NWSL North Carolina Courage

Courage Best Racing Louisville FC, 3-1

October 6, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


CARY, NC - The North Carolina Courage defeated Racing Louisville FC for the third time this season on Wednesday night, relying on individual goals from Lynn Williams, Amy Rodriguez, and Debinha to earn the result and subsequent three points. Savannah McCaskill scored the lone goal for the visiting side. The match marked Denise O'Sullivan's 100th NWSL game, and also saw Lynn Williams tie Sam Kerr's record for most career NWSL regular-season shots with 410.

Though the Courage certainly pieced together an outstanding performance on Wednesday night, the most significant moment of the night came in the 6th minute of the contest. A statement from the NWSL Players Association, released ahead of tonight's game, read: "Teams will stop play in each of tonight's games at the 6th minute. Players will join together in solidarity at the center circle for one minute in recognition of the six years it took for Mana [Shim], Sinead [Farrelly], and all those who fought for too long to be heard. We call on fans to stand in silence with us. During that time, we ask you to stand in that pain and discomfort with us, as we consider what too many of us have asked to sit with for far too long."

The Courage opened the scoring in tonight's match, as Rodriguez's shot on goal was met with a deflection from Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund, falling to Williams in the box. Maintaining composure at short range, the forward tapped in her seventh goal of the season to give the Courage a 1-0 advantage in the 14th minute.

Later, in the 19th minute, Rodriguez tallied her third goal of the season to double the lead for the North Carolina side. Collecting a through ball from Jessica McDonald, Rodriguez tore down the field on a breakaway, leaving three Louisville defenders in her wake. Just outside the six, the veteran cut the ball to her left foot and found the lower 90, rendering the score two goals to nil. Five minutes later, Savannah McCaskill got Louisville on the board, finishing a shot from outside the eighteen to cut the Courage's lead in half, 2-1.

The Courage were quick to respond with their third goal of the match, as a header from McDonald made its way across the face of the Louisville net to catalyze the goal-scoring play. In an attempted clearance, McDonald's header was again headed out by a Racing defender, and in the box to capitalize on the mistake was Debinha. Settling the ball at her left foot, the midfielder buried a shot to score in her first appearance since the international break, rendering the score 3-1 as the first half expired. The Courage held the lead through the rest of the match, holding their spot in the NWSL standings.

Match Notes:

- Debinha scored a goal in her first appearance since the international break.

- With two shots on the night, Lynn Williams has tied Sam Kerr's record for most career NWSL shots at 410.

- Tonight marked Denise O'Sullivan's 100th NWSL game.

Next Match: The North Carolina Courage will travel to face the Houston Dash on Sunday, October 10 at 7 p.m. ET at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX. The match will air live on Paramount+.

Box Score:

NCC (3-5-1): Casey Murphy, Kaleigh Kurtz, Carson Pickett, Abby Erceg©, Merritt Mathias (Ryan Williams - 67'), Denise O'Sullivan (Cari Roccaro - 75'), Debinha (Havana Solaun - 85'), Angharad James, Lynn Williams, Amy Rodriguez (Meredith Speck - 75'), Jessica McDonald (Taylor Smith - 85')

Subs Not Used: Diane Caldwell, Lindsay Agnew, Brittany Ratcliffe, Samantha Murphy

LOU (4-3-3): Katie Lund, Erin Simon, Kaleigh Riehl, Brooke Hendrix (Sinclaire Miramontez - 66'), Julia Ashley (Nealy Martin - 66'), Freja Olofsson (Taylor Otto - 59'), Savannah McCaskill, Lauren Milliet (Katie McClure - 81'), Ebony Salmon, Emily Fox, Cheyna Matthews (Emina Ekic - 59')

Subs Not Used: Michelle Betos, Vanessa Kara, Katie McClure, Yuki Nagasato, Jorian Baucom

Score:

NCC: 3

LOU: 1

Goals:

NCC: Lynn Williams - 14', Amy Rodriguez - 19', Debinha - 30'

LOU: Savannah McCaskill - 24'

Cautions:

NCC: --

LOU: --

Ejections:

NCC: --

LOU: --

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 6, 2021


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