by Fran Stuchbury
June 20, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – North Carolina Courage
North Carolina Courage battle the Houston Dash
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Fran Stuchbury)
The North Carolina Courage lost 4-3 to the Houston Dash in front of 4,117 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday. After the game was tied 1-1 at halftime, the Dash scored three goals over a five minute period then held on to win the game.
“We didn’t show up for eight minutes, but we responded well and almost got the equalizer,” said North Carolina Head Coach Sean Nahas.
He added, “Once we they were up 2-1 we were in shock; how the next two Dash goals happened, we got blitzed. I was proud of how the team responded. There was a lot to take out for that.
The Courage opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a goal from midfielder Denise O’Sullivan.
“I was at the edge of the box and the ball fell right to me,” she said. “I put it on the goalkeeper and it went in.”
O’Sullivan added, “It was Father’s Day. It was very fitting that I got a goal for my dad. It wasn’t the result we wanted at the end, that we couldn’t get more out of the game.”
O’Sullivan began play in the NWSL in 2016 with the Houston Dash. On July 28, 2017 she was claimed off waivers by the North Carolina Courage. She has played with the Republic of Ireland National team since 2011.
The Dash tied the game at 1-1 in the 15th minute with a goal from forward Maria Sanchez. She was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. On March 29, 2021 she was traded to the Houston Dash for a 2022 NWSL second round draft pick. Sanchez has also played with the Mexico National team since 2015.
In the second half the Dash scored three goals. In the 47th minute by Elizabeth Eddy tallied her first goal since 2019 while with NJ/NY Gotham FC. She added another in the 50th minute.
Eddy has played in the NWSL since 2015 with the Western New York Flash who became the North Carolina Courage in 2017. In June 2019 she was traded to Sky Blue FC. On March 11, 2022 she was traded to the Dash for 2023 natural fourth round pick.
In the 51st minute, the Dash scored again, this time courtesy forward Nichelle Prince. Prince was drafted 28th overall by the Houston Dash 2017 NWSL College Draft. She has been a member of the Canada National team since 2013.
The Courage crept within 4-2 in the 57th minute with a goal by forward Diana Ordonez. North Carolina selected Ordonez with the sixth overall pick in the first…