Live Stats(NWSL) Broadcast: Paramount+ (PXP: Maura Sheridan, Analyst: Jordan Angeli)
Social Media: @TheNCCourage
HOUSTON (April 27, 2023) — The North Carolina Courage wrap up a three-game road trip as they visit the Houston Dash on Friday, April 28, for an 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff from Shell Energy Stadium. The match will stream live on Paramount+ and social media channels @TheNCCourage will provide live updates and insights before, during and after the match.
The Courage are looking to snap a three-game regular season losing streak after a clean sheet win in the season opener. A narrow home loss, on a controversial second-half penalty, to the Washington Spirit preceded a long travel week. The team started in Orlando for UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play then went up to North Jersey to resume regular season action. Denise O’Sullivan scored in the 90+9’ to salvage a draw in Orlando despite a dominant stat sheet, then a two-hour lightning delay amid a rainy night saw a late 1-0 loss to Gotham FC. One of the youngest rosters in the league, which has seen seven players make NWSL debuts this season, has had several early tests and lessons. The progress has certainly been noteworthy with possession and passing among the best in the league. Learning a new style with a new roster is no easy task and requires patience from players, coaches and staff. As this team looks to find the finishing touches and learn from some early mistakes, the foundation being laid is proving solid and, mixing this with outstanding chemistry and comradery, should lead to positive results.
The Matchup
The Courage are 8W-4L-2D against Houston in all lifetime competitions, going 0-1-1 last season. In 2022, the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Houston before a 4-3 Dash win in Cary. While the Courage hold the lifetime advantage, the recent history favors Houston. The Courage have not beaten Houston in a regular season matchup since September 17, 2019, although they did pick up a win in the 2020 Fall Series. The last Courage win in Houston came on July 5, 2019 (5-2).
Scouting Houston
The Dash played under the same east coast storm cell as the Courage last Saturday, playing to scoreless draw with the Spirit under a driving rain at Audi Field. Houston is one of three clubs yet to lose a regular season match in 2023 with three draws and a win. They opened the season with a home draw against Louisville and have yet to play another home regular season match until this coming Friday. They earned a draw at Portland, the only non-win for the defending champs this season, and beat Chicago on the road. They’ve conceded just twice in four games and have yet to allow multiple goals in the same contest. A big reason has been the play of goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who’s made 15 saves. Their team 88.9 save-percentage leads the NWSL. While the Dash have only scored three goals themselves, they have generated loads of chances. The team ranks third in the league in shots (42) and, according to Opta, they rank second in big chances with 11 and are one of only three teams with multiple fast breaks. María Sánchez has scored twice on seven shots and has delivered six successful crosses. Familiar name Diana Ordóñez has a goal on nine shots and has five big chances of her own. Ebony Salmon has contributed 11 shots and a trio of big chances.
Players to Watch
NC Courage: #11 Brittany Ratcliffe Veteran forward Brittany Ratcliffe provided a spark off the bench in the stoppage time barrages against Washington and Orlando. That spark turned into a starting opportunity last Saturday against Gotham and Ratcliffe showed she can provide the energy right from the opening whistle. In just 99 minutes between regular season and Challenge Cup, Ratcliffe has five shots – which ranks third on the team – and has three big chances. She is the only Courage player besides Kerolin Nicoli (5) with a big chance this season. Ratcliffe had a one-on-one with Gotham’s keeper and got off two shots on target from the goal line, forcing a pair of miraculous saves to keep the Courage off the scoresheet. Look for Ratcliffe to continue to earn minutes and opportunities to impact the game. It’s only a matter of time until she converts chances into goals. Houston: #11 Diana Ordóñez The Courage are quite familiar with the Mexican National Team star and 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year finalist as she broke the league rookie scoring record while playing for the Courage. Ordóñez has a goal on nine shots and has five big chances early in her first season with Houston. The Courage honored Ordóñez’s desire to be closer to home this past off-season with a trade sending her to her home state and the Dash. Ordóñez is a tall, dangerous option in the box during both the run-of-play and set pieces. Ordóñez was drafted sixth overall by the Courage in the 2022 NWSL Draft out of Virginia and immediately made her presence felt in the league as a goal scorer and finisher, now they must defend her for the first time.
Next Up
The Courage return to WakeMed Soccer Park and begin a four-game home stand as they host Gotham FC for UKG NWSL Challenge Cup action on Wednesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The group stage matchup will air on Paramount+ and @TheNCCourage will provide social media updates. Tickets for the match can be purchased here.
