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NWSL North Carolina Courage

North Carolina Courage Fall to Gotham FC in the NWSL Quarterfinals Sunday

October 22, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan in action
North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan in action
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: NWSL Media)

CARY, N.C. - The North Carolina Courage fell in the NWSL Playoffs quarterfinals, 2-0, to NJ/NY Gotham FC Sunday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage's impressive season saw a league trophy and home playoff match for the first time since 2019.

The opening goal came just before the half when Bruninha played Delanie Sheehan through the right side of the box and she crept a low runner past the diving Casey Murphy to break the scoreless tie.

Tess Boade hit the corner post and a Brianna Pinto volley off a corner insert stretched the Gotham keeper throughout the second half, but the Courage could not find the combination to pull even. Murphy made some massive second-half stops to keep the Courage within striking distance until a stoppage-time dagger from Yazmeen Ryan as the Courage pushed desperation numbers forward.

Next Match: The Courage season ends in the opening round of the 2023 NWSL Playoffs. The UKG NWSL Challenge Cup champions earned their first home playoff match since 2019 and established a soccer identity and brand unlike anything before seen in the NWSL, generating an excitement for what's in store for 2024. Follow @TheNCCourage on social media and www.nccourage.com for news and updates throughout the offseason.

Box Score:

NCC (4-3-3): Casey Murphy, Emily Fox, Malia Berkely, Kaleigh Kurtz, Ryan Williams, Narumi Miura (Rikke Madsen - 79'), Denise O'Sullivan ©, Tyler Lussi, Manaka Matsukubo (Brianna Pinto - 64'), Brittany Ratcliffe (Haley Hopkins - 64'), Tess Boade (Mille Gejl - 79')

Subs Not Used: Katelyn Rowland, Sydney Collins, Kiki Pickett, Sarah Clark, Frankie Tagliaferri

NJY (3-3-4): Amanda Haught, Jenna Nighswonger, Ali Krieger, Maitane López, Bruninha, Yazmeen Ryan, Nealy Martin, Delanie Sheehan, Lynn Williams, Esther González (Sinead Farrelly - 83'), Midge Purce

Subs Not Used: Michelle Betos, Kelley O'Hara, Allie Long, Kristen Edmonds, Mana Shim, Ellie Jean, Ifeoma Onumonu, Katie Stengel

Score:

NCC: 0

NJY: 2

Goals:

NCC: -

NJY: D. Sheehan - 45' (Bruninha); Y. Ryan - 90+1' (L. Williams)

Cautions:

NCC: Manaka - 47'; B. Pinto - 81'

NJY: N. Lopez - 14', N. Martin - 36', K. O'Hara - 90+4'

Ejections:

NCC: -

NJY: -

Attendance: 4,612

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Images from this story

North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan in action
North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan in action
(NWSL Media)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 22, 2023


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