NWSL North Carolina Courage

Courage Defeat Pride 1-0 at Home Saturday Night

Published on March 26, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


CARY, NC - The North Carolina Courage bested the visiting Orlando Pride, 1-0, at home Saturday night, adding a second consecutive shutout in their 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup campaign. A second-half goal by Courage defender Merritt Mathias off the penalty spot was the deciding factor in the night's match.

The Courage dominated in their offensive third all match long, outshooting Orlando 17-7 and posting a 60% possession. Courage newcomer Kiki Pickett kicked off the attack for the Courage with a dangerous opportunity in the fifth minute, driving down the center of the pitch and ripping a shot mere inches wide of the post.

Courage forward Taylor Smith also created several goalscoring opportunities throughout the match, including a close chance in the 38th minute, taking a shot from range and skimming the top corner of the cross bar.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Courage were awarded a penalty following a handball in the Orlando box. Courage defender Merritt Mathias stepped up to the spot, sending a laser of a shot just below the crossbar, into the back of the net.

Following the match, when asked about her mental approach to the penalty, Mathias responded, "I step up knowing I'm 100% going to score. That's all you can do. You must give yourself confidence to trust yourself and let it rip, and that's what I did."

The most dangerous opportunity for the Pride came in the 81st minute, when a deflection from an initial shot from Pride forward Sydney Leroux fell to the feet of Angharad James. James sent a half volley on frame from far outside the 18, and into the hands of Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.

"After the game tonight, I told the team how proud I was of how they showed up with a fight and competitiveness, and that is what we will continue to need down the road," Head Coach Sean Nahas said. "I'm proud of the way our group managed the game until the very end. That's something you can't replicate in training."

"Adding another win is just a baby step in our bigger journey," Nahas added. "It's always great to get three points, but it wasn't as consistent as we'd like it to be. The one word I've been using from the beginning of this season is 'together'. Everything we do, we do together. It's been a good start, and we will continue to get better."

The full recording of the post-match press conference can be found HERE.

Match Notes:

Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland earned her second straight clean sheet in Saturday night's win, bringing her career NWSL Challenge Cup total to four and tying the all-time Challenge Cup shutout record.

Merritt Mathias scored the match's lone goal, her first of the season and the second of her NWSL Challenge Cup career.

Kiki Pickett made her first career start for the Courage Saturday, recording 78 minutes of action and four shots.

Up Next: The North Carolina Courage will travel to face the Washington Spirit this Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The match will stream live on Paramount+.

Box Score:

NC (4-3-3): Katelyn Rowland, Kaleigh Kurtz, Carson Pickett, Abby Erceg ©, Merritt Mathias, Kiki Pickett (Meredith Speck - 78'), Brianna Pinto, Malia Berkely, Denise O'Sullivan, Taylor Smith (Ryan Williams - 85'), Jaelene Daniels (Diana Ordoñez - 71')

Subs Not Used: Katie Bowen, Emily Gray, Tess Boade, Rylee Baisden, Jorian Baucom, Marisa Bova

ORL (4-4-2): Erin McLeod, Carrie Lawrence (Kylie Strom - 46'), Toni Pressley, Megan Montefusco, Courtney Petersen, Gunny Jónsdóttir (Arika Tymrak - 77'), Meggie Dougherty Howard, Parker Roberts, (Angharad James - 46'), Marta Vieira Da Silva © (Mikayla Cluff - 31'), Sydney Leroux, Darian Jenkins

Subs Not Used: Anna Moorhouse, Chelsee Washington, Kylie Strom, Leah Pruitt, Amy Turner, Kerry Abello

Score:

NC: 1

ORL: 0

Goals:

NC: Merritt Mathias (PK - 60')

ORL: --

Cautions:

NC: Taylor Smith - 24'

ORL: Gunny Jónsdóttir - 53', Courtney Petersen - 69'

Ejections:

NC: --

ORL: --

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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