Narrative: Courage defeated Spirit in a road Challenge Cup match

POST-MATCH SOUNDS

Cary, NC (22/07/2023) The North Carolina Courage defeated the Washington Spirit 0-6 in the teams’ fourth UKG NWSLChallenge Cup match of the 2023 season.

Included in today’s list, midfielders Tori Huster and Bayley Feist both were activated from the injury list. Huster, who has played with the Spirit since the NWSL’s inception in 2013, has not played for the Spirit since suffering a serious calf injury late in the 2021 season. Feist was activated after suffering an injury in practice earlier this season. Today marks the first time Huster and Feist have been on the roster together since the 2020 Fall Series.

The first shot of the match came in the 9th minutefrom the legs Ashley Hatch he entered the match with nine goals against his former team, two more than the next closest player (Sam Kerr 7). However, Spirit withstood several Courage attacks in the first 20 minutes, but Spirit’s backline remained strong.

In the year 26, For Jaurena received a yellow card after holding up the progress of a Briana Pinto charge. He entered the match with a stacking caution and will subsequently miss the teams next Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC.

In the first half, the Spirit, who rarely possessed the ball, relied on Hatch’s counterattacks and corner kicks. The two Spirit corners came in the 32nd and 33rd, the first of which led to a Tara McKeown a title that hit the woodwork and was later called out.

In typical fashion, the Courage dominated possession. Leading the NWSL in possession coming into the match, the Courage had over 70% possession. The Courage also recorded 327 passing yards to the Spirits’ 150, 172 passing yards more than the Spirits combined.

The first half ended in a 0-0 tie, the first time since August 3, 2019 that both teams have been scoreless at halftime in North Carolina. In those days, the Challenge Cup did not exist. Additionally, this is the second match in NWSL Challenge Cup history without a shot on goal in the first half.

The first shot on goal was made 12 minutes into the second half Lena Silano fired a shot on goal that was stopped by Courage keeper Katelyn Rowland.

The scoring drought was snapped and snapped quickly from the 61st when Brittany Ratcliffe showed some beautiful footwork inside the box to create space and send the ball into the back of the net. Four minutes later, Frankie Tagliaferri added her second career first NWSL goal for the Courage. In the 70th, Olivia Wingate sent the third into the back of the net and Tess Boade added insult to injury with a fourth Courage goal in the 72nd.

Unfortunately, Henge’s damage did not stop there. Courage added a fifth goal in the 80th on a world-class volley from Brianna Pinto. This goal, which came from a corner kick, set a new record for most goals scored by one team in one match in a Challenge Cup match. Narumi added a sixth goal three minutes later. The six goals, coming from six different players, set a new NWSL record (all competitions) for most goals scored in a single half, in just 22 minutes.

Returning home to Audi Field for their first home game since July 1, the Spirit will take on NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup on Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available. here.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit

Date: July 22, 2023

Place: WakeMed Soccer Park

Kick off: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Weather: Sunny, low 80s

Score summary:

NC Brittany Ratcliffe 61

NC Frankie Tagliaferri 65

NC Olivia Wingate 70

NC Tess Boade 72

NC Brianna Pinto 80

NC Narumi Miura 83

Compositions:

NC: 98- Katelyn Rowland; 23 – Kiki Pickett (18 – Sydney Collins, 75); 7- Malia Berkely; 3- Kaleigh Kurtz; 13- Ryan Williams; 8- Brianna Pinto; 6- Narumi Miura; 11- Brittany Ratcliffe (20- Olivia Wingate, 68); 19 – Frankie Tagliaferri (99 – Victoria Pickett, 68); 14 – Tyler Lussi (5 – Haley Hopkins, 75); 28 – Tess Boade (29 – Millie Farrow, 81)

Unused substitutes: 44- Marisa Bova; 2- Sarah Clark; 24- Estelle Johnson; 21- Nikia Smith

WAS: 28- Nicole Barnhart; 19 – Dorian Bailey; 3- Sam Staab; 9- Tara McKeown; 30 – Camryn Biegalski (16 – Maddie Elwell, 62); 26- Paige Metayer; 7- Ins Jaurena; 22 – Amber Brooks (37 – Jordan Thompson, 84); 39 – Chloe Ricketts (17 – Nicole Douglas, 62); 33- Ashley Hatch; 24 – Lena Silano (36 – Mariana Speckmaier, 62)

Unused substitutes: 18- Lyza Bosselmann; 13- Bayley Feist; 23- Tori Huster

Statistics Summary: NC / WAS

Shots: 16/12

Shots on goal: 9/1

Shots saved: 3/3

Save: 1/3

Tackles Won: 9/6

Flaws: 7/15

Except: 1/1

Summary of abuses:

OLI Ins Jaurena 26

WHAT Sam Staab 63

NC Haley Hopkins 82

WAS Paige Metayer ’87