Cary, NC (September 12, 2020)- The North Carolina Courage defeated the Houston Dash 4-3 to keep their 819-day home undefeated streak alive. The Courage have not been defeated in NWSL play at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park since June 16, 2018, and have secured 20 home wins since that date. Debinha led the scoring in the match with two goals. Lynn Williams and Abby Dahlkemper each scored one goal.

“I think it was probably a 50/50 game,” said NC Courage head coach Paul Riley. ”I think a draw would’ve been a fair result. They had the first half, we had the second half. Some great goals and some good entertainment. It was not maybe such quality play at times, certainly from our perspective, and hopefully, maybe we can improve that for next week.” Debinha earned a penalty kick in the 18th minute as she streaked towards goal and had her feet taken out from under her by a dangerous slide tackle. Dahlkemper stepped forward to take the penalty kick and easily converted. The goal was Dahlkemper’s first as a member of the NC Courage. In the 25th minute, Stephanie Labbé was up against two Houston Dash forwards after a turnover led to a breakaway. Shea Groom passed to Veronica Latsko who made a move to the left and sent it into the net. Kristie Mewis gave the Dash the lead before halftime with a goal in the 37th minute. Just enough space opened up from a tough angle for Mewis to finish a shot past Labbé. In the 52nd minute, Kaleigh Kurtz threw the ball into the feet of Lynn Williams who tapped the ball to Debinha. The Brazilian nutmegged a Dash player before taking a touch and blasting a ball in the corner of the net from way outside the box. Sophie Schmidt answered the Courage goal in the 71st minute to help the Dash reclaim the lead. The Canadian sent a hard shot past her national team teammate Labbé. Just minutes after stepping on the field for her NC Courage debut, Rylee Baisden used her fresh legs to beat a defender down the flank. The Pepperdine University graduate sent the ball back towards Williams, her college roommate and former collegiate teammate, who was able to finish a curling ball past Dash goalkeeper, Jane Campbell. Just minutes later with momentum on the Courage’s side, Debinha netted her second goal of the night on a rebound on a corner kick. Meredith Speck had the assist on the goal. The 86th minute goal was the game-winner and gave the Courage their first victory of the NWSL Fall Series.

Up Next: The Courage will face the Orlando Pride on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on CBS.

Notes:

• Abby Dahlkemper captained the NC Courage for the first time and scored her first goal for the team.

• Rylee Baisden, Danica Evans, Hailey Harbison, and Peyton Perea made their NC Courage debuts.

• Rylee Baisden, Meredith Speck, and Lynn Williams had the assists in the match.

Box:

NCC (3-5-2): Steph Labbe; Abby Dahlkemper ©, Kaleigh Kurtz, Addisyn Merrick (Peyton Perea, 9’); Cari Roccaro, Ryan Williams, Lauren Milliet (Rylee Baisden, 79’), Debinha, Meredith Speck; Danica Evans (Hailey Harbison, 45’), Lynn Williams

Subs Not Used: Katelyn Rowland, Sinclaire Miramontez, Sam Murphy

HOU (4-3-3): Jane Campbell ©; Allysha Chapman, Katie Naughton, Ally Prisock, Haley Hanson; Sophie Schmidt, Kristie Mewis, Shea Groom (Christine Nairn, 82’); Bridgette Andrezejewski (Erin Simon, 58’), Nichelle Prince (Jamia Fields, 83’), Veronica Latsko (Katie Stengel, 58’)

Subs Not Used: Lindsey Harris, Cami Privett, Bri Visalli

Score:

NCC: 4 HOU: 3

Goals:

NCC: Abby Dahlkemper (Penalty, 18’), Debinha (Lynn Williams, 52’), Lynn Williams (Rylee Baisden, 83’), Debinha (Meredith Speck, 86’) HOU: Veronica Latsko (Shea Groom, 25’), Kristie Mewis (Shea Groom, 37’), Sophie Schmidt (Katie Stengel, 70’)

Cautions:

NCC: — HOU: Allysha Chapman (18’), Allysha Chapman (53’)

Ejections:

NCC: — HOU: Allysha Chapman (53’)