2019 North Carolina Courage season

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North Carolina Courage
2019 season
OwnerStephen Malik
General ManagerCurt Johnson
Head CoachPaul Riley
StadiumSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
NWSL Regular Season1st
NWSL PlayoffsChampions
Top goalscorerLynn Williams (12)
Highest home attendance9,563
(September 14th vs. Orlando)
Lowest home attendance4,053
(April 13th vs. Chicago)
Average home league attendance5,875
Biggest win6–0 (September 11th vs. Portland)
Biggest defeat1–3 (May 11th vs. Chicago)
Away colors
← 2018
2020 →

The 2019 North Carolina Courage season is the team's third season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

On September 21, the Courage clinched their third consecutive Shield with a 3–0 victory over the Utah Royals.[1]

On October 27, the Courage defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4–0 to win their second consecutive NWSL Championship.[2]

Team[]

Coaching Staff[]

As of May 31, 2018
Source: North Carolina Courage[3]
Position Staff
Head Coach England Paul Riley
Assistant Coach United States Scott Vallow
Assistant Coach United States Bill Paladino
Assistant Coach United States Sean Nahas
Assistant Coach England Nathan Thackeray

First-team roster[]

As of July 18, 2019[4][5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Canada CAN Stephanie Labbé
3 DF United States USA Kaleigh Kurtz
4 FW United States USA McKenzie Meehan
5 MF United States USA Sam Mewis
6 DF New Zealand NZL Abby Erceg
7 MF United States USA McCall Zerboni
8 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Denise O'Sullivan
9 FW United States USA Lynn Williams
10 MF Brazil BRA Debinha
11 DF United States USA Merritt Mathias
12 FW United States USA Leah Pruitt
13 DF United States USA Abby Dahlkemper
14 FW United States USA Jessica McDonald
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF United States USA Jaelene Hinkle
16 MF Sweden SWE Julia Spetsmark
17 MF United States USA Heather O'Reilly
19 FW United States USA Crystal Dunn
20 MF United States USA Ryan Williams
21 DF United States USA Cari Roccaro
23 FW United States USA Kristen Hamilton
25 DF United States USA Meredith Speck
26 DF United States USA Hailey Harbison
27 MF United States USA Lauren Milliet
37 GK United States USA Sam Leshnak
99 GK United States USA Katelyn Rowland

Player transactions[]

2019 NWSL College Draft[]

Source: National Women's Soccer League[6]
Round Pick Nat. Player Previous Team
Round 1 5 United States Leah Pruitt USC
Round 1 9 United States Hailey Harbison Pepperdine
Round 2 14 United States Lauren Milliet Colorado College
Round 4 36 United States Florida State

Players In[]

Date Player Positions played Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
January 7, 2019 Sweden Julia Spetsmark DF Sweden Djurgårdens Signed. [7]
February 12, 2019 United States Ally Haran DF Iceland UMF Selfoss Signed. [8]
February 22, 2019 Canada Stephanie Labbé GK Sweden Linköpings FC Signed. [9]
June 11, 2019 United States McKenzie Meehan FW Sky Blue FC Acquired in a Trade with Sky Blue FC in exchange for Elizabeth Eddy [10]
July 18, 2019 United States Sam Leshnak GK North Carolina Tar Heels Signed. [11]

Players Out[]

Date Player Positions played Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
October 1, 2018 Japan Yuri Kawamura DF unattached Waived. [12]
December 17, 2018 United States Darian Jenkins FW Reign FC Traded to Reign FC in exchange for Reign FC's 9th overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. [13]
January 4, 2019 Canada Sabrina D'Angelo GK Sweden Vittsjö Signed with Vittsjö. [14]
April 4, 2019 United States Morgan Reid DF Orlando Pride Traded to the Orlando Pride in exchange for Orlando's fourth round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. [15]
June 11, 2019 United States Elizabeth Eddy MF Sky Blue FC Traded to Sky Blue FC in exchange for McKenzie Meehan. [10]
July 18, 2019 United States Julie King DF Waived. [11]
July 18, 2019 United States Ally Haran DF Waived. [11]

Competitions[]

National Women's Soccer League[]

See also: 2019 National Women's Soccer League season

Preseason[]

Source: North Carolina Courage[16]
March 23 (23-03) North Carolina Courage 4–0 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
1:00 p.m. ET Speck 35'
McDonald 61' (Williams)
Williams 69' (Pruitt)
Spetsmark 89' (Eddy)		 Report Morgan Yellow card 45+1' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,220

Regular season[]

Source: North Carolina Courage[17]
April 13 (13-04) 1 North Carolina Courage 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT Dunn 66' Report Kerr 26' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,053
April 17 (17-04) 2 North Carolina Courage 5–0 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT Williams 45'
O'Sullivan Yellow card 45+1'
McDonald 55'
Zerboni Yellow card 64'
Dunn 70', 77'
Spetsmark 88'		 Report Marta Yellow card 85' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,292
Referee: Danielle Chesky
April 28 (28-04) 3 Houston Dash 1–4 North Carolina Courage Houston, Texas
5:00 p.m. CDT Daly 86'
Schmidt Yellow card 44'		 Report Williams 45+1'
Dunn 69'
Debinha 69'
Pruitt 76'		 Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 2,933
May 04 (04-05) 4 North Carolina Courage 0–0 Sky Blue FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT Zerboni Yellow card 87' Report Monaghan Yellow card 34' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,039
May 11 (11-05) 5 Chicago Red Stars 3–1 North Carolina Courage Bridgeview, Illinois
5:00 p.m. EDT Kerr 13' 90+3'
Vasconcelos 40'
Stanton Yellow card 72'		 Report Williams 33', Yellow card 80' Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 2,113
May 19 (19-05) 6 North Carolina Courage 1–1 Utah Royals FC Cary, North Carolina
5:00 p.m. EDT Eddy 78' Box Rodriguez 7', Yellow card 40' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,821
May 27 (27-05) 7 Reign FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage Tacoma, Washington
4:00 p.m. PDT Balcer 13'

Nielsen Yellow card 30' Groom 89'		 Box Erceg 89' Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 3,032
June 01 (01-06) 8 Orlando Pride 0–3 North Carolina Courage Orlando, Florida
7:30 p.m. EDT
Box
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 4,427
June 15 (15-06) 9 North Carolina Courage 1–1 Portland Thorns FC Cary, North Carolina
7:45 p.m. EDT
  • Kurtz Yellow card 19'
  • Spetsmark 59'
 Box
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 6,172
Note: doubleheader with North Carolina FC.
June 29 (29-06) 10 Washington Spirit 1–2 North Carolina Courage Germantown, Maryland
7:00 p.m. EDT Harrison Yellow card 39'
Thomas 82'		 Debinha 45+4'
Pritchett 53'
Zerboni Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,481
July 05 (05-07) 11 North Carolina Courage 5–2 Houston Dash Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT
Box
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,066
July 13 (13-07) 12 North Carolina Courage 2–0 Reign FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT Williams 22'
Debinha 55'
O'Sullivan Yellow card 70'		 Box
Report		 Balcer Yellow card 87' Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 6,216
July 21 (21-07) 13 Chicago Red Stars 2–1 North Carolina Courage Bridgeview, Illinois
5:00 p.m. CDT Naughton Yellow card 14'
DiBernardo 37'
Kerr 58'		 Williams 30'
McDonald Yellow card 51'		 Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 17,388
Note: Game was broadcast on ESPN 2
July 27 (27-07) 14 Utah Royals FC 1–2 North Carolina Courage Sandy, Utah
8:00 p.m. MDT Press 13' Hamilton 34'
McDonald 54'		 Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 10,545
August 03 (03-08) 15 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
4:00 p.m. EDT Debinha 64'
Spetsmark Yellow card 90+4'		 Nielsen Red card 24' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,393
Note: Rescheduled from August 2 due to thunderstorms.
August 11 (11-08) 16 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage Portland, Oregon
12:00 p.m. PDT Foord Yellow card 19'
Labbé 56' (o.g)
Erceg 82' (o.g)		 Dunn 4' Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 25,218
Note: Game was broadcast on ESPNews
August 24 (24-08) 17 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Reign FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT L. Williams 82' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 6,743
September 07 (07-09) 18 Sky Blue FC 1–2 North Carolina Courage Piscataway, New Jersey
3:00 p.m. EDT Lloyd 13' (p)
Rodriguez Yellow card 79'		 Skroski 1' (og)
Dunn 57'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,895
September 11 (11-09) 19 Portland Thorns FC 0–6 North Carolina Courage Portland, Oregon
7:30 p.m. PDT Klingenberg Yellow card 57'
Horan Yellow card 58'		 Debinha 15'
L. Williams 21', 24', 68'
Dunn 61'
Hinkle Yellow card 69'
Hamilton 89'		 Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 17,517
September 14 (14-09) 20 North Carolina Courage 6–1 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
6:00 p.m. EDT Williams 6'
Edmonds 37' (o.g)
McDonald 41'
Meehan 78'
O'Reilly 85'
Debinha 90+2'		 Greening Yellow card 11'
Kennedy Yellow card 28'
Elinsky Yellow card 28'
Hill 82'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 9,563
September 17 (17-09) 21 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Houston Dash Cary, North Carolina
7:30 p.m. EDT Mewis 87' (p) Report Daly Yellow card 73'
Brooks Yellow card 74'
Mewis Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,943
September 21 (21-09) 22 Utah Royals FC 0–3 North Carolina Courage Sandy, Utah
7:00 p.m. MDT Mewis 30' (p)
O'Sullivan Yellow card 35'
Hinkle 65'
Debinha 70'		 Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 9,946
September 28 (28-09) 23 Washington Spirit 2–1 North Carolina Courage Germantown, Maryland
7:00 p.m. EDT Huster Yellow card 56'
Matthews Yellow card 59'
Pugh 75'
Lavelle 84'		 Williams 45+2'
Erceg Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
October 12 (12-10) 24 North Carolina Courage 3–2 Sky Blue FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT McDonald 16'
Debinha 28'
McDonald 81'		 Report Lloyd 26'
Richardson 86'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 9,195

Postseason playoffs[]

October 20 (20-10) Semifinal North Carolina Courage 4–1 Reign FC Cary, North Carolina
1:30 p.m. EDT 88'
Debinha 99'
Barnes 106' (o.g.)
Dunn 107'		 Report Long Yellow card 50'
Onumonu 90+3'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Televised on ESPN2
October 27 (27-10) Final North Carolina Courage 4–0 Chicago Red Stars Cary, North Carolina
3:30 p.m. EST Debinha 4'
McDonald 26'
Dunn 45+5'
Mewis 62'
Zerboni Yellow card 74'		 Report DiBernardo Yellow card 47'
Ertz Yellow card 67'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 10,227
Note: Televised on ESPN

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 North Carolina Courage (C) 24 15 4 5 54 23 +31 49 NWSL Shield
2 Chicago Red Stars 24 14 2 8 41 28 +13 44 NWSL Playoffs
3 Portland Thorns FC 24 11 7 6 40 31 +9 40
4 Reign FC 24 10 8 6 27 27 0 38
5 Washington Spirit 24 9 7 8 30 25 +5 34
6 Utah Royals FC 24 10 4 10 25 25 0 34
7 Houston Dash 24 7 5 12 21 36 −15 26
8 Sky Blue FC 24 5 5 14 20 34 −14 20
9 Orlando Pride 24 4 4 16 24 53 −29 16
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champion
Results summary[]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
24 15 4 5 54 23  +31 49 8 4 0 27 8  +19 7 0 5 27 15  +12

Last updated: October 12, 2019.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com

Results by round[]
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
GroundHHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAAHHAAH
ResultDWWDLDLWDWWWLWWLWWWWWWLW
Position311245744521221322111111
Updated to match(es) played on October 12, 2019. Source: NWSLsoccer.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

International friendlies[]

Main article: 2019 Women's International Champions Cup

As defending 2018 NWSL champions and defending 2018 Women's ICC champions, the Courage were selected to participate in and host the 2019 Women's International Champions Cup. They are scheduled to play English side Manchester City in the semi-final round.

August 15 (15-08) Semi-final North Carolina Courage United States 2–1 England Manchester City Cary, North Carolina
7:30 p.m. ET O'Sullivan Yellow card 80'
Meehan 84'
McDonald 90+2'		 Report Stanway 41' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,436
August 18 (18-08) Final North Carolina Courage United States 0–1 France Lyon Cary, North Carolina
7:30 p.m. ET Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Broadcast on ESPN2

Statistical leaders[]

As of October 12, 2019

Awards[]

As of October 19, 2019.

NWSL Annual Awards[]

See also: NWSL awards
  • Most Valuable Player: Debinha (finalist), Jaelene Hinkle (finalist)[18]
  • Coach of the Year: Paul Riley (finalist)[18]

NWSL Monthly Awards[]

NWSL Player of the Month[]

Month Result Player Ref.
April Won United States Crystal Dunn [19]
July Won United States Kristen Hamilton [20]

NWSL Team of the Month[]

Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref
April New Zealand Abby Erceg United States Crystal Dunn [21]
May United States Merritt Mathias [22]
June United States Kristen Hamilton [23]
July New Zealand Abby Erceg
United States Merritt Mathias 		Brazil Debinha United States Kristen Hamilton [24]
August New Zealand Abby Erceg
United States Jaelene Hinkle 		Brazil Debinha [25]
September United States Jaelene Hinkle Brazil Debinha United States Lynn Williams [26]

NWSL Weekly Awards[]

NWSL Player of the Week[]

Week Result Player Ref.
8 Won United States Kristen Hamilton [27]
12 Won United States Kristen Hamilton [28]
15 Won United States Kristen Hamilton [29]
22 Won United States Lynn Williams [30]
25 Won United States Jessica McDonald [31]

NWSL Goal of the Week[]

Week Result Player Ref.
1 Nominated United States Crystal Dunn [32]
3 Nominated United States Crystal Dunn [33]
6 Nominated United States Elizabeth Eddy [34]
8 Nominated United States Kristen Hamilton [35]
9 Nominated United States Julia Spetsmark [36]
11 Nominated United States Leah Pruitt [37]
12 Nominated United States Kristen Hamilton [38]
13 Nominated Brazil Debinha [39]
15 Nominated United States Kristen Hamilton [40]
16 Nominated Brazil Debinha [41]
17 Nominated United States Crystal Dunn
19 Nominated United States Lynn Williams
21 Nominated United States Crystal Dunn
22 Won United States Heather O'Reilly

NWSL Save of the Week[]

Week Result Player Ref.
4 Nominated United States Merritt Mathias [42]
7 Nominated United States Merritt Mathias [43]
11 Nominated United States Katelyn Rowland [44]
16 Nominated Canada Stephanie Labbé [45]
17 Nominated Canada Stephanie Labbé
23 Nominated Canada Stephanie Labbé

References[]

  1. ^ "North Carolina FC claims third-straight NWSL Shield with 3-0 win over Utah Royals FC". Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Levine, Matthew. "North Carolina Courage rolls past Chicago Red Stars to win second consecutive NWSL Championship". nwslsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. ^ "2018 Coaching Staff". North Carolina FC. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE ANNOUNCE 2019 ROSTER IN ADVANCE OF HOME OPENER". April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "NC COURAGE SIGNS COLLEGE DRAFT PICKS PRUITT, HARBISON, AND MILLIET". Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Every pick of the 2019 NWSL College Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "NC COURAGE ACQUIRE SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL MIDFIELDER JULIA SPETSMARK". January 7, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "NWSL notes: After year in Iceland, defender Ally Haran joins NC Courage". February 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "NC COURAGE ACQUIRE CANADIAN GOALKEEPER STEPHANIE LABBÉ". February 22, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Sky Blue FC Acquires Elizabeth Eddy in a Trade with North Carolina Courage". June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE SIGNS GOALKEEPER SAM LESHNAK". July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "NWSL players available on the Re-Entry Wire". October 1, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  13. ^ "Seattle Reign acquire Darian Jenkins from North Carolina". December 17, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "D'Angelo Leaving For Sweden Soccer". January 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Orlando Pride Trade for Defender Morgan Reid". April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "NC Courage Preseason Preview". North Carolina FC. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "2019 Season Schedule". www.nccourage.com. NC Courage. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Kailen Sheridan Nominated for 2019 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  19. ^ "April Player of the Month: Crystal Dunn". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "July Player of the Month: Kristen Hamilton". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. July 31, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  21. ^ Balf, Celia (May 3, 2019). "March Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  22. ^ "May Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  23. ^ "June Team of the Month". 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. ^ "July Team of the Month". August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  25. ^ "August Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  26. ^ Levine, Matthew. "September Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Week 8 Player of the Week: Kristen Hamilton". June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  28. ^ "Kristen Hamilton, North Carolina Courage Week 12 #NWSL Player of the Week". Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Week 15 Player of the Week: Kristen Hamilton, North Carolina Courage". Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Week 22 Player of the Week: Lynn Williams, North Carolina Courage". September 17, 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  31. ^ Levine, Matthew. "Week 25 Player of the Week: Jessica McDonald, North Carolina Courage". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League twitter. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Week 8 Goal of the Week Nominees". National Women's Soccer League twitter. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Week 9 Goal of the Week Nominees". National Women's Soccer League twitter. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  37. ^ "Week 11 Goal of the Week Nominees". National Women's Soccer League twitter. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Week 12 Goal of the Week nominees #NWSL 2019". YouTube. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Week 13 Goal of the Week nominees #NWSL 2019". NWSL Twitter. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  40. ^ "Week 15 Goal of the Week nominees #NWSL 2019". YouTube. NWSL. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Week 16 Goal of the Week nominees #NWSL 2019". YouTube. NWSL. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  43. ^ "Week 7 Save of the Week Nominees". National Women's Soccer League youtube. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  44. ^ "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 6, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  45. ^ "Week 16 Save of the Week nominees #NWSL 2019". YouTube. NWSL. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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