NWSL North Carolina Courage

NC Courage Secure Top Seed, Look to Secure Fourth Win in Challenge Cup

Published on July 11, 2020 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


Herriman, Utah - The North Carolina Courage will finish out the preliminary round of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup against Sky Blue FC at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah this Monday, July 13 at 10 p.m. EST. The Courage look to improve to 4-0 in tournament play on Monday night.

Previously, the Courage secured their third Challenge Cup win over the Chicago Red Stars, relying on a late goal from captain Abby Erceg to gain a 1-0 edge over Chicago. With three wins and nine points, the Courage remain in first place in Challenge Cup standings and have clinched the top seed in the quarterfinals following Sky Blue FC's win on Wednesday night.

Sky Blue FC topped the Houston Dash 2-0 on Wednesday night, recording their first win of the Challenge Cup. Paige Monaghan and Naomi Kawasumi recorded a goal apiece to secure the victory for Sky Blue, moving them from last place in tournament standings and into a five-way tie for second place.

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Courage defeated Sky Blue 3-2 in the 2019 regular-season finale. Jessica McDonald opened the scoring early into the match, giving the Courage a 1-0 advantage. 10 minutes later, USWNT captain Carli Lloyd netted a goal for Sky Blue, only to be answered by Debinha, notching a goal to bring the score to 2-1. Late into the second half, McDonald scored her second goal of the night to put the Courage ahead 3-1. As the final minutes ticked away, Domi Richardson found the net for Sky Blue to cut the lead, but the Courage held strong for a 3-2 victory.

Up Next: The Courage will advance to the Challenge Cup quarterfinals as the top seed, to be played either July 17 or 18.

Players to Watch Presented By Aetna:

North Carolina Courage - #14 Jessica McDonald

Jessica McDonald will be making her 2020 season debut in Monday's game, another dangerous addition to the Courage offense. McDonald scored two goals in her last appearance against Sky Blue, and fans can expect her to create several scoring opportunities for the Courage in the upcoming match.

Sky Blue FC - #6 Jennifer Cudjoe

In Wednesday night's match against the Houston Dash, Jennifer Cudjoe completed 83 percent of her passes and won the ball back 14 times for Sky Blue. Cudjoe boasts creative passing abilities and top-notch ball control, making her a challenge to defend in the midfield.

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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