Abby Dahlkemper scores in debut as Bay FC high Thorns

Abby Dahlkemper scored a goal in her team debut and expansion Bay FC went on to a 3-1 victory over the host Portland Thorns on Friday night.

Dahlkemper was acquired from the San Diego Wave on Monday and the Menlo Park, Calif., native quickly made an impact for her hometown team by scoring in the seventh minute. Bay FC acquired the 2019 United States World Cup champion for $50,000 in allocation money.

Rachel Hill and Joelle Anderson scored the other goals for Bay FC (7-11-0, 21 points), who halted a two-match slide.

Sophia Smith scored for Portland (8-7-3, 27 points), which dropped its second straight match.

Bay FC scored twice in the first 18 minutes.

In the seventh minute, Dorian Bailey sent a high looping cross to the far post and Dahlkemper knocked a header into the net. The goal was the second of the season for Dahlkemper, who scored the other on Saturday for San Diego.

Eleven minutes later, Bay FC made it 2-0 when Racheal Kundananji was on the left side and sent a left-footed cross into the box. Hill received the pass and scored on a right-footed kick for her first goal of the campaign.

Portland got on the board in the 32nd minute due to a defensive lapse by Bay FC. Dahlkemper kicked the ball back to goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland, who lazily tried to pass it back to Dahlkemper. Instead, Smith intercepted it and sent a left-footed shot into the net for her 11th goal of the season.

Alexa Spaanstra appeared to knot the score in the 42nd minute after receiving a pass from Smith. But Smith was ruled offside when she received a long pass and the goal was nullified.

Bay FC increased the lead to 3-1 in the 70th minute when Anderson booted a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net. It was Anderson’s third goal of the season.

–Field Level Media