MATCH PREVIEW: Courage Hit the Road to Face Spirit
Match Info:
North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET Audi Field, Washington D.C.
CARY, NC (March 28, 2022) – Coming off back-to-back wins to kick off their 2022 Challenge Cup campaign, the North Carolina Courage will travel to take on the Washington Spirit Wednesday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed live on Paramount+ and Twitch (internationally). With their two wins, the Courage now sit at the top of the East Division standings with six points, ahead of the Spirit who are in second place with two points.
This past Saturday’s win over the Orlando Pride was a low-scoring affair, with the Courage’s Merritt Mathias tallying the only goal in the 1-0 NC victory. Mathias’ conversion on a penalty kick 15 minutes into the second half was something to behold, as the Courage veteran defender sent a rocket just below the crossbar and into the back of the net. The goal marked the second NWSL Challenge Cup goal of Mathias’ career, the first coming in the first match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup which also marked her return to play following a season-ending knee injury in 2019. Following the match, when asked about her mental approach to the penalty, Mathias responded, “I step up knowing I’m 100% going to score. That’s all you can do. You must give yourself confidence to trust yourself and let it rip, and that’s what I did.”
Where to Watch: Paramount+, Twitch (Internationally)
Players to Watch Presented by JubliaRX.com
North Carolina Courage – #33 Kiki Pickett Making her first Courage start, newcomer defender Kiki Pickett kicked off the attack for North Carolina on Saturday with a dangerous opportunity in the fifth minute, driving down the center of the pitch and ripping a shot mere inches wide of the Orlando post. Pickett, acquired from Kansas City in the offseason, registered 78 minutes of play and four shots. Washington Spirit – #33 Ashley Hatch Subbing in to start the second half, attacker Ashley Hatch scored the equalizer for in the Spirit’s latest outing, a 1-1 draw with NJ/NY Gotham FC. Hatch, a Courage first-round pick in the 2017 NWSL Draft, won Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NWSL’s Golden Boot in 2021. Since joining Washington in 2018, Hatch has made 64 starts in 66 matches played (5,574 minutes) and has recorded 21 goals and three assists.
Up Next: The North Carolina Courage will continue Challenge Cup group stage play as they visit NJ/NY Gotham FC on Saturday, April 3, at 3 p.m. ET. The match will stream live on Paramount+.
