Chicago Red Stars Top North Carolina Courage
North Carolina Courage remains atop the table after recording a win and loss during Week 7. Sky Blue FC defeated the Orlando Pride as they sit tied for second with Chicago, while Seattle Reign FC and the Portland Thorns are tied for fourth.
NWSL Soccer News: The seventh week of the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season comes to a close as the North Carolina Courage remains atop the table.
North Carolina welcomed Sky Blue FC to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park during a midweek matchup on Wednesday. The hosts edged the New Jersey club 2-0 with Lynn Williams and Samantha Mewis adding their names to the scoresheet. The Courage would head on the road for a weekend matchup versus Chicago.
Seattle Reign FC edged the Houston Dash in the first Saturday matchup at BBVA Compass Stadium in Texas.
An own goal by Cari Roccaro put Seattle on the board in the 20th minute. The visitors extended their lead in the 64th minute when Nahomi Kawasumi played a ball into the penalty area from the right flank to Katlyn Johnson who collected with her back to goal. A touch with the outside of her right foot opened Johnson up for a strike into the top of the net. Seattle finished the match with a 2-0 advantage.
At the end of the match, Dash forward Rachel Daly had to be treated for heat exhaustion. Her condition improved and she was taken to a local hospital. She was released later that evening, the Dash said.
Seattle (3/W-1/L-3/T) is tied for fourth place, while Houston (2-5-0) concluded May winless.
The Chicago Red Stars edged North Carolina 3-2 at Toyota Park in the second meeting between the clubs in two weeks.
Danielle Colaprico opened the scoring for Chicago in the 27th minute with Vanessa DiBernardo recording the assist. Abby Erceg was able to pull one back for the visitors during the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half. Alyssa Mautz put the Red Stars back in the lead during the 54th minute with the assist credited to Christen Press. DiBernardo added her name to the scoresheet five minutes later to extend Chicago’s lead to 3-1. Debinha De Oliveira cut North Carolina’s deficit to 3-2 in the 82nd minute, but the Courage were unable to tally another in the final minutes.
Chicago (4-2-1) is tied for second with Sky Blue, while North Carolina (5-3-0) remains in first. The Red Stars have a game in hand to these two clubs as they now hold the top spot in the Power Rankings.
Sky Blue FC continued their unbeaten streak at home with a 2-1 victory over the Orlando Pride at Yurcak Field.
The New Jersey club was led by Samantha Kerr who tallied an assist and goal in the match. Jasmyne Spencer opened the scoring for Orlando with the assisted credited to Camila Pereira. In the 43rd minute, Daphne Corboz dribbled down the middle of the pitch and played Kerr into the box as two defenders closed in. The Australian international collected the ball and struck a right-footed shot into the back of the net with authority.
Kerr would then turn provider in the 82nd minute when she played a stunning through ball that met Maya Hayes alone on goal. Orlando goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe approached Hayes who sent in a strike from just inside the penalty area.
Sky Blue (4-3-1) sits tied for second with the Chicago Red Stars, while Orlando (1-3-3) is in eighth place.
FC Kansas City recorded a 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Missouri.
Mallory Pugh started her first match with the Spirit after coming on as a substitute in Week 6. A brace by Sydney Leroux led the hosts to their second consecutive victory as they remain unbeaten in May. Becky Sauerbrunn added the third tally for FCKC with the assisted credited to Alexa Newfield.
FCKC (3-2-2) remains two points shy of second place, while Washington (1-5-1) sits at the bottom of the table.
Portland Thorns FC edged the Boston Breakers 2-0 at Providence Park in the final match of Memorial Day Weekend.
An own goal against the visitors in the first minute gave Portland the early lead. The Thorns wouldn’t need much time to extend their advantage as Amandine Henry dribbled down the pitch and struck a low shot to the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
Boston (2-3-2) currently sits in seventh place, while Portland (3-1-3) is tied for fourth with Seattle.
Related Articles: Seattle Reign’s Christine Nairn; The Road Ahead for Sky Blue FC; The Rising Chicago Red Stars; Get to Know Boston Breakers Head Coach Matt Beard
Header Photo Credit: Daniel Bartel/ISI Photos
