Match Info:

North Carolina Courage (1-0-0, 3 points) at San Diego Wave (1-0-0, 3 points) Saturday, April 1, at 10 p.m. ET | Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, Calif.

Coverage:

Live Stats (NWSL)

Broadcast: Paramount+ (PXP: JP Dellacamera, Analyst: Saskia Webber)

Social Media: @TheNCCourage

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March 31, 2023) – The North Carolina Courage make their first road trip of the 2023 season as they venture to the West Coast to face the San Diego Wave on Saturday, April 1, at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 local) at Snapdragon Stadium.

The Courage finished the 2022 season with three consecutive clean sheets and began the 2023 campaign the same way. The four straight regular season shutouts is one shy of the NWSL record, which has happened twice: the Courage themselves did it in 2021 and the Reign did so in 2016. The Courage and Wave played twice in San Diego’s inaugural season in 2022 with just one goal scored over the 180 minutes. Alex Morgan scored the lone tally in an 0-1 final in Cary last May before a scoreless draw in the final match of the regular season. That draw opened the window for Chicago to jump the Courage into the sixth and final playoff position, so the Courage will be looking to avenge that disappointment with an early road result in 2023. No team has ever shut out the Courage in three straight meetings since moving to North Carolina in 2017. The Wave an Opening Day attendance record last weekend with over 30,000 in attendance, so the Courage know the road environment will be one of the toughest in the league. With five players making their club debut last week, and several more ready to do so, this young team is still learning each other. They will have to once again display the resiliency and tenacity that emanated on opening weekend if they are to get a road result.

Quoting the Courage

Head coach Sean Nahas reflecting on the season opener… “Obviously there are going to be a lot of things that we see, both good and things to improve on. I thought our shape was okay. We had really, really good, defined moments in possession. I think we can be a little more consistent and in the last 20 minutes we dropped off, which is not something we’re used to doing, so that’s something we have to focus on. But there’s a lot of positives that we took and with such a new group to get three points was massive, but we’re not even scratching the surface yet.” Nahas on the first road trip of the season… “The good news is that we spent two weeks away, so this is not the first time this team has traveled. I think it’s seeing consistency and seeing growth week to week. There’s going to be ebbs and flows throughout the year with so many young players. Overall, it’s continuing to build on how we want to play and implementing our style and ideas. We’re not one to really change whether we’re home or away. We still want to play an attacking style but for us, it’s seeing steady growth and being ready to play against a good team. (Coach) Casey (Stoney) always has them organized ready to play. They’re systematic in how they want to attack so, for us, it will be a good test for this young group, but at the end of the day it’s another opportunity to play.” Nahas on the Kerolin vs. Naomi Girma match-up… “Any matchup against Kerolin is a fun matchup because it’s going to bring the best out of that particular player. Hopefully the things we want Kerolin to do will force the opposition to think a bit differently and challenge them in decisions they have to make. (Naomi) Girma is a fantastic player. She was Rookie fo the Year for a reason. The kid’s at a different level. Her intelligence, her understanding, ability to read spaces. But we have to keep them guessing. Kerolin likes a challenge. She’s one of the most exciting player in the league and any time she gets on the ball something can happen.” Nahas on preparation for the environment at Snapdragon Stadium… “You can say it all you want but until they’re actually in it, it makes it really difficult. It’s a good thing that the crowds are full in these stadiums and hopefully that happens consistently across the league more and more. That’s the only way the league can continue to grow. But until you’re actually in the environment, it’s impossible to explain. We’ll lean on our veterans and some of these kids played in front of large crowds in college, but nothing compares to the pro level, so it’s sort of a learn-on-the-go kind of thing. And that plays a role in some personnel decisions that we make as well.” Kiki Pickett on returning to California… “I’m very excited to perform in front of my family and friends. I think it’s good to have parents, siblings, extended family in town and get to have them see me play in person.” Pickett on a Bay Area team joining the NWSL… “I think it would be perfect. I know there’s a lot of talent in Northern California. They have a good base. Coming from Stanford, I’ve seen it. They have a good base and I think it will really start to flow. If they could create a rivalry between Northern and Southern California, that would bring a lot of energy to the league and could bring in a big, new audience. So I’m excited for them. Pickett on emotions leading into the season-opener… “I tried not to think about it too much leading up to it. This was the first big game and, of course, it was against Kansas City, so I just tried to play it off as just a game. But I would go back-and-forth and was definitely nervously excited. There was just so much emotion coming into the game that I tried to stay settled. A had a lot of mixed emotion, but overall it was a good feeling coming into the game.” Pickett on playing with Girma and Sierra Enge… “They are so technical and knowledgeable it was great to play with them. Even just training with them was great because they push you to be the best you can be, and you always have to raise the bar and standard that they have.” Pickett on development of back line “It’s a new back line, but most of us have been here so we know how each other work. But it’s been a good process learning each other and what we like and don’t like, which is a big part of the game. The progressive mindset with each other is expanding my knowledge of the game and understanding. And having the understanding of how we work individually will help with the team and we can expand off of that.”

Scouting the Wave

The Wave won a thriller, 3-2, over the Red Stars in their season-opener while setting the NWSL attendance record for an opening day. They were awfully efficient, scoring thrice on just six shots – including a penalty-kick winner in the 89’ from Morgan. Amirah Ali and Jaedyn Shaw also found the back of the net for the Wave, with all three goals coming in unassisted fashion. Chicago led in many of the statistical categories, including shots, shots on goal and possession. The Wave were also offside four times, showcasing their willingness to attack aggressively. Look for them to be quick in transition and turn seemingly innocuous situations into dangerous ones rapidly.

Last Time Out

The Courage got off to a strong start to the 2023 season with a 1-0 home result over the defending NWSL runner-up Kansas City Current. Five players made their Courage debut, including three making their NWSL debut. Danish international Mille Gejl scored the lone goal in the win, striking a low curler into the corner netting from long range. Gejl became the first international to score in their debut since Jun Endo and Vanessa Gilles did so in the Angel City FC opener last season (against the Courage). Fellow international, Narumi Miura, had the assist as part of a stellar debut for the Japanese transfer. Tyler Lussi and Emily Fox were extremely dangerous on the right wing and Olivia Wingate made a run to remember in her 23-minute debut. Kerolin Nicoli rattled off four shots and was a menace from the nine position all game long, proving that she is ready to shoulder the load as a headliner in the Courage attack this season. Overall, an impressive showing in front of nearly 5,000 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park set a nice tone to begin the season.

Players to Watch

North Carolina Courage – #6 Narumi Miura What a debut for Narumi Miura, who somehow exceeded expectations in the Courage midfield. She not only assisted the game-winning goal and had a shot that forced full extension from AD Franch, she also posted a 100% tackle success rate, 63.6% duel success and 80.6% pass accuracy. Miura was instrumental in the transition game for the Courage against a Kansas City team that may be deeper than any other in the NWSL at that line. San Diego has a stout midfield and will look to transition quickly, so Miura’s ability to hold up play and win the ball in one-on-one situations will be critical for the Courage on Saturday. San Diego Wave – #4 Naomi Girma The reigning NWSL Rookie of the Year put on a show in last season’s regular season finale. Her pace and strength on the ball posed an unsolvable challenge for the Courage in the scoreless draw. They weren’t alone in that frustration. The USWNT rising star has earned high praise from veterans, coaches, and observers alike and the NWSL is on watch to see what the defender has in store for her sophomore season. Expected to be a major piece of the USA back line come June, the Courage will look to find the right combinations to find the back of the net against the Wave for the first time.

Next Up

The Courage return home to host the Washington Spirit on Saturday, April 15, for regular season NWSL action following the conclusion of the FIFA International Window. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park in the first home match under the lights this season.