Blog Layout

NWSL Regular Season Week 13: North Carolina vs. Portland Thorns FC, August 5th 2022

Aug 08, 2022

Main Takeaways


The North Carolina Courage battled to yet another 3-3 draw over the weekend, this time with the Portland Thorns.


Game Recap


The North Carolina Courage traveled across the country to take on the Portland Thorns at Providence Park and played to their second 3-3 draw in as many matches. The game was a tale of two halves, with Portland winning the first one.


Portland’s Sophia Smith opened the scoring in the 8th minute with three Courage defenders around her, and Morgan Weaver doubled the Thorns’ lead in the 24th minute.


The game continued in Portland’s favor as the Courage struggled to stifle the Thorns’ attack. Defender Carson Pickett was forced to make a near goal-line clearance in the 40th minute to keep North Carolina’s deficit at two heading into the break.


After half-time, the Courage started to come alive. 


Diana Ordóñez earned a corner kick for North Carolina when she forced Portland’s Bella Bixby to come up with a big save. Ordóñez subsequently scored her sixth goal of the season off that corner, after an impressive service by Carson Pickett (61’). 

North Carolina pulled themselves level only 11 minutes later in the 72nd minute with another Ordóñez goal. Ryan Williams played a ball in the air toward the six-yard box, and the rookie headed the ball into the side netting.

Portland regained their lead shortly after in the 77th minute thanks to Smith’s second goal of the match. North Carolina capped off the scoring in the 85th minute, though, after Bixby struggled to control Meredith’s Speck’s cross into the box. 


This match marked Casey Murphy’s 50th regular season NWSL appearance, and the second brace of Diana Ordóñez’ career. Ordóñez now leads all rookies in goals with seven, and she’s tied the NWSL record for goals scored in a season by a rookie.


The Courage remain in last place in the NWSL standings through 11 games with 10 points and a 2W-4D-5L record. 


North Carolina will look to add another game to the win column against the Kansas City Current at home on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Get Tickets for NC Courage
By Mary Pruter 02 Apr, 2023
Courage fell 3-1 and looked like the team we expected to see going into this season. But, officiating adventures aside, the Beach Waffles were the better side and deserved the three points. This loss is one of what is sure to be many learning experiences for a young team.
North Carolina vs. Kansas City Current, March 25, 2023
29 Mar, 2023
So what does the Courage look like without Debinha, Abby Erceg, and Merritt Mathias and with a bunch of largely-untested young talent?
Share by: