INDIANAPOLIS (July 22, 2023) – The North Carolina Courage U23 team fell in the USL W League Final, 2-1, to Indy Eleven in an extra time thriller Saturday afternoon at Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI. One of the youngest rosters in the 65-team league, the Courage reached the final day of competition in the second season of the USL W League, capturing their first-ever division and conference championships in a memorably historic season, finishing 14-1-1 on the year.
The Courage had the first truly dangerous chance just shy of the quarter-hour mark. Lauren Martinho (NC Courage Academy/Duke commit) took the ball away in the midfield and had a breakaway on goal in 12’ but Nona Reason was able to paw the shot away to keep the match level. Later in the half, it was Emmie Allen’s (North Carolina) turn to save the day, making a big one-on-one stop against Sam Dewey in the 35’ and then another big diving stop in stoppage time of the first half to send the match to the break scoreless.
Indy Eleven finally broke through just a few minutes past the hour-mark. The Courage were dispossessed at midfield by a heavy challenge, which drew cries for a foul but the whistle stayed silent, allowing Indy to break out on the attack and a well-placed through ball led to an open look at goal and the lead. The Courage drew even 10 minutes later when USL W League Young Player of the Year Mia Oliaro lofted a perfect insert to find the head of Martinho, who lofted a shot over the keeper and under the bar to level the match.
Midway through the first extra period, Indy Eleven earned a corner kick against the run of play and took advantage. After a whiff off the initial insert, a brilliant bicycle kick by Alia Martin somehow lofted over Allen and into the back of the net.
The Courage pressed hard for another leveler, with Phoebe Goldthwaite narrowly missing over the bar at the end of the first extra period. The Courage earned a flurry of corners and decent looks in the second session, but could not find the tying strike, even hitting the woodwork in the waning seconds of stoppage time in the final period.
