Group Stage (Game 1): NC Courage (2-1) Burnley
North Carolina Courage made history in the first women’s match of The Soccer Tournament (TST) Friday morning, facing off against Burnley. The courage brought home a win after the winning goal from Madison Wolfbauer. The first half was riddled with several close goal attempts from both teams. 22 shots were taken, many of which fell just outside the net but ultimately left the score 0-0. Moving into the second half, Burnley’s Cheyna Matthews created space to move down the field and crossed an assist to Alexa Newfield, who scored the first goal in the 31′. Jess McDonald’s shot attempt in the 33’ only grazed the post but set the team up for an aggressive course of play. With seconds left before the end of regulation, Sarah Clark struck from deep at the 40’ and scored just under the wire to even things out as the teams transitioned into target-score time 1-1. With the scores tied, the Courage would not miss the opportunity to break through. Wolfbauer dribbled to the post with impressive footwork and finished with a strike off the crossbar that landed in the net at 40 + 2’, advancing NC Courage and securing the win.
NC Courage Starters (2-3-1): Lauren Kellet, Sydney Miramontez , Sinclair Miramontez, Victoria Haughen; Sam Witteman, Madison Wolfbauer; Jessica McDonald ©
NC Courage Bench: Grace Brian, Sarah Clark, Courtney Classen, Giovanni DeMarco, Meghan Lenczyk, Ellie MacDonald, Tiffany McCarty, Paula Quintero, Maegen Rosa, Ana Schardong, Jaida Scott, Zalma Torres.
NC Courage Goals: S.Clark – 40’ ; M. Wolfbauer – 40+2’ (winner)
Group Stage (Game 2): NC Courage (2-4) Tampa Bay Sun FC
North Carolina Courage was defeated by the Tampa Bay Sun FC (2-4) in game two of The Soccer Tournament (TST) on Friday night. All teams in Group WB are now tied in points for the tournament; whoever wins tomorrow will automatically advance to the semi-finals. Sinclair Miramontez opened up scoring potential when she capitalized off a penalty kick opportunity in the 15’ and granted the Courage a 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay’s Chioma Ubogagu responded moments later to tie the score with less than a minute in the half at 19’. Early into the second half, another stand-out play from Ubogagu in the 20’ bumped Tampa Bay ahead 2-1. Although unsuccessful, Jess McDonald’s clean header into Tampa Bay’s goal at the 34’ got the ball rolling for the Courage as Madison Woldbauer leveled the score again with a deep strike in the 37’. Tampa Bay’s Jordyn O’Brien immediately countered this goal with a kick that landed–creating significant separation from the Courage going into target score time. Needing three more goals in target score time to beat Tampa Bay, the Courage played competitively. McDonald put Courage back in the game with an on-target kick that awarded them a goal in the 40 + 10’. Although this lessened the gap, Tampa worked quickly to regain its advantage, placing another one inside the goal just seconds later to win the game.
NC Courage Starters (2-3-1): Lauren Kellet, Sydney Miramontez, Sinclair Miramontez; Victoria Haughen, Sam Witteman, Madison Wolfbauer; Jessica McDonald ©
NC Courage Bench: – Grace Brian, Sarah Clark, Courtney Classen, Giovanni DeMarco, Meghan Lenczyk, Ellie MacDonald, Tiffany McCarty, Paula Quintero, Maegen Rosa, Ana Schardong, Jaida Scott, Zalma Torres.
NC Courage Goals: Sinclair Miramontez– PK 15’, Jess McDonald–40 + 10’
Up Next :
NC Courage takes on Soccerhead on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on field 4 of WakeMed Soccer Park.
Group Stage (Game 3): NC Courage (5-3) Soccerhead
North Carolina Courage clinched the win (5-3) against Soccerhead FC Saturday night in The Soccer Tournament (TST). Gracie Bryant and Madison Wolfbauer braced this game, with Victoria Haughen striking for the winning shot to carry the Courage into semi-final play. The Courage maintained the lead throughout the match, only tying once. This started with Bryant’s first goal at the beginning of the half at 9’. Soccerhead’s Cheslee Washington snuck one through to tie the score 1-1 at the 18’. A loose ball out of the hands of Soccerhead’s goalkeeper opened the opportunity for Bryant to secure the lead again at the 19’. At the 32’, Courtney Classen took a deep strike to the post, which bounced off the goalkeeper and into Wolfbauer, who furthered the gap. Wolfbauer executed another point after finding a cross at the 36’ following a commotion at the post, extending the lead 4-1. Going into target score time, Courage was up but let Soccerhead score twice, once at the 40 + 6’ and another just over halfway through the time, putting them within two goals of the target score. However, Victoria Haughen’s winning shot at the 40 + 16’ into an unattended goal post would advance the Courage to the semi-finals as they continue to compete for the tournament’s $1 million prize.
NC Courage Starters (2-3-1): Lauren Kellet, Sinclair Miramontez, Victoria Haughen; Giovanni DeMarco, Sam Witteman, Courtney Classen, Madison Wolfbauer.
NC Courage Bench: – Grace Brian, Sarah Clark, Courtney Classen, Giovanni DeMarco, Meghan Lenczyk, Ellie MacDonald, Tiffany McCarty, Jessica McDonald ©, Paula Quintero, Maegen Rosa, Ana Schardong, Jaida Scott, Zalma Torres.
NC Courage Goals: Gracie Bryant– 9’, 19’, Madison Wolfbauer– 32’, 36’, Victoria Haughen–40 + 16’
