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North Carolina Courage

Meehan and McDonald Score to Push NC Courage Past Man City Women and into Women's ICC Championship

August 16, 2019 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


Cary, N.C. - Following a 73-minute weather delay, the North Carolina Courage mounted a comeback, scoring a pair of late goals to defeat Manchester City Women 2-1 Thursday night at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in the semifinals of the Women's International Champions Cup.

Second-half substitute McKenzie Meehan's first goal with the Courage tied the game in the 84th minute before Jessica McDonald's stoppage-time strike proved to be the game-winner. The Courage were victorious in the first game back in Cary for the team's World Cup winners from the U.S. Women's National Team.

With the victory, the Courage are set to take on Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year's title game, which the Courage won.

The NC Courage came out pressing high on Machester City Women. In the first 10 minutes, Kristen Hamilton and Debinha both saw chances on net, but the shots were saved by Ellie Roebuck.

Debinha had another chance in the 17th minute when Jaelene Hinkle played a curling ball into the box. Debinha found herself square with the net, but her shot was blocked just in time by Man City.

In the 42nd minute, Georgia Stanway found herself with space and took the ball straight to the NC Courage net. She sent a hard-struck ball past Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland from close range. The shot was one of Manchester City Women's first real chances of the match. The NC Courage entered halftime down by a goal, despite taking 15 shots in the half.

Ten minutes into the second half, Dunn hit a hard shot straight at the corner of the net that Roebuck barely tipped off its path. The ball would've sailed into the net had it not been for the slight misdirection by Roebuck.

Following the weather delay, he equalizer finally came in the 84th minute when Meehan blasted a ball into the net off of a corner kick taken by Heather O'Reilly. Meehan joined the Courage after a trade with Sky Blue FC in June and the goal was the first of her professional career.

The NC Courage built off of the momentum after the goal was scored, creating opportunities into the final minutes of the game. In stoppage time, Hinkle played a ball up the left side of the field to McDonald who sprinted toward the goal. Roebuck came out to challenge McDonald, but she was able to get the shot off past the keeper and into the net.

Notes:

Three of the NC Courage's four World Cup Champions (Crystal Dunn, Jessica McDonald and Samantha Mewis) returned to the pitch at Sahlen's Stadium for the first time since winning the World Cup.

The fourth World Cup Champion, Abby Dahlkemper, was named to the bench but did not feature in the game.

McKenzie Meehan scored her first professional goal in the match.

Heather O'Reilly and Jaelene Hinkle recorded assists in the match.

The NC Courage return to the Women's International Champions Cup Championship for the second-consecutive year.

Box Score:

NCC (4-4-2): Katelyn Rowland; Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg ©, Cari Roccaro, Merritt Mathias (Heather O'Reilly, 65'); Crystal Dunn (Meredith Speck, 76'), McCall Zerboni (Denise O'Sullivan, 65'), Samantha Mewis (Julia Spetsmark, 76'), Debinha; Kristen Hamilton (Jessica McDonald, 46'), Lynn Williams (McKenzie Meehan, 76')

Subs not used: Stephanie Labbé, Adelaide Gay, Sam Leshnak, Kaleigh Kurtz, Leah Pruitt, Abby Dahlkemper, Ryan Williams, Lauren Milliet, Peyton Perea, Shannon Horgan

MCW (4-3-3): Ellie Roebuck; Demi Stokes, Gemma Bonner, Steph Houghton ©, Aoife Mannion (Matilde Fidalgo, 75'); Georgia Stanway (Lauren Hemp, 61'), Keira Walsh, Jill Scott; Caroline Weir, Janine Beckie, Tessa Wullaert (Geum-min Lee, 65')

Subs not used: Laura Coombs, Tyler Toland, Jess Park, Emma Bissell, Matilde Fidalgo

Score:

NCC: 2

MCW: 1

Goals:

NCC: McKenzie Meehan (Heather O'Reilly, 84'), Jessica McDonald (Hinkle, 90+2')

MCW: Georgia Stanway (Janine Beckie, 41')

Cautions:

NCC: Denise O'Sullivan 80'

MCW: --

Ejections:

NCC: --

MCW: --

Attendance: 5,436

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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