Houston, TX (April 28, 2019)- The North Carolina Courage remain undefeated in 2019 in a historic win against the Houston Dash. Lynn Williams, Crystal Dunn, Debinha, and Leah Pruitt each scored one of the Courage’s four goals in the 4-1 victory. Williams scored her 40th career NWSL goal and moved to fourth all-time in goals scored in the League. Debinha followed up Williams success scoring the NC Courage’s 100th goal in club history. Pruitt joined the historic night by scoring her first goal as a professional.
The Courage brought the pressure the entire game, taking 20 shots, 13 of which were on frame. In the 9th minute, Dunn played a perfect ball to Williams who reached the ball at the same moment as Houston goalkeeper, Jane Campbell. Campbell had to make a diving save high in the box to keep Williams away from the ball and what would have been an open net.
Jessica McDonald forced Campbell to make two saves in a matter of seconds in the 20th minute, keeping up the NC Courage’s pressure. McDonald was then taken down while trying to create an opportunity in the box in the 30th earning a penalty kick. Williams stepped up to take the kick, but Campbell made a diving save to earn her second saved penalty kick of the season.
Williams didn’t have to wait long for her tally. She found the back of the net right before the halftime whistle blew in the 45th minute. The play started out with a free kick that ultimately found Abby Dahlkemper who played the long ball to McDonald. McDonald headed it toward the goal and the ball bounced off of a Houston defender before Williams finished with a header of her own.
After knocking on the door several times to start the second half, Dunn put in the work and scored her fourth goal of the season. The midfielder sprinted close to the end line before sailing a ball over Campbell. The ball grazed the crossbar before falling in the net in the 60th minute.
Debinha made her 2019 debut in the 61st minute and scored just eight minutes later to put the Courage up 3-0. Hinkle played in a dangerous ball that forced Campbell to punch it away. The ball came straight to Debinha who blasted it back past Campbell marking the NC Courage’s 100th goal.
History continued to be made after Pruitt, who entered the match as a substitution in the 67th minute, scored her first career NWSL goal. Williams used her speed to create space and send a ball across the box. Pruitt ran forward and headed the ball in the far corner giving Campbell no chance at a save putting the Courage up 4-0.
The Courage were not able to hold on to the clean sheet, however, as Houston’s Rachel Daly sent a high arching ball into the back of the net to get the home side on the scoresheet in the 86th minute.
Up Next: The North Carolina Courage return home to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on May 4th at 7:00 p.m. against Sky Blue FC. For tickets and information call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144, or visit www.www.nccourage.com.
Notes:
- Lynn Williams scored her 40th career NWSL goal in the 45th minute.
- Williams is now 4th all-time in NWSL goals trailing Sam Kerr (61), Christine Sinclair (43), and Jessica McDonald (43).
- Debinha scored the NC Courage’s 100th goal in the 68th minute.
- Leah Pruitt scored her first career NWSL goal in 77th minute. The fifth overall selection in the 2019 NWSL College Draft entered the match as a substitute in the 67th minute.
- Crystal Dunn scored her fourth goal of the season and currently leads the league in goals scored.
- The NC Courage remain undefeated in 2019 and against the Houston Dash.
HOU (4-3-3): Jane Campbell; Alyssha Chapman, Clare Polkinghorne, Amber Brooks, Satara Murray (Kyah Simon, 77’); Christine Nairn, Sofia Huerta, Sophie Schmidt (Haley Hanson, 60’); Kealia Ohai © (Veronica Latsko, 65’), Rachel Daly, Nichelle Prince
Subs not used: Bianca Henninger, Lindsay Agnew, Jamia Fields, Ari Romero
NCC (4-4-2 Box): Stephanie Labbé; Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg ©, Abby Dahlkemper, Merritt Mathias; Crystal Dunn (Kristen Hamilton, 79’), McCall Zerboni, Samantha Mewis, Denise O’Sullivan (Debinha, 61’); Lynn Williams, Jessica McDonald (Leah Pruitt, 67’)
Subs not used: Sam Leshnak, Julia Spetsmark, Meredith Speck, Cari Roccaro
Score:
HOU: 1
NCC: 4
Goals:
HOU: Rachel Daly (Kyah Simon, 86’)
NCC: Lynn Williams (Unassisted, 45+1’), Crystal Dunn (Jaelene Hinkle, 60’), Debinha (Unassisted, 69’), Leah Pruitt (Lynn Williams, 76’)
Cautions:
HOU: Sophie Schmidt 44’
NCC: —
Ejections:
HOU: —
NCC: —
Attendance: 2,933
###