Ijeh's Hat Trick Powers Courage to 5-0 Win over Pride
NWSL North Carolina Courage

Ijeh's Hat Trick Powers Courage to 5-0 Win over Pride

Published on July 31, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


North Carolina Courage's Evelyn Ijeh
North Carolina Courage's Evelyn Ijeh
(North Carolina Courage)

CARY, NC - The North Carolina Courage beat the Orlando Pride, 5-0, at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday night. With the win, the Courage's record stands at 7W-6L-3D.

The 5-0 win is the largest margin of victory in the NWSL this season.

Evelyn Ijeh led the way to the win, becoming the first Swedish player to score a hat trick in the NWSL. The three-goal haul was the eighth hat trick in NC Courage history. No club in the NWSL has more.

Adding to the milestone goals, Lauryn Thompson's 4' strike to get the scoring going made the Wake Forest, North Carolina, native the youngest player to score for the Courage in the NWSL regular season. Erica Meg Parkinson picked up the assist, becoming the sixth-youngest player in NWSL history to record an assist. The goal was the third teenager-to-teenager goal in NWSL history.

Ashley Sanchez capped off the win with her 10th goal of the season, doubling her previous career high and putting her in second for the Golden Boot race.

Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was pivotal in the shutout, making two saves.

Next week, the Courage will hit the road for a pair of matches against the Denver Summit and the Washington Spirit.

Match Notes:

- Captain Natalie Jacobs started a match for the first time since March 21.

- Vilde Bøe Risa, who signed with the Courage this week, made her NWSL debut in the 82'.

- Lauryn Thompson's first goal as a professional in the 4', while Erica Meg Parkinson picked up her first assist of the NWSL season.

- Evelyn Ijeh scored the second and third goals of the match in the 26' and 35', assisted by Ashley Sanchez and Lauryn Thompson, respectively. Ijeh then scored an unassisted fourth goal in the 70', completing a hat trick.

- Ashley Sanchez scored the fifth and final goal of the match in the 90' + 2', assisted by Riley Jackson. Sanchez has now scored 10 goals so far this season.

Box Score:

NCC (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan; Feli Rauch (Dani Weatherholt - 72'), Maycee Bell, Natalie Jacobs © (Natalia Staude - 85'), Ryan Williams; Shinomi Koyama (Carly Wickenheiser - 53'), Erica Meg Parkinson (Vilde Bøe Risa - 80'), Riley Jackson; Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh (Hannah Betfort - 80'), Lauryn Thompson (Ally Schlegel - 72')

Subs Not Used: Madi White, Chioma Okafor, Uno Shiragaki

ORL (4-3-3): Anna Moorhouse; Cori Dyke, Zara Chavoshi, Oihane Hernández, Rafaelle Souza (Hailie Mace - 46'); Ally Lemos (Zoe Matthews - 82'), Haley McCutcheon, Angelina Costantino (Luana Bertolucci - 82'); Jacquie Ovalle (Simone Jackson - 75'), Solai Washington (Julie Doyle - 71'), Marta Viera da Silva © (Summer Yates - 68')

Subs Not Used: Cara Martin, Cosette Morche, Nicole Payne,

Score:

NCC: 5

ORL: 0

Goals:

NCC: L. Thompson - 4' (E. Parkinson), E. Ijeh - 26' (A. Sanchez), E. Ijeh - 35' (L. Thompson), E. Ijeh - 70', A. Sanchez - 92' (R. Jackson)

ORL: -

Cautions:

NCC: -

ORL: Z. Chavoshi - 10', H. McCutcheon - 45' + 3'

Ejections:

NCC: -

ORL: -

Venue (Location): First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

Attendance: 7,232

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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North Carolina Courage's Evelyn Ijeh
North Carolina Courage's Evelyn Ijeh
   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from July 31, 2026


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