Sanchez Brace Caps Late Match Fireworks in Courage Victory
NWSL North Carolina Courage

Sanchez Brace Caps Late Match Fireworks in Courage Victory

by Fran Stuchbury
Published on August 24, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage


North Carolina Courage vs. Boston Legacy FC
North Carolina Courage vs. Boston Legacy FC
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Fran Stuchbury)

Ashley Sanchez's brace, completed in extra time, lifted the North Carolina Courage over Boston Legacy FC, 2-1, in front of a 8,050 fans at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., Saturday evening.

North Carolina's record improved to 10-7-3 for 30 points, sixth place in the standings.

The Courage opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a goal from Sanchez, her 12th of the season, with the assist from Feli Rauch who made her 50th NWSL regular season appearance.

Boston evened it up at 1-1 two minutes into second half extra time off the foot of forward Aïssata Traoré who had entered as a sub in the 63rd minute. It was her sixth score of the season, and third off the bench.

The tie lasted until the 17th minute of extra time when North Carolina center back Maycee Bell was fouled after the referee reviewed video of the incident. Midfielder Riley Jackson who typically takes penalty kicks was not in the lineup due to a foot injury.

In stepped Sanchez who secured her third brace of the season and league-leading 13th overall goal. Clocking in officially at 106:50, Sanchez's goal is the latest in NWSL regular season history.

"It's not easy to concede the end of the game the way we did," said Courage Head Coach Mak Lind. "You can believe that it's over and and just take the point and go home. This team doesn't just sit back and say, 'Yeah, we had a bad last couple of minutes.' We went at them and continued chasing again. I'm happy for the response and how we handled adversity within the game; something this group can be proud of. In the end you will have moments in games where things go against you. You just need to be able to handle them and respond in a way where you give yourself a chance to take the point, especially at home."

"I'm very happy that is Ashley scoring the the goal," continued Lind. "She's top of the leaderboard and scoring two goals was incredible in the open play. It was a very special day for her. So I'm proud of her and the team, the way we responded and and take three important points at home so we can continue this journey together."

"I think that was the craziest game I've been involved in," added Bell. "But I think we just knew that we had the game in our hand and then we let it slip. So, we just needed to do everything we could to kind of get the game back in our favor. Ash just chipped it to me and I was in the box and good things happen when you get the ball in the box. So, drew the penalty kick and then it was just kind of storybook for Ash to be able to finish that. She's having a ridiculous season and super proud of her.

"We never stop. I think that we believe until the very end that we're going to score that goal or keep them from scoring. I think this team is so bought in to what we're building towards and so bought into what Mak wants from us, that nothing can stop us."

It was a physical game with both teams accumulating ten fouls each.

"I think it was a good mental preparation going into the game knowing it was going to be physical," said Courage midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson. "So I could already prepare myself that they're going to put in bad tackles. They're going to put some knocks in, but you kind of just have to regulate yourself and keep playing and keep focused on the next action. I feel like I'm pretty used to physical football. I think the NWSL is a very physical league, but also I grew up playing with my brother, so he'd put in the same very nasty tackles, so I'm quite used to it."

Parkinson picked up her second career yellow card in the 83rd minute. In addition, Lind saw his first ever yellow card defending his player.

Boston's record slipped to 5-11-5 for 20 points. Former North Carolina goalkeeper Casey Murphy signed with Boston on a four-year deal in the off-season after playing five years with the Courage from 2021 until 2025. She made six saves for Legacy FC.

"I love Casey," explained Bell. "Last year really helped come into playing a lot. It was awesome to see her, good to see her doing well. I thought she did really well tonight."

North Carolina's next game is Wednesday at home against Angel City FC at 8 pm est.

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Images from this story

North Carolina Courage vs. Boston Legacy FC
North Carolina Courage vs. Boston Legacy FC
(Fran Stuchbury)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 24, 2026


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