NWSL Week 8 in review: Portland moves up the table with a big game from Adrianna Franch

It was 2013 when Adrianna Franch made her professional debut. Selected by the Flash as the sixth overall pick, Franch made an immediate impact upon arriving in Western NY, quickly silencing whatever criticism there had been about the team using such an early draft pick on a goalkeeper.

In her rookie season, Franch started all 22 games, playing all but two minutes of the entire 2013 season. The Flash won the NWSL Shield that year, and Franch, who recorded seven shutouts, led the league in saves, and had the league’s best goals against average, was also in net for the both playoff games. Even with Western NY losing the title game to Portland, Franch was heralded as the next big thing, a possible heir to the USWNT goalkeeping throne, even earning a call-up from then-national team head coach Tom Sermanni. She finished second in the voting for both Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year and was named to the Second XI at season’s end. Everything about Franch’s future as a pro looked bright.

The next season, 2014, was supposed to be the one where she’d not only lead the Flash back to the title game but also make a case for another chance at the national team. Franch would never get that second season, though, or at least not right away.

In March of 2014, Franch suffered a season-ending ACL injury during preseason. It was a month before the second NWSL season was set to kick off. The loss of Franch was something Western NY never really recovered from, finishing the season with the worst record in club history and failing to make the playoffs. A year later, Franch, finally healthy, was playing in Norway.

Adrianna Franch, known as A.D., did eventually return to the U.S. and NWSL, but in the two years she’d been gone, the growing league had mostly moved on. Franch landed in Portland for the 2016 season, serving mostly as a backup to Michelle Betos. An injury to Betos got Franch six games last season and though she went 3-0-3, once Betos was healthy, Franch was back on the bench.

This year, with Betos opting to play, coincidentally, in Norway, Franch suddenly found herself back in a starting role, and this time it was in a place where the spotlight was much brighter. Portland, last year’s NWSL Shield winner, came into this season again as favorites. Beyond losing Betos, this year’s Thorns team is pretty much unchanged from that one.

Franch hasn’t been a consistent starter since her days in Western NY, though, and as the league has grown, so has the amount of talent playing in it. Franch definitely looked shaky in the early part of this season, sometimes seeming unsure — the confidence that comes either with the naiveté of being a rookie or because you’re an experienced veteran, both escaping her.

Now though, Franch has started to settle into her role as the No. 1 on a good team. Overall, Portland has had a good start to the season. Even with Tobin Heath and Katherine Reynolds yet to play a game and Mana Shim seeing only limited time, all due to injury, it’s not that surprising. The Thorns currently boast the league’s best goals against number, allowing only five in eight games, and following a win on Saturday in New Jersey, Portland is in third, just three points off the top spot on the table.

The obvious storyline from Saturday is that Lindsey Horan netted a brace, her first two goals of the season coming against a Sky Blue team that was previously unbeaten at home. But as much as Horan’s offensive contributions were obviously important, it was Franch’s work that truly made the difference.

Though Portland came out on top on the scoresheet, it was Sky Blue that had the majority of the offensive chances, especially in the second half. In the game, Sky Blue outshot the Thorns, 17-8 and had the majority of the possession. Sky Blue has been one of the best second-half teams this season, earning more than a few points from late-game goals. It’s something that’s propelled the team into the top four after a slow start and made it one of the more dangerous attacking teams in the league. It’s also something that — whatever that cliche about 2-0 being the most dangerous score in soccer is aside — made Portland’s lead seem even less safe.

Franch though, was up to the task, putting in a performance that looked more like the ones she used to turn in regularly as a rookie than anything else she’s done this season. To be fair, Franch hasn’t been bad so far in 2017. She’s got five clean sheets in eight games after all, but Saturday was definitely the best she’s looked this season.

Franch made seven saves against Sky Blue, almost all of them highlight-reel worthy. There was the kick save on a point-blank chance from Kelley O’Hara early in the second half, she palmed away a Sarah Killion penalty kick — Killion, currently the league’s leading scorer, was 4-4 on PKs this season before facing Franch — and one where she was able to push the ball over the bar on a dangerous chance from McKenzie Meehan. Franch’s game — unafraid to come off her line against a fast Sky Blue front line and in a physical game — was more confident, too.

Following the break for FIFA dates this weekend, Portland will face Sky Blue again next week, this time in Portland. Historically, Sky Blue’s played well in Portland, even when they weren’t having the best season. Now, as a team that’s having a solid season and one that’s shown it’s not afraid to play a more physical game, it’ll be another tough test for a Thorns team that Mark Parsons admitted was “hanging on for dear life a little bit” despite being two goals up on Saturday.

When asked about his team’s overall performance, Parsons was quick to single out Franch, too. “There’s not been a goalkeeper we’d rather have in our team in the league. No one is performing like A.D. right now.”

North Carolina Courage 2 - 0 FC Kansas City

Washington Spirit 2 - 0 Houston Dash

Sky Blue FC 0 - 2 Portland Thorns FC

Orlando Pride 2 - 0 Boston Breakers

Chicago Red Stars 1 - 0 Seattle Reign FC