CARY, N.C. (March 25, 2023) — The North Carolina Courage opened the 2023 NWSL season with a clean sheet win over the Kansas City Current, 1-0, Saturday in front of 4,948 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park.
After a flurry of early chances, Mille Gejl scored in the 23’ for what would prove to be the game-winner. Narumi Miura played Gejl into a one-on-one with a Current defender just beyond midfield and Gejl was able to loop inside to create an angle. She launched a low, curling shot that blew past AD Franch and into the left-corner netting for her first NWSL goal. The Courage had several chances to break the game open but could never add to their advantage. Kansas City got a great look for the equalizer late in the first half and had a pair more heart-stopping chances in the second, but could not solve Casey Murphy, who made three saves in the clean sheet performance.
Match Notes:
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Saturday’s match was the opening match of the NWSL 2023 season
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Five players made their Courage debut Saturday, three of whom also made their NWSL debut
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The Courage held nearly 60% of possession and completed 79% of their passes
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Casey Murphy recorded her 18th career shutout for the Courage, breaking a tie with teammate Katelyn Rowland for the club record.
Quoting the Courage
Sean Nahas
“It was a gutsy three points. We had some really good spells in what we were doing, and then second half I thought we dropped off a bit, which is normal. Thought we had several, several quality chances, thought we could maybe put the game away. But, young players are going to learn. That’s [KC Current] a good team, they’re deep. I know they were missing a lot of players but we still have to go out there and get three points and I felt that the group battled. For a young group, a new group, to get three points it’s only a small step with where we want to go, but it’s a really good foundation to set.” On Mille Gejl’s goal…
“It was funny, before the game I told Mille- she’s a confidence person, most people are, I told her when you get the ball wide I want you to have one thought- I want you to dictate where they defend and I want you to run at them and get them on their heels and have the space inside open up, you’re going to have acres of space. And she did it. The kid’s quality. She’s still trying to get fit to our level, when I took her off she was like ‘I’m dead.’ But yeah, tremendous goal, great way to settle into the league, we’re excited for her. It’s been a tough start for her, she’s a perfectionist and we keep telling her, make mistakes. You’re not going to be perfect. Make mistakes and that will get you to where you want to be.”
Mille Gejl
On scoring her first NWSL goal… “I was really happy to get my first goal in the league and help the team get the three points. I thought we played a good game with some sloppy moments, but overall a good game.” “I received the ball in an isolated situation with the right full back and I tried to go 1 v 1. I got to the inside of the pitch, I saw the goal and tried to shoot, and it went in.” On making her NWSL debut… “I’ve always heard good things about the league. Today I think we actually dominated the first 30 minutes so I was really happy to see that. I didn’t have anything to compare [it] with until today, so I had a good feeling after today and we’re in a good place as a team.”
Ryan Williams
On playing as a center back “Well I guess they needed me there, I’m used to playing right back but I’ve had a couple conversations with the coaches and they said they felt like this is what they needed from me. I don’t know how long it’s going to be, but I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and do as well as I can. KK [Kaleigh Kurtz] has helped me a ton, just the communication from her, all the girls on the backline too. We wouldn’t have been as successful as we were today without them kind of walking me through that.”
Next Match: The Courage travel to San Diego to face the Wave at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, April 1, at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. The match will air live on Paramount+ and @TheNCCourage will provide live updates on social media.
Box Score:
NC (4-3-3): Casey Murphy, Emily Fox, Ryan Williams, Kaleigh Kurtz, Kiki Pickett, Denise O’Sullivan ©, Narumi Miura, Meredith Speck, Tyler Lussi (Rikke Madsen – 77’), Kerolin Nicoli, Mille Gejl (Olivia Wingate – 64’)
Subs Not Used: Katelyn Rowland, Haley Hopkins, Brianna Pinto, Brittany Ratcliffe, Sydney Collins, Frankie Tagliaferri, Estelle Johnson
KC (4-3-3): AD Franch, Hailie Mace ©, Kate Del Fava, Elizabeth Ball (Jenna Winebrenner – 87’), Gabby Robinson (Addie Merrick – 75’), Alex Loera, Cece Kizer, Lo Labonta, Mimmi Larsson (Izzy Rodriguez – 75’), Michelle Cooper, Alexa Spaantra (Chardonnay Curran – 75’)
Subs Not Used: Rylan Childers, Cassie Miller, Jordan Silkowitz,
Score:
NC: 1
KC: 0
Goals:
NC: M. Gejl – 26’
KC: —
Cautions:
NC: K. Kurtz – 31’, K. Pickett – 80’
KC: K. Del Fava – 50’
Ejections:
NC: –
KC: –
