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NWSL North Carolina Courage

Morgan, Wave Send Courage to Defeat

by Fran Stuchbury
May 23, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage


Alex Morgan of the San Diego Wave
Alex Morgan of the San Diego Wave
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Fran Stuchbury)

The North Carolina Courage lost 1-0 to NWSL expansion team San Diego Wave in their first ever meeting in front of 6,070 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday. The game was televised nationally on Paramount+.

"We gave up a bad goal in the first half," said North Carolina Courage Head Coach Sean Nahas. "We competed more in the second half. At the end of the day, it was time for our players to step up; we couldn't find that last piece."

The San Diego Wave scored the only goal of the game in the 42nd minute on a shot by Alex Morgan.

Morgan scored her NWSL-leading sixth goal of the season. She has played in the NWSL since it started back in 2013, taking the pitch with the Portland Thorns from 2013 until 2015 and the Orlando Pride from 2016 until 2021. She was traded to the expansion San Diego Wave on December 13, 2021, with Orlando receiving a record $275,000 in Allocation Money and Angharad James in return. Morgan has played with the United States National Team since 2010 and has scored 115 goals.

The Courage drew more than 6,000 fans to the contest. North Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz referred to it as the "Alex Morgan affect," and young girls with Alex Morgan signs were visible in the crowd.

Kurtz added, "We've been starting a little slow lately the past two games. That's something we need to work on. We have given up early goals and that makes it harder to come from behind. We have things we need to work on, but I saw some positives in that game."

The Courage's next game is on the road Sunday, May 29th against the Houston Dash. Their next home game is on Sunday, June 19th against Houston at 5 pm est.

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics




Images from this story

North Carolina Courage battle the San Diego Wave
North Carolina Courage battle the San Diego Wave
(Fran Stuchbury)		 Fans welcome the San Diego Wave and Alex Morgan
Fans welcome the San Diego Wave and Alex Morgan
(Fran Stuchbury)		 Alex Morgan of the San Diego Wave
Alex Morgan of the San Diego Wave
(Fran Stuchbury)



National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 23, 2022


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