In a Portland Thorns season that’s been marked by an emergence of young talent, the team’s budding stars were dominant again Friday in a blowout victory. Rookies Pietra Tordin and Caiya Hanks scored, with second-year forward Payton Linnehan and captain Sam Coffey chipping in as well as the Thorns breezed past the Houston Dash 4-1 Friday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Portland (4-2-4, 16 points), which has featured 11 different goal scorers this season in 10 games, extended its unbeaten streak to five games. The Thorns won for the ninth time in Houston, setting an NWSL record for the most road wins by a team against a single opponent. “It was a terrific performance; tactically we were spot on and exploited the space, and we dominated possession against a team that wants to possess the ball,” Thorns coach Rob Gale said. “I’m delighted for the players.” Portland’s first two goals came during a four-minute span. Tordin, a 21-year-old making her debut in the starting lineup, kicked off the scoring in the 26th minute with her first NWSL goal. The 24-year-old Linnehan followed in the 30th minute to pad the lead, notching her first goal of the season and third as a Thorn. “Making a lot of changes to the lineup could have gone differently, but we know we have the culture, a deep roster and trust in each other throughout the squad,” said Tordin. The pair were part of six changes to the lineup that started last week’s draw at San Diego as Thorns coach Rob Gale rotated the squad in anticipation of the Concacaf W Champions Cup semifinal Wednesday in Mexico. Along with Tordin’s first start, Linnehan, Mimi Alidou and Mallie McKenzie each started for the third time this season. “We thought it was the right time and opportunity,” Gale said about giving some of the usual substitutes starting minutes. “I thought we got it spot on with the rotations.” Tordin, who played college soccer at Princeton, made eight appearances as a sub before earning a start. She validated the decision early, beating a defender one-on-one at the top of the penalty box and firing a low shot into the left corner for a 1-0 lead. “It was really cool, but the only thing I could really think about after was my parents being in the stands,” said Tordin, whose family traveled in from Florida for the game. “I made a heart gesture toward them, and I’m really glad they took the flight here.” Four minutes later, Linnehan chested down a long ball from Coffey — her college teammate at Penn State — then also beat Smith to the low left corner to double Portland’s advantage. “We lost 35 goal contributions from last year so we have to do it by committee,” Gale said of the team’s scoring balance. “The players have stepped up and they’re a great group to be around. They have something good going on right now, so we have to nurture that knowing that we don’t have the superstars maybe this team has had in the past.” Just before halftime, Reyna Reyes was clipped down in the penalty area by Houston’s Christen Westphal, seconds after Tordin also took contact in the box. Following a lengthy video review to look at both plays, a penalty was given for the Westphal foul. With usual penalty taker Jayden Perry on the bench, Coffey stepped up and froze Dash goalkeeper Abby Smith with a low shot into the lower right corner for her first goal of 2025. Nine minutes into the second half, Hanks scored on a spectacular individual effort, leaving Westphal in the dust with a cutback eight yards from goal and bending a shot into the top right corner past a helpless Smith. Houston’s lone goal was an unlucky break for the Thorns, and ended Portland’s league-record streak of second-half shutouts at 10 games. Michelle Alozie’s attempt at a cross in the 75th minute ricocheted off of Portland’s Sam Hiatt and into the net for an own goal by Hiatt. Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby was otherwise challenged only once, making a save from point-blank range on Messiah Bright off a corner kick in the 60th minute. Houston missed a golden chance at a second goal in the 82nd minute as Kalyssa van Zanten sent a clear shot wide from 10 yards out. With a current run of three wins and two draws, the Thorns will carry momentum into Wednesday’s game against Tigres UANL at the Mexican team’s home stadium near Monterrey. Gale confirmed that midfielder Deyna Castellanos, who is from Venezuela, will travel with the group to Mexico. Castellanos opted out of international duty in April due to concerns that she may not be able to re-enter the country if she leaves. Gale said that team officials and an immigration lawyer have worked together to ensure that she can travel with the club safely.