NWSL North Carolina Courage

NC Courage and Lyon Advance off of Stoppage-Time Goals and Meet in Women's ICC Championship

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


Cary, N.C. - The North Carolina Courage will take on Olympique Lyonnais for the second-consecutive year in the Women's International Champions Cup Championship on Sunday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. The match will take place at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park and will be televised on ESPN2.

The defending ICC Champions advanced to the championship after scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes of the game following a weather delay that lasted over an hour. McKenzie Meehan had the equalizing goal in the 84th minute off of a corner kick taken by Heather O'Reilly. The goal was Meehan's first professional goal.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Jessica McDonald scored the game-winning goal to advance the Courage to the championship. McDonald received a ball from Jaelene Hinkle and was able to make a move on Man City Women's defender before running full speed ahead at goal. The forward sent the ball through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net for the second goal of the match. McDonald is no stranger to game-winning goals, as she holds the all-time game-winning goal record for the NWSL.

The North Carolina Courage will face an Olympique Lyonnais team that also had a stoppage-time goal to advance to the Women's ICC Championship. In the 91st minute, Lyon defender Wendie Renard headed a ball in to score the lone goal in the first match of the 2019 Women's ICC.

The two teams have only met once before in the 2018 Women's International Champions Cup Championship. The Courage came out victorious in the game after holding on to the lead after an early goal by O'Reilly. The North Carolina Courage will look to defend their title on Sunday, while Lyon will look to knock the champions off their throne.

Up Next: The North Carolina Courage return to NWSL play on Saturday, August 24 when they host Reign FC at Sahlen's Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Players to Watch:

North Carolina Courage- #17 Heather O'Reilly

O'Reilly has some of the best success with the North Carolina Courage during the Women's International Champions Cup. The world champion and Olympic winner scored the game-winning goal in the 2018 Women's ICC. She also provided an assist to the equalizing goal in the semi-final round on Thursday.

Olympique Lyonnais- #9 Eugénie Le Sommer

The French forward is known for her goal-scoring abilities. Since signing with Lyon in 2010, Le Sommer has scored 257 goals for the club. She will look to threaten the Courage defense and attack the goal.

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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