The 2022 North Carolina Courage season is the team's sixth 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.
| 2022 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Stephen Malik | ||
| General Manager | Stephen Malik | ||
| Head Coach | Sean Nahas | ||
| Stadium | Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina (Capacity: 10,000) | ||
| NWSL Challenge Cup | Champions (1st title) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 1–2 (April 29 vs. Angel City) | ||
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Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is the NWSL's primary league cup tournament. It was first played in 2020 following the cancellation of the regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Angel City and San Diego, new expansion clubs, competed for the first time in the Challenge Cup. In the 2021 cup, North Carolina had failed to advance beyond the group stage. The twelve league teams were divided into three groups, with North Carolina initially competing twice against the other three teams in its group: Gotham, Orlando, and Washington.[1]
Group stage
| March 19, 2022 | North Carolina Courage | 2–0 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,537 Referee: Karen Callado |
| March 26, 2022 | North Carolina Courage | 1–0 | Orlando Pride | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,328 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| March 30, 2022 | Washington Spirit | 2–2 | North Carolina Courage | Washington, D.C. |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Audi Field Attendance: 2,155 Referee: Danielle Chesky |
| April 3, 2022 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 1–1 | North Carolina Courage | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Laura Rodriguez |
| April 16, 2022 | Orlando Pride | 2–4 | North Carolina Courage | Orlando, Florida |
| 19:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Exploria Stadium Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
| April 23, 2022 | North Carolina Courage | 2–2 | Washington Spirit | Cary, North Carolina |
| 13:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Referee: Eric Tattersall |
Divisional standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | T | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NC | WAS | NJY | ORL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Courage | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Washington Spirit | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage based on ranking | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | |
| 3 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | ||
| 4 | Orlando Pride | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 2 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — |
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Total goal differential; 3) Total number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points record; 5) Head-to-head goal differential; 6) Head-to-head number of goals scored; 7) Fewest disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Total goal differential; 3) Total number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points record; 5) Head-to-head goal differential; 6) Head-to-head number of goals scored; 7) Fewest disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots
Knockout stage
| May 4, 2022 Semifinal | Kansas City Current | 1–2 | North Carolina Courage | Kansas City, Kansas |
| 19:30 CDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 4,093 Referee: Natalie Simon |
Championship
| May 7 Final | North Carolina Courage | 2–1 | Washington Spirit | Cary, North Carolina |
| 13:00 EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,163 Referee: Katja Koroleva |
Win
Regular season
The 2022 season of the National Women's Soccer League saw 12 teams play 22 matches: one against every other team, with one match at each club's stadium. Three points were awarded for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. At the end of the season, the top two teams qualify for first-round byes in the NWSL Playoffs, while four more teams play in an opening playoff round.[2]
Matches
| April 29, 2022 1 | Angel City FC | 2–1 | North Carolina Courage | Los Angeles |
| 19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Banc of California Stadium Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Samantha Martinez |
| May 18 2 | North Carolina Courage | 1–2 | Orlando Pride | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,084 |
| May 22 3 | North Carolina Courage | 0–1 | San Diego Wave FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 14:00 EDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 6,070 |
| May 29 4 | Houston Dash | 1–1 | North Carolina Courage | Houston, Texas |
| 18:00 CDT |
|
Report | Stadium: PNC Stadium |
| June 4 5 | Racing Louisville FC | 0–3 | North Carolina Courage | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 20:00 EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 5,738 |
| June 11 6 | Washington Spirit | 2–3 | North Carolina Courage | Leesburg, Virginia |
| 19:00 EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 4,236 |
| June 19 7 | North Carolina Courage | 3–4 | Houston Dash | Cary, North Carolina |
| 17:00 EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium |
| July 1 8 | OL Reign | v | North Carolina Courage | Seattle |
| 19:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Lumen Field |
| July 10 9 | Chicago Red Stars | v | North Carolina Courage | Bridgeview, Illinois |
| 17:00 CDT | Report | Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium |
| July 15 10 | North Carolina Courage | v | Angel City FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:30 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| July 29 11 | North Carolina Courage | v | Washington Spirit | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:30 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| August 5 12 | Portland Thorns FC | v | North Carolina Courage | Portland, Oregon |
| 19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park |
| August 13 13 | North Carolina Courage | v | Kansas City Current | Cary, North Carolina |
| 20:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| August 20 14 | North Carolina Courage | v | Chicago Red Stars | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| August 24 15 | North Carolina Courage | v | Portland Thorns FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park | ||
| Note: Rescheduled from May 7 to accommodate Challenge Cup final | ||||
| August 28 16 | Kansas City Current | v | North Carolina Courage | Kansas City, Kansas |
| 18:00 CDT | Report | Stadium: Children's Mercy Park |
| September 10 17 | North Carolina Courage | v | Racing Louisville FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| September 17 18 | North Carolina Courage | v | OL Reign | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:30 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| September 21 19 | Orlando Pride | v | North Carolina Courage | Orlando, Florida |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: Exploria Stadium |
| September 24 20 | North Carolina Courage | v | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| September 30 21 | San Diego Wave FC | v | North Carolina Courage | San Diego |
| 18:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium |
| TBD | NJ/NY Gotham FC | v | North Carolina Courage | Harrison, New Jersey |
| TBD | Stadium: Red Bull Arena | |||
| Note: Originally scheduled for May 14, 2022, but delayed due to COVID-19 player availability | ||||
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OL Reign | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 40 | NWSL Shield, Playoffs – semi-finals |
| 2 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 49 | 24 | +25 | 39 | Playoffs – semi-finals |
| 3 | San Diego Wave FC | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 36 | Playoffs – first round |
| 4 | Houston Dash | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 27 | +8 | 36 | |
| 5 | Kansas City Current | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 36 | |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 28 | +6 | 33 | |
| 7 | North Carolina Courage | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 32 | |
| 8 | Angel City FC | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 29 | |
| 9 | Racing Louisville FC | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 35 | −12 | 23 | |
| 10 | Orlando Pride | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 45 | −23 | 22 | |
| 11 | Washington Spirit | 22 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 33 | −7 | 19 | |
| 12 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 16 | 46 | −30 | 13 |
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 |
Last updated: June 19, 2022.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com
Results by matchday
Updated to match(es) played on June 19, 2022. Source: NWSL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Players
North Carolina has used a total of 19 players during the 2022 season and there have been 11 different goal scorers. There have also been nine squad members who have not made a first-team appearance in the campaign.
The team has scored a total of 26 goals in all competitions. The highest scorer has been Debinha, with 8 goals, followed by Ordoñez who has scored three goals.
- Key
|
No. = Squad number Pos = Playing position Nat. = Nationality Apps = Appearances |
GK = Goalkeeper DF = Defender MF = Midfielder FW = Forward |
|
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with name struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Challenge Cup | NWSL | Total | Discipline | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | 
|
| ||||
| 1 | GK | 
|
Casey Murphy | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF |
|
5 (3) | 2 | 2 (2) | 0 | 7 (5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF |
|
Kaleigh Kurtz | 8 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | MF |
|
Brianna Pinto | 4 (3) | 1 | 3 (4) | 1 | 7 (7) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | 
|
Abby Erceg | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | DF |
|
Malia Berkely | 5 (2) | 1 | 7 | 0 | 12 (2) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | 
|
Denise O'Sullivan | 8 | 0 | 6 (1) | 1 | 14 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | 
|
Kerolin | 3 (2) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 (2) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF |
|
Debinha | 7 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | DF |
|
Merritt Mathias | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | FW |
|
Diana Ordoñez | 2 (4) | 1 | 6 (1) | 3 | 8 (5) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | DF |
|
Ryan Williams | (3) | 0 | 1 (3) | 0 | 1 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF |
|
Jaelene Daniels | 6 (2) | 1 | 4 (3) | 0 | 10 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF |
|
Emily Fox | 2 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | DF |
|
Carson Pickett | 3 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF |
|
Meredith Speck | 3 (5) | 0 | 2 (3) | 0 | 5 (8) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW |
|
Rylee Baisden | 1 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW |
|
Dorian Bailey | 1 | 0 | 1 (3) | 0 | 2 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 99 | GK |
|
Katelyn Rowland | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" (PDF). www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
- ^ Bonn, Kyle (May 7, 2022). "What is the NWSL Challenge Cup? Explaining the 2022 season-opening soccer competition". Sporting News. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ "Stats - Players". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
- ^ "Stats - Goalkeepers". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved June 19, 2022.