August 13, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – North Carolina Courage News Release
CARY, NC – The North Carolina Courage return home once more to take on the Kansas City Current on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match can be purchased here and will be streamed live globally as the Twitch Soccer Saturday showcase.
Saturday’s match is the first meeting between the two teams in the 2022 NWSL regular season. The clubs’ last clash saw the Courage top the Current in a 2-1 win in the 2022 Challenge Cup semi-final.
Last Time Out: The North Carolina Courage drew 3-3 against the Portland Thorns last Friday night at Providence Park in Portland, OR. The match featured Courage goals from Diana Ordoñez and Jaelene Daniels, while Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver scored for the Thorns.
The Thorns got off to a fast start with Smith and Weaver scoring in the 8th and 24th minutes, with their 2-0 lead holding through halftime. Courage rookie Diana Ordoñez saw her first opportunity to strike back in the 61st minute, sending a header to the back of the net off a corner kick from Carson Pickett. Just 11 minutes later, Ordoñez would tally another with another header, this time scoring off a ball in from Ryan Williams.
While Sophia Smith tallied one more goal for the Portland side in the 77th minute, Jaelene Daniels came through for the Courage with the third goal of the evening. In her first goal since 2019, Daniels kept her cool as a ball found its way to her possession from the right side of the pitch, sending it home to tie the game up in the 85th minute.
Where to Watch: Twitch Soccer Saturday showcase (globally)
Players to Watch Presented by JubliaRX.com
North Carolina Courage – #18 Fuka Nagano
North Carolina Courage newcomer Fuka Nagano joined the squad for the first time this week and is available for selection this weekend. Fresh of a dynamic performance in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, Fuka brings poise and an extremely high technical standard and soccer IQ to the Courage midfield.
Kansas City Current – #5 Cece Kizer
Kansas City Current forward Cece Kizer may be a newer face in KC, but she’s wasted no time making her mark, scoring her fourth goal for the Current in the team’s last outing, a 2-1 win over San Diego. Kizer’s goals tie the club record for most goals in a season and put her on pace to pass her own career single-season record (5).
Up Next: The North Carolina Courage continue their home stand on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. ET…