necessary. [QUESTION CONTINUES]: Shut it down. But you just talk about the difference between the first half and the second half and how you kind of weathered that storm when they had more on the ball. MENGES: Yeah, I think they didn't start off high pressing. And so we kind of was a bit slow. We were in control of what we scored the two goals as soon as you score a second goal they started high pressing. that kind of threw us off a little bit, but we ended up going a little bit more direct at times and just to skip their press. good to have Abby. She's really good at that ball over the top. and also just good to know experience wise. Went to play out when to play long. But but yeah, I think in any game you're going to have to weather something. I think it was really clear that it was the high press that made it, that made it difficult for us. And so in the second half, I think they kind of dropped off a little bit. And that's when we kind of, I don't know, maybe we didn't take control like we did in the first half, but we took a little bit more of it. [QUESTION]: And a special moment for you, it was your 100th game ever at Providence Park coming back here. How did it feel to come back here? And also just to get a win on your first game back? What does that mean? MENGES: Yeah. It's amazing. I'm so happy. really weird being here and not playing. I purposefully switched us to that side of the, field for the first half. I just know it throws the team off a little bit, but, Yeah, it means a lot. I loved my time in Portland, I love Portland, I love Providence Park. I love everything about it. It was time for me to move on. But to come back and get such a good team win like it was scrappy, but it was. It was the whole team. And yeah, that just means a lot.