Natalie Jacobs nets stoppage-time winner in seven-goal thriller
NWSL North Carolina Courage

Natalie Jacobs nets stoppage-time winner in seven-goal thriller

Published on August 8, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


North Carolina Courage celebrate a win over the Washington Spirit
North Carolina Courage celebrate a win over the Washington Spirit
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Katie Schroeck)

WASHINGTON - The North Carolina Courage beat the Washington Spirit, 4-3, Saturday evening at Audi Field. With the win, the Courage improved to 9W-6L-3D on the season.

The Courage jumped out to a rapid 3-0 lead in the first half, but the Spirit rallied after the break to tie the match in the 90' through Rebeca Bernal.

North Carolina refused to go down without a fight, however, with Natalie Jacobs launching an attack late in stoppage time. The Courage captain carried her run into the opposition box to get on the end of a Feli Rauch pass and secure all three points for the Courage with her second career goal.

Ashley Sanchez opened the scoring with her 11th goal of the season in just the 2', making a darting run in behind the Spirit defense and lofting the ball past Sandy MacIver. Shinomi Koyama picked up her team-leading fifth assist of the season on the goal, finding Sanchez in acres of space behind the Spirit defense.

Evelyn Ijeh doubled the Courage advantage in the 9' after a VAR review, scoring her eighth of the season. Ally Schlegel battled to bring the ball under control inside the box, tapping it to Ijeh for the close-range finish.

The Swedish striker added her ninth of the season in the 15' off the assist from Sanchez. Sanchez won the ball from Tara Rudd on the edge of the Spirit box, setting Ijeh up for the one-on-one opportunity with MacIver.

The Spirit responded strongly coming out of the halftime break, with Trinity Rodman and Sofia Cantore cutting the Courage's lead to one within the first five minutes of the half. Bernal added the equalizer late in the half.

Match Notes:

- Ashley Sanchez's goal was the fastest of the season for the Courage, coming at 1:27. The goal was the 30th of her career. She now has 45 regular season goal contributions in her career.

- With three goals in the first 15', 14:13 is now the Courage's fastest 3-0 lead in club history, breaking 23:02 against Portland in 2019.

- Evelyn Ijeh's brace was the third fastest in Courage history from kickoff.

Box Score:

NCC (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan; Feli Rauch, Maycee Bell, Natalie Jacobs ©, Ryan Williams; Shinomi Koyama, Erica Meg Parkinson (Carly Wickenheiser - 60'), Riley Jackson (Vilde Bøe Risa - 60'); Ashley Sanchez (Hannah Betfort - 46'), Evelyn Ijeh (Chioma Okafor - 82'), Ally Schlegel (Lauryn Thompson - 60')

Subs Not Used: Madi White, Natalia Staude, Dani Weatherholt, Uno Shiragaki

WAS (4-5-1): Sandy MacIver; Kate Wiesner, Esme Morgan (Élisabeth Tsé - 46'), Tara Rudd, Gabrielle Carle (Madison Haugen - 80'); Andi Sullivan © (Rebeca Bernal - 46'), Trinity Rodman, Hal Hershfelt, Leicy Santos, Paige Metayer (Tamara Bolt - 46'); Claudia Martínez (Sofia Cantore - 46')

Subs Not Used: Sara Woljdelko, Emma Gaines-Ramos, Kaylie Collins, Ashley Hatch

Score:

NCC: 4

WAS: 3

Goals:

NCC: A. Sanchez - 2' (S. Koyama), E. Ijeh - 9' (A. Schlegel), 15' (A. Sanchez), N. Jacobs - 90' + 5' (F. Rauch)

WAS: T. Rodman - 47' (K. Wiesner), S. Cantore - 50', R. Bernal - 90'

Cautions:

NCC: F. Rauch - 38', V. Bøe Risa - 75', M. Bell - 90' + 8'

WAS: E. Morgan - 35'

Ejections:

NCC: -

WAS: -

Venue (Location): Audi Field (Washington)

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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Images from this story

North Carolina Courage celebrate a win over the Washington Spirit
North Carolina Courage celebrate a win over the Washington Spirit
(Katie Schroeck)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 8, 2026


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