2020 North Carolina Courage season

Last updated

North Carolina Courage
2020 season
Owner Stephen Malik
General Manager Curt Johnson
Head Coach Paul Riley
Stadium Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
NWSL Challenge Cup Quarterfinals
Community Shield 5th place
Top goalscorerLeague: N/A
All: Lynn Williams (6)
Biggest win2–0 (July 4th vs. Washington)
2–0 (July 8th vs. Sky Blue)
Biggest defeat1–4 (October 4th vs. Houston)
  2019
2021  

The 2020 North Carolina Courage season was the team's fourth season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

Contents

Team

Coaching staff

As of October 1, 2020
Source: North Carolina Courage [1]
PositionStaff
Head coach Flag of England.svg Paul Riley
Assistant coach Flag of the United States.svg Scott Vallow
Assistant coach Flag of the United States.svg Bill Paladino
Assistant coach Flag of the United States.svg Sean Nahas
Assistant coach Flag of England.svg Nathan Thackeray

First-team roster

As of September 30, 2020 [2] [3] [4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Stephanie Labbé
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kaleigh Kurtz
4 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA McKenzie Meehan
5 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sam Mewis
6 DF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Abby Erceg *
8 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Denise O'Sullivan (loaned out)
9 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lynn Williams
10 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Debinha
11 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Merritt Mathias
13 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Abby Dahlkemper
14 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jessica McDonald *
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jaelene Daniels *
19 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Crystal Dunn *
20 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Williams
21 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Cari Roccaro
23 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kristen Hamilton *
25 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Meredith Speck
No.Pos.NationPlayer
26 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Hailey Harbison
27 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lauren Milliet
37 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Samantha Murphy
99 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Katelyn Rowland
DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Lindsay Agnew (loaned out)
DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Hailie Mace (loaned out)
DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Addisyn Merrick
DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sinclaire Miramontez
FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ally Watt
FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Rylee Baisden
FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Danica Evans
FW Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Kristina Maksuti
MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Peyton Perea
DF Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Arianna Romero
FW Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Havana Solaun

Player transactions

2020 NWSL College Draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League [5]
RoundPickNat.PlayerPrevious Team
Round 16 Flag of the United States.svg Ally Watt Texas A&M
Round 327 Flag of the United States.svg Sinclaire Miramontez University of Nebraska
Round 428 Flag of the United States.svg Addisyn Merrick University of Kansas
Round 436 Flag of the United States.svg Bri Folds Auburn

Players in

DatePlayerPositions playedPrevious clubFee/notesRef.
June 19, 2020 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lindsay Agnew DF Flag of the United States.svg Houston Dash Signed a one-year contract with one-year option. [6]
August 31, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Peyton Perea MF Flag of Spain.svg Santa Teresa CD Signed through the 2020 season. [7]
September 3, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Rylee Baisden FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brisbane Roar FC Signed through the 2020 season. [8]
September 3, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Danica Evans FW Flag of Spain.svg Sporting de Huelva Signed through the 2020 season. [8]
September 8, 2020 Flag of Albania.svg Kristina Maksuti FW Flag of Germany.svg MSV Duisburg Signed through the 2020 season. [9]
September 9, 2020 Flag of Mexico.svg Arianna Romero DF Flag of the United States.svg Houston Dash Signed through the 2020 season. [10]
September 30, 2020 Flag of Jamaica.svg Havana Solaun FW Flag of Norway.svg Klepp IL Signed through the 2020 season. [10]
October 22, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Casey Murphy GK Flag of the United States.svg OL Reign Acquired with $140,000 in allocation money in a trade for Crystal Dunn. [11]
December 7, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Smith DF Flag of the United States.svg OL Reign Acquired with the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor in a trade for Ally Watt. [12]
December 7, 2020 Flag of England.svg Jodie Taylor (NWSL rights) FW Flag of the United States.svg OL Reign Acquired with Taylor Smith in a trade for Ally Watt. [12]

Players out

DatePlayerPositions playedDestination clubFee/notesRef.
August 4, 2020 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lindsay Agnew DF Flag of Sweden.svg KIF Örebro DFF Loaned. [13]
August 10, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Samantha Mewis MF Flag of England.svg Manchester City W.F.C. Signed; North Carolina retained NWSL rights. [14]
August 14, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Hailie Mace DF Flag of Sweden.svg Kristianstads DFF Loaned. [15]
September 9, 2020 Flag of Ireland.svg Denise O'Sullivan DF Flag of England.svg Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. Loaned until December 31, 2020. [15]
October 22, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Crystal Dunn MF Flag of the United States.svg OL Reign Traded for Casey Murphy and $140,000 in allocation money. [11]
October 30, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Rylee Baisden FW Unattached.Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Danica Evans FW Unattached.Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Flag of Albania.svg Kristina Maksuti FW Unattached.Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Peyton Perea MF Unattached.Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Flag of Mexico.svg Arianna Romero DF Unattached.Contract terminated. [16]
November 4, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Jaelene Daniels DF Unattached; North Carolina retained NWSL rights.Retired. [17]
November 12, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Addisyn Merrick DF Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
November 12, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Milliet MF Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
December 7, 2020 Flag of the United States.svg Ally Watt DF Flag of the United States.svg OL Reign Traded for Taylor Smith and the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor. [12]

Competitions

National Women's Soccer League

Preseason

Source: North Carolina Courage [18]

On March 12, 2020, the preseason match schedule was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [19]

March 21 (21-03) North Carolina Courage v University of North Carolina Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
March 28 (28-03) North Carolina Courage v West Virginia University Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
March 29 (29-03) North Carolina Courage v University of South Carolina Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
April 02 (02-04) North Carolina Courage v Duke University Cary, North Carolina
5:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
April 05 (05-04) North Carolina Courage v Sky Blue FC Cary, North Carolina
1:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
April 10 (10-04) North Carolina Courage v East Carolina University Cary, North Carolina
12:00 p.m. ET CancelledStadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Regular season

On May 27, 2020, the NWSL announced that the 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs were canceled due to the pandemic, and that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup would mark the league's return to action. [20] [21]

Challenge Cup

Preliminary round
June 27, 2020 North Carolina Courage 2–1 Portland Thorns FC Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT
Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
July 13, 2020 Sky Blue FC 0–2 North Carolina Courage Herriman, Utah
8:00 p.m. MDT Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 North Carolina Courage 440071+612
2 Washington Spirit 42114407
3 OL Reign 41211215
4 Houston Dash 41125614
5 Utah Royals FC (H)41124514
6 Chicago Red Stars 41122314 [lower-alpha 1]
7 Sky Blue FC 41122314 [lower-alpha 1]
8 Portland Thorns FC 40312313
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).
Quarter-finals

Fall Series

The Courage competed in the South "pod" of the NWSL Fall Series tournament, with the Houston Dash and Orlando Pride. [23]

September 12 (12-09)1 North Carolina Courage 4–3 Houston Dash Cary, North Carolina
Report
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
September 19 (19-09)2 North Carolina Courage 0–0 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
Report
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
October 04 (04-10)3 Houston Dash 4–1 North Carolina Courage Houston, Texas
Report Stadium: BBVA Stadium
October 17 (17-10)4 Orlando Pride 3–3 North Carolina Courage Orlando, Florida
Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Portland Thorns FC (C)4310103+710Community Shield
2 Houston Dash 4301127+59Runners-up
3 Washington Spirit 421154+17Third place
4 Sky Blue FC 42026716
5 North Carolina Courage 412181025
6 Chicago Red Stars 41127704
7 OL Reign 41126824
8 Orlando Pride 40225832
9 Utah Royals FC 40223852
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

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References

  1. "Coaching Staff". North Carolina FC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. "North Carolina Courage Sign Jamaican Midfielder Havana Solaun". September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "NC Courage Fall Series Roster Update". September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  4. "NC Courage Announces 2020 Roster". June 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  5. "2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  6. "NC Courage Signs Three NWSL Draft Picks, Agnew Ahead of Challenge Cup". June 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. "Peyton Perea Signs Contract with NC Courage". August 31, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "North Carolina Courage Sign Rylee Baisden and Danica Evans to Contracts Through the 2020 Season". September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  9. "Kristina Maksuti Signs Contract with North Carolina Courage". September 8, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "North Carolina Courage Sign Defender Ari Romero". September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "NC Courage Acquire Standout Goalkeeper Casey Murphy and Allocation Money for Crystal Dunn". October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 "North Carolina Courage Acquire Taylor Smith in Trade with OL Reign for Ally Watt". December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  13. "Lindsay Agnew to Play On-Loan with Kif Örebro in Sweden". August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  14. "Sam Mewis Signs with Manchester City, NC Courage Retains Midfielder's NWSL Rights". August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Hailie Mace to Play On Loan at Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "North Carolina Courage Announce Roster Update Following 2020 Season". October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 "Jaelene Daniels Announces Retirement After Playing Six Years of Professional Soccer". November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  18. "North Carolina Courage Release 2020 Preseason Schedule". North Carolina FC. March 3, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  19. "All preseason matches have been canceled" (Press release). National Women’s Soccer League. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  20. Levine, Matthew (May 27, 2020). "NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret" . Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  21. "2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved June 22, 2020. The "2020 NWSL Season" will be defined by the NWSL as the number of games played by a team in the tournament. [...] There will be no "NWSL postseason/playoffs" in 2020...
  22. "NWSL Challenge Cup Assignments: Quarterfinals [UPDATED 07/17]". Professional Referee Organization. July 17, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  23. "NWSL to continue breakout 2020 season with fall series". National Women's Soccer League. August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.