MATCHDAY INFO: SEATTLE REIGN FC VS. NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE
UW MEDICINE PITCH AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
KICKOFF: SATURDAY, JUNE 23 AT 4 P.M. ET
BROADCAST: go90 APP, go90.COM, NWSLSOCCER.COM
LIVE UPDATES: @THENCCOURAGE #SEAvNC
Match Preview:
The NWSL’s top two teams will square off against each other on Saturday for the second time this season when the North Carolina Courage go on the road to face Seattle Reign FC at Memorial Stadium at 4 p.m. ET.
The defending NWSL Shield winners, the Courage (9W-1L-3D, 30 points) occupy first place in the league table through 13 matches, 11 points clear of second-place Seattle (5W-2L-4D). In the previous matchup between the two teams, the Courage claimed a 1-0 victory at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on April 18 thanks to a 70th-minute winner from forward Jessica McDonald. Staring down Seattle goalkeeper Michelle Betos on a one-on-one breakaway, McDonald slotted her shot to the right of Betos and into the net for the game’s only goal, which extended the Courage’s unbeaten streak to start the season to four games. That streak eventually ran to 12 matches before the Courage fell to Utah Royals FC 1-0 at home on June 16, the team’s first defeat of the season. The Courage outshot Utah 15-8 and were pushing for a late winner before Utah’s Brittany Ratcliffe earned the visitors the win with a 94th-minute goal against the run of play. Courage forward Crystal Dunn and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan both hit the crossbar in the second half, as the Courage were unlucky to be held scoreless for the first time in 2018. Now, Courage head coach Paul Riley’s team will try to bounce back against Seattle, which has yet to lose at its home park this season. Seattle is unbeaten in its three latest matches, winning once and drawing twice. Last time out, Seattle played a scoreless draw on the road against the Washington Spirit.
Series History:
Since relocating to Cary, the Courage are a perfect 4W-0L-0D against Seattle.
Saturday, July 8, 2017, Cary, N.C. – 2-0 W (33’ -Ashley Hatch, 81’-McCall Zerboni) *Saturday, August 5, 2017, Cary, N.C. – 1-0 W (32’ -Lynn Williams)
Sunday, August 13, 2017, Seattle, Wash. – 2-1 W (24’ -Samantha Mewis, 40’ -Rumi Utsugi, 74’ -Samantha Mewis)* Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Cary, N.C. – 1-0 W (70’ -Jessica McDonald)
Fact to Know:
No team in the NWSL has scored more goals away from home than the Courage this season, which has found the back of the net 17 times through six road games.
That propensity for playing attacking soccer on the road could help the Courage’s chances of ending Seattle’s four-match home unbeaten streak.
Players to Watch:
North Carolina Courage – #7 McCall Zerboni
As was the case last season, McCall Zerboni has once again been a force in the midfield for the Courage in 2018. More than halfway through the season, Zerboni ranks second in the league with 11.3 duels won per game, a figure that explains why the 31-year-old recently made her second-ever appearance with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Now, Zerboni is closing in on another career milestone. Entering Saturday’s match, Zerboni is just 21 minutes away from becoming the first-ever player in NWSL history to play 10,000 regular-season minutes.
Seattle Reign FC – #15 Megan Rapinoe
Known to many because of her success on the international stage with the USWNT, Rapinoe has been vital to Seattle this season. The forward has scored a team-high five goals and also leads with 21 shots on target. The Courage will need to contain Rapinoe, who missed the previous matchup between the two teams in April with a hamstring injury, in order to quiet Seattle.
Coming Up Next:
The Courage close out its two-game road swing against the Orlando Pride on Saturday, June 30, at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Lifetime NWSL Game of the Week.
On May 23, the Courage won a seven-goal thriller in Orlando, with McDonald providing the game-winner in the 90th minute of the 4-3 victory.
