MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE VS UTAH ROYALS FC
SAHLEN’S STADIUM AT WAKEMED SOCCER PARK
KICKOFF: SATURDAY, JUNE 16 AT 7 PM ET
BROADCAST: go90 APP, go90.COM, NWSLSOCCER.COM, WRAL2
LIVE UPDATES: @THENCCOURAGE #NCvUTA
Match Preview:
The North Carolina Courage (9W-0L-3D, 30 points, 1st place) return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park today to host Utah Royals FC (3W-2L-5D, 14 points, 6th place) after a four-game road trip during which the Courage came away with 10 out of 12 possible points. The Courage’s most recent match ended in a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash in a hard-fought battle where North Carolina was without six players on international duty. Young talent led the Courage in the match as Frannie Crouse, NC Courage’s first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL Draft, made her NWSL debut along with fellow rookie Ryan Williams. Cari Roccaro made her first appearance with the NC Courage and Elizabeth Eddy, Yuri Kawamura, and Meredith Speck all started for the first time in 2018. Crouse found the back of the net on her second-ever shot in the 80th minute to tie the game. The goal secured the draw and increased the NC Courage’s unbeaten streak to 12 games. The 2017 NWSL Shield winners are now at the halfway point of the season and sit in first place12 points clear of second-place Seattle Reign. Utah Royals FC are coming off of a 2-1 victory against Sky Blue FC. Diana Matheson scored a goal in just the third minute to put Utah up early. The ball ended up in the back of the net again in the final minutes of the game off of an own goal by Sky Blue to lock in Utah Royals FC’s win. The only previous meeting between these two teams was a fast-paced match with two goals by each side on Saturday, April 21 that saw goals from Merritt Mathias and Crystal Dunn for the Courage, and from Katie Stengel and Brittany Ratcliffe for Royals FC.
Series History:
There has only been one meeting between the two teams. Utah entered the league for the 2018 season. Saturday, April 21, 2017, Cary, N.C. – 2-2 D (6’- Merritt Mathias, 52’- Stengel, 66’- Ratcliffe, 80-‘ Dunn)â¨
Fact to Know:
A total of eight players between Utah Royals FC and NC Courage were called up to the U.S. Women’s National team for friendlies against China on June 7th and 12th.
Players to Watch:
North Carolina Courage – #6 Abby Erceg
The NC Courage’s captain, Abby Erceg, has played every minute of the first half of the 2018 season. She has led the back line for 1080 minutes, more minutes than any player on North Carolina’s roster. The defender has been central to the Courage’s back line that has allowed an average of less than one goal per game. The North Carolina Courage have the largest goals scored to goals allowed difference only allowing 11 goals and scoring 24. Erceg has also done her part on the offensive side of the field. Her height and in-air abilities make her a target for many set pieces. She has scored one goal and had one assist off of set pieces this season. Utah Royals FC- #10 Diana Matheson Matheson has provided Utah with two of their nine goals this season. The Canadian midfielder has helped the Royals offense is averaging less than one goal per game. Matheson’s goal against the Washington Spirit in Week 6 was voted the NWSL Goal of the Week. She slid under a Spirit defender to win the ball and then chip it over the goalkeeper’s head. Her strategic move to create space is what earned her a goal. Matheson also has a second goal on the season and an assist. She has a total of six shots, four of which have been on goal.
Coming Up Next:
The NC Courage make another cross-country journey to face Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, July 14 at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET.
