MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE VS. CHICAGO RED STARS
SAHLEN’S STADIUM AT WAKEMED SOCCER PARK
KICKOFF: SUNDAY, MAY 6-3 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: go90 APP, go90.COM, NWSLSOCCER.COM, FOX 50
LIVE UPDATES: @THENCCOURAGE #NCvCHI
Cary, N.C. (May 4, 2018)- The NWSL-leading North Carolina Courage will play host to the second-place Chicago Red Stars at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday, May 6 in a rematch of the 2017 NWSL Playoffs semifinals. The Courage (5W-0L-1D) sit atop the NWSL table with 16 points through six matches, seven points clear of the Red Stars (2W-2L-3D), who are coming off a 2-0 loss against the Orlando Pride on Wednesday. Courage head coach Paul Riley’s team continued its unbeaten start to the season with an impressive 2-0 win on the road against the Houston Dash last Saturday. The Courage recorded their fourth shutout of the season in the victory, and Crystal Dunn and Kristen Hamilton each scored. Dunn’s third-minute strike put the Courage ahead early, while Hamilton’s precise shot from well beyond the 18-yard box in the 48th minute doubled the advantage. D’Angelo rose to the occasion in the 27th minute when she made a pair of impressive saves to keep the Courage ahead.
Series History:
Since relocating to Cary, the Courage are 1W-3L-0D against the Red Stars.
Sunday, May 21, 2017, Cary N.C. – 3-1 L (30’-Christen Press, 37’-Sofia Huerta, 45’-Vanessa DiBernardo, 55’-Lynn Williams ) The Red Stars scored three goals in a 15-minute span as the Courage were defeated at home for the first time in 2017. Down 3-0 at halftime, the Courage got on the board with a goal by Lynn Williams in the 55th minute. Saturday, May 27, 2017, Bridgeview, Il. – 3-2 L (27’-Danielle Colaprico, 45+4’-Abby Erceg, 54’-Alyssa Mautz, 59’-Vanessa DiBernardo, 82’-Debinha) Facing Chicago for the second time in one week, The Courage fell by one goal in a high-scoring affair. Down 1-0, the Courage tied the game right before halftime as Abby Erceg scored her only goal of the season. Down 3-1 late in the second half, the Courage got back in the game with an 82nd-minute goal from Debinha, but couldn’t come any closer.
Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, Bridgeview, Il. – 2-1 L (15’-Lynn Williams, 52’-Yuki Nagasato, 84’-Julie Ertz) In the final regular-season match between the Red Stars and the Courage, NC got off to a good start thanks to Williams’ 15th-minute goal, her second score of the season against Chicago. However, Chicago took all three points as Julie Ertz scored the game-winner with only six minutes remaining in normal time. Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, Cary, N.C. NWSL Semifinal – 1-0 W (89’-Denise O’Sullivan)
The Courage’s lone win against Chicago in 2017 came at the best time possible. With a spot in the NWSL Championship on the line, the Courage shut down a potent Chicago offense and eventually broke through in the 89th minute with Denise O’Sullivan’s goal, the first in her Courage career.
Fact to Know:
Courage goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo leads the NWSL with four clean sheets in five appearances.
Players to Watch:
North Carolina Courage – #19 Crystal Dunn
After being held scoreless in the first two games of the season, the Courage’s big offseason acquisition has heated up recently. In her last four games, Dunn has scored three goals, one of which was a game-tying strike against Utah Royals FC. With her trio of goals, Dunn is just one behind Portland’s Christine Sinclair, who has a league-best four goals.
Chicago Red Stars – #11 Sofia Huerta
A season ago, Huerta contributed to a potent Chicago attack with six goals and four assists. Seven games into the 2018 season, the 25-year-old U.S. Women’s National Team member is once again playing a key role offensively. Huerta is one of three players in the league to have recorded two goals and two assists and her 12 chances created are tied for the third most in the NWSL.
