SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2026) – Bay FC fell 3-1 to the Orlando Pride Sunday at PayPal Park. Orlando scored minutes after the opening whistle to start each half, while Bay FC answered its early deficit with an equalizer from forward Racheal Kundananji in spectacular fashion in the 11th minute. Bay FC pushed to level the scoreline late but wouldn’t be able to earn another before the final whistle sounded. The result gives Bay FC the chance to play spoiler for the remainder of the season as it is eliminated from playoff contention.
Orlando opened the scoring quickly with a goal just 90 seconds after kickoff from midfielder Haley McCutcheon. Bay FC punched back right away, putting pressure on their foes and taking control of the tempo. Kundananji nearly leveled the contest two minutes after the opening score, but her close-range effort from a cross on the back post was denied by the goalkeeper.
Kundananji made no mistake with her second opportunity, leveling the scoreline with a diving header. After play cycled back across from a corner kick, midfielder Claire Hutton placed a perfect cross toward the back post for the Zambian to tally her third of the season.
Bay FC nearly pulled ahead on a pair of occasions after the half hour mark. An attempted clearance by Orlando goalkeeper Cosette Morché was blocked by midfielder Hannah Bebar at the top of the box and fell straight to the feet of forward Karlie Lema, who recorded her 50th career appearance in the match. The Cal product made a move towards goal, but her attempt was saved. The club nearly scored again moments later as forward Alex Pfeiffer tried her luck by cutting across the top of the penalty area following a Bay FC throw in. After beating her defender to the top of the box, Pfeiffer’s shot missed the frame.
Orlando took the lead back coming out of the halftime break. McCutcheon found her second of the game from a Pride corner kick in the 47th minute, heading through an inswinging cross served by Angelina.
Bay FC dominated the run of play after Orlando went ahead and began to put the visitors’ backline in distress in the final 30 minutes of the match. Midfielder Taylor Huff nearly scored in her second straight game after pouncing on a weak clearance in the 62nd minute but saw her shot blocked. A flurry of chances followed, with Pfeiffer finding space in behind the Pride backline and Lema beating a defender with little between her and goal, but neither was able to beat the goalkeeper.
Late changes by head coach Emma Coates helped the club push to equalize late. Forward Keira Barry entered in the 81st minute and nearly scored on a pair of occasions in the final moments, testing her luck from distance on her latter chance and missing high by mere inches. Agostina Holzier, in for Lema at the 68th minute, broke free of an Orlando defender and looked poised to score her first in a Bay FC shirt just a minute later but saw her shot rattle off the woodwork and away from goal.
Bay FC hits the road to the heartland next week, visiting the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. PT, and the match will broadcast live on ION. The contest is the final match ahead of the October international break, after which Bay FC will resume NWSL play against Portland Thorns FC at PayPal Park Oct. 18.
Bay FC v Orlando Pride
September 27, 2026
PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.
Kickoff: 2:08 p.m. PT
Weather: 69 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 11,393
Discipline
BAY – Holzheier (caution) 86’
ORL – Ovalle (caution) 88’
Scoring Summary
ORL – McCutcheon (Washington) 2’
BAY – Kundananji (Hutton) 11’
ORL – McCutcheon (Angelina) 47’
ORL – Ovalle (Banda) 90+6’
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Bay FC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Racing Louisville FC | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Starting Lineups
Bay FC: Silkowitz, Nighswonger, Anderson, Gilchrist, Collins (C), Bebar (Fuller 90+2’), Hutton, Huff (Conti 81’), Kundananji, Lema (Holzheier 86’), Pfeiffer (Barry 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Miller, Girelli, Hubly, Cometti, Moreau
Orlando Pride: Morche, Dyke, Mace, Oihane (Abello 62’), Rafaelle (Anderson 71’), Luana (Lemos 62’), McCutcheon, Angelina, Banda, Marta (C) (Ovalle 62’), Washington (Doyle 78’)
Unused Substitutes: Martin, Yates, Lekven, Payne
