North Carolina Courage U23

Last updated

North Carolina Courage U23
FoundedJanuary 27, 2022;2 years ago (2022-01-27)
Stadium WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina, United States
Head coachWillie Davis
League USL W League
2024
  • 1st of 6 (South Atlantic div.)
  • Champions (Southern Conf.)
  • Finalists (National playoffs)
Soccerball current event.svg Current season
Active teams of North Carolina FC
Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg
USLC NWSL USL2 USLW Youth

North Carolina Courage U23, also known as North Carolina Courage USL W, is an amateur women's soccer team that plays in the USL W League. It is affiliated and shares ownership with the professional team North Carolina Courage, which competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Contents

History

In January 2022, NWSL club North Carolina Courage added an amateur team to compete in the newly formed W League, [1] becoming the second NWSL club to do so after Racing Louisville FC earlier that month. [2]

In the 2023 USL W League season, the Courage U23s went undefeated with an 11–0–1 record to win the South Atlantic division, then defeated FC Miami City and Tampa Bay United in consecutive 3–0 victories to win the Southern Conference championship and advance to the national championship semifinals. [3] After defeating Eagle FC 4–1, the Courage U23s advanced to the national finals for the first time in club history, facing Indy Eleven, where they lost 2–1 in overtime. [4] [5] Former USWNT player Heather O'Reilly joined the team as a player and coach that season. [6] [7]

Macey Bader, the most valuable player of the 2024 USL W League final NC Courage U23 (June 2024) 002 (cropped).jpg
Macey Bader, the most valuable player of the 2024 USL W League final

The Courage U23s returned to the national final with a 14–0–1 in the 2024 season. [9] They defeated the Colorado Storm in a 3–2 comeback victory at WRAL Soccer Park in Raleigh. [10]

Stadium

North Carolina Courage plays its W League matches at Field Two at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. [11]

Players

As of May 17, 2024
Roster
Pos.NameTeam
GK MK Daly Dartmouth
GKEmily Edwards Purdue
DF Aven Alvarez North Carolina
DFBella Ayscue Penn State
DF Amber Brooks (Washington Spirit)
DFTaylor Chism NC State
DFKayleigh HerrPenn State
DFBrooklyn HoltNC State
MF Gabby Ciocca Virginia Tech
MFBraelynn Francher UNC Charlotte
MFBaylor Goldthwaite Wake Forest
MFPhoebe GoldthwaiteDuke
MFLauren Martinho Duke
MFCazzi Norgren Missouri State
MFBella SemberNorth Carolina
FW Macey BaderUNC Charlotte
FWIvy Gardner Liberty
FWMackenzie Geigle Louisville
FWHannah JibrilNC State
FW Mia Oliaro Duke
FWLexi StricklandNC State
FWAlyssa Tucker Campbell

Staff

Coaching history

Year-by-year

As of July 21, 2024
SeasonLeagueDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffsTop goalscorerRef.
PWDLGFGAGDPts.Pos.
USL W South Atlantic126242414+10222ndDid not qualifyEmily Sapienza (5) [12]
South Atlantic121110467+39341stFinals [13]
South Atlantic121110566+50341stChampions [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "USL Welcomes NC Courage U23s to W League" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. January 27, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Hruby, Emma (January 18, 2022). "Racing Louisville first NWSL team to expand into USL W League". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ "CHAMPS! Courage U23 win USL-W conference title" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "USL W League: Indy Eleven and NC Courage U23 move into final" . Soccer America . July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Indy Eleven W League rallies around injured teammate, wins championship on wonder-goal" . The Indianapolis Star . July 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Hruby, Emma (May 19, 2023). "USWNT Great Heather O'Reilly Stays Unretired With USL W League". Just Women's Sports . Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ Schnittker, Nicholas (July 8, 2023). "Former Huskies winning, growing with Courage U23s". The Wake Weekly . Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ USL W League [@USLWLeague] (July 20, 2024). "M. V. P. 🥳👏" (Tweet). Retrieved July 21, 2024– via Twitter.
  9. ↑ "2024 USL W League Final Preview: NC Courage U23 vs. Colorado Storm". USL W League. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ "NC Courage U23 claims 2024 USL W League title after second-half comeback". USL W League. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ "2024 NC Courage U-23 Schedule". North Carolina Courage . Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Standings". USL W League . Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Standings". USL W League . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NC Courage U23 claims 2024 USL W League title after second-half comeback". USL W League . Retrieved July 21, 2024.
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