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HOUSTON (May 24, 2024) — The North Carolina Courage fell, 3-0, to the Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, May 24. With the loss, the Courage split the season series with the Dash.
The Dash had the better of the chances in the first half and capitalized just before the break, with Swiss international Romona Bachmann, whom the Dash signed from PSG in April, firing the hosts ahead in the 44’. Avery Patterson, whom the Dash drafted from UNC in this year’s NWSL Draft, picked up the assist.
The Courage put together a handful of good chances after the break, outshooting the Dash 5-0 in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the Dash doubled their advantage with their first shot of the half via Barbara Olivieri in the 68’. Former NC Courage player Diana Ordóñez added a third for the Dash in the 78’.
Match Notes:
- Kaleigh Kurtz broke the NWSL record for consecutive minutes played in the regular season, surpassing Amber Brooks’ record of 6,483 minutes in the 43’ minute of the match against Houston.
- Casey Murphy made her 300th NWSL regular season save in the 23’ minute, denying Michelle Alozie with a stellar kick save from close range.
- Bianca St-Georges made her 50th NWSL regular season appearance, entering the match as a substitute in the 65’.
- Landy Mertz made her professional debut as a substitute in the 84'.
Up Next:
The NC Courage will be back on the road following the international break with a trip to Providence Park to face the Portland Thorns on Saturday, June 8. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ION.
Box Score
NCC (3-4-3): Casey Murphy; Kaleigh Kurtz ©, Malia Berkely, Feli Rauch (Landy Mertz –84’); Ryan Williams, Narumi Miura (Victoria Pickett – 77’), Brianna Pinto (Riley Jackson – 65’), Tyler Lussi (Bianca St-Georges – 65’); Ashley Sanchez (Meredith Speck –84’), Haley Hopkins, Manaka Matsukubo.
Subs Not Used: Marisa Bova, Julia Dorsey, Jenna Winebrenner, Maya McCutcheon.
HOU (3-5-2): Jane Campbell; Natalie Jacobs, Paige Nielsen, Tarciane Lima; Sophie Schmidt, Barbara Olivieri (Andressa Alves – 77’), Amanda West (Courtney Petersen – 66’), Sarah Puntigam (Sophie Hirst – 77’), Avery Patterson; Michelle Alozie, Ramona Bachmann (Diana Ordóñez –69’).
Subs Not Used: Yuki Nagasato, Heather Hinz, Belle Briede, Madison Ayson, Jyllissa Harris.
Score:
NCC: 0
HOU: 3
Goals:
NCC: –
HOU: R. Bachmann – 45’ (A. Patterson), B. Olivieri – 68’ (M. Alozie), D. Ordóñez – 78’.
Cautions:
NCC: H. Hopkins – 43’.
HOU: R. Bachmann – 58’.
Ejections:
NCC: —
HOU: —
