NC Courage remain unbeaten tie Chicago Red Stars 1-1

By Sean McCaffery, May 7, 2018

Coming back from a 1-0 defecit with 8 scant minutes to go, NC, behind the goal by McCall Zerboni evened it up. Now sitting atop the league with a record of 5-0-2, their 17 points are a great start to the season. Long Island favorite, NC HC Paul Riley stated " I'm happy with the group. I thought we played really well today and just have to build from that."  With 42 shots, 15 being on frame it is a wonder more goals did not come, 7 shots in the opening half as the Red Stars had but one. At 16 minutes, another well known to Long Island, Crystal Dunn also of the USWNT had a great shot from just out of the penalty area, Zerboni then forced a save out of Alyssa Naeher a minute later. Samantha Mewis got in on the action at 30 minutes as her header just cleared the cross bar. Samantha Kerr familar to the local women's soccer fan, hit at the 38th minute  and the goal by the 2017 Golden Boot winner proved to be the lone goal of the first 82 minutes. Her worm burner got in beyond Sabrina D'Angelo off the feed from Alyssa Mautz. Point blank early 2nd half Dunn again was thwarted from a ball centered by Bebinha, but Naeher was up to the task. Mewis again was knocking on the door and still seeks her first goal of the year, but Naher got to the bottom 90 shot to the left. Naher stepped up yet again and extended for a save on another foray by Dunn. The Zerboni goal came off a corner that Abby Erceg played in off the Hinkle corner. Mewis had her first start of the season and made the best of it as her knee seems to be far better. Debinha back from playing for Brazil as they won the Copa America where she had three goals came in at the 62nd minute mark. This tie was the first points ever facing the Red Stars in the regular season, but NC did prevail 1-0 in the 2017 NWSL semis.

Share: