by Fran Stuchbury
May 19, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage
North Carolina Courage vs. Utah Royals FC
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Fran Stuchbury)
The North Carolina Courage defeated Utah Royals FC 1-0 in front of 4,528 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday evening. The last times these teams played, the Courage lost on the road, 2-1, on March 22nd.
North Carolina improved to 5-5-0 this season, a perfect 5-0 at home. They held a 20-3 advantage in shots for the night, including 6-0 in shots on target.
“I am really proud of the group,” said Courage Head Coach Sean Nahas. “It’s a really good performance, I felt. We challenged the group after Kansas City in the stretch we had, and wanting them to sort of have a little bit of a gut check. The teams are going to go through those ups and downs. I’m hard on the players because I believe in them and sometimes they don’t realize that until things like this happen. We made a few tweaks we haven’t really trained, and they took it on brilliantly and I thought it was a real, true team performance, and I think it’s a lot for us. It shows the great character of the group and what we’re capable of. We just got to start stringing these types of performances on the road, but man we were really good tonight.”
The only goal of the game came in the 76th minute from North Carolina Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz.
“I think I like scored four goals in my entire career from college to pro,” said Kurtz. “I really wanted one.”
Kurtz filled in as team captain in place of the injured Denise O’Sullivan. It was Kurtz’s 90th regular season start for the Courage, tying Debinha for third-most in club history. She has been a member of the team since the 2018 season.
Midfielder Meredith Speck came into the game at the 90th minute making her first appearance after suffering a torn ACL against Racing Louisville FC on June 24th last season.
“I think it’s been a few games since I’ve been on the bench, and I’m really appreciative of like the time and patience that the team has given me,” Meredith Speck said, “Being back on the bench for a few games, I think I could settle into my emotions. So by the time Sean was like, go get warm, it just, I felt like very ready and very prepared and just excited.”
“I love the kid, and I know it’s been a tough journey,” Nahas added. “I wanted to wait for the right moment to put her in. I wanted her first moments back on the field to be at home. Obviously, we know it’s not…