Strong Second Half Earns Courage A Draw Against Thorns

North Carolina Courage 1 – 1 Portland Thorns

Cary, NC—The names and jerseys largely remained the same, but there was little else that looked the same between the first and second half of Saturday night’s game.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since last year’s NWSL Championship when North Carolina shut out Portland 3-0 to win the league title. The short-handed Thorns came out looking to avenge the loss, pressing the Courage and not allowing them to get any sense of rhythm to their game.

“We forced them back to what they used to be,” Portland head coach Mark Parsons said following the match. “They used to be a team that just wanted to go wide and cross it and just kick it. And that’s a team that we’re okay with playing against.”

The pressure paid off early for Portland when Midge Purce chipped the ball over Courage rookie goalkeeper Sam Leshnak, who had come off her line to the top of the 18 to challenge.

Courage head coach Paul Riley chalked the goal up mostly to a decision-making error on Leshnak’s part. The rookie goalkeeper, who earned her second start of the season, has otherwise made a good accounting of herself in the net. “But you know she’s new and she’s getting used to decision making at this level and speed,” he said. “And Purce took [the shot]well, too.”

Both teams have had their regular starting lineups deconstructed with eight players in France from the Courage (including Heather O’Reilly, who is providing studio commentary for FOX) and nine Thorns, there were many players on the field at Sahlen’s Stadium who are getting accustomed to playing a full 90 minutes.  Even with the challenges, the Thorns were on the front foot throughout the first half but didn’t have the finishing touches to increase their lead.

Overall, Parsons was pleased with his team’s first half effort. “We had two or three really good looks and in the first half and we needed that second goal because we knew the second half was going to be [tough]. If you slow Carolina down in the first half you’ve got half a chance.”

Meanwhile, Riley and his staff made some changes for the second half. Swedish forward Julia Spetsmark came on for Ryan Williams and Merritt Mathias switched to the right side. “I had no hesitation; I walked in the locker room half time I said to the coaches Spetsmark’s gotta get in, we’re gonna get Merritt high… it was that quick on the decision because I feel like Spetsmark can make a difference in the game.”

Riley’s adjustments completely changed the complexion of the game. Mathias was a constant threat making penetrating runs down the flank and causing all kinds of problems with Portland’s defense with crosses into the 18.

Spetsmark responded to the call with her most engaged and physical game in a Courage uniform. “I think tonight I was mainly focused on just being involved in the game and create more for the team because that’s something that’s been lacking, I think, in my previous performances,” she reflected after the game. “I just tried to get on the ball and be involved and be a threat all the time.”

In the 59^th minute, Mathias and Spetsmark would team up to pull the home team level. Mathias brought the ball just over the midfield line and lobbed a long airball

toward the Portland 18-yard box. Spetsmark let the ball bounce a couple of times before volleying a shot with…come to think of it, how DID she make that shot?

Spetsmark: “I’m not sure how it happened. I know I got a ball from a good ball from. Merritt. And then I just I kind of got my shin or foot on it. I honestly don’t know what I scored with,” she confessed. Whatever part of her leg she finished with, Portland goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom got into a full stretch, but couldn’t keep the ball from dropping into the net.

The newfound partnership was not finished yet. In the 66^th  minute, Mathias found Spetsmark on the right flank. The forward dribbled toward the center of the field and unleashed a rocket with her left foot that beat Eckerstrom but not the crossbar. Courage forward Lynn Williams kept the rebound alive and midfielder Kristen Hamilton shot the ball right at Eckerstrom. Once again Spetsmark found the ball on her foot but her shot was blocked by the Thorns defender Kelli Hubly for a corner.

When defender Meghan Klingenberg went down with an injury in the 70^th  minute, Parsons used the stoppage to make some adjustments to try to staunch the Courage’s flow down the right side. Parsons recounted the strategy afterward. “Once we got Matthias and Hinkle off the ball we ask [the Courage]to play more football [because]they have some looks but I don’t know if they solved that and it gave us a chance to hang in there.”

After 90 + 5, last year’s NWSL finalists finished in a 1-1 deadlock, earning Portland its first point in Cary.

Final Notes

• The draw moves North Carolina to 3-2-4 in the 2019 campaign.
• The Courage outshot Portland 18-1 in the second half.
• McKenzie Meehan made her first appearance for the Courage when she came on for Leah Pruitt in the 90^th Meehan was acquired last Tuesday when North Carolina traded Elizabeth Eddy to Sky Blue FC.
• The Courage/Thorns match was the second of a Pride Night doubleheader. In the evening’s first game, North Carolina FC shut out the Swope Park Rangers in USL Championship play.
• Next up for the Courage is a trip north to Washington to face the Spirit on June 29^th and then a July 5^th  match against the Houston Dash.

Lineups

North Carolina Courage: S. Leshnak; R. Williams (J. Spetsmark, 46’), C. Roccaro, K. Kurtz, J. Hinkle;, M. Mathias, D. O’Sullivan; K. Hamilton, M. Zerboni ©; L. Williams, L. Pruitt (M. Meehan,90’)

Portland Thorns: B. Eckerstrom; M. Klingenberg ©, G. Seiler, K. Reynolds, E. Ball, K. Hubli (M. Everett, 84’); A. Crnogorcevic, C. Boureille; M. Pogarch (E. Ogle, 73’), M. Purce, S. Charley (T. Lussi, 62’)

Score:
North Carolina Courage: 1
Portland Thorns: 1

Goals:
North Carolina Courage: J. Spetsmark (59’ M. Mathias)
Portland Thorns: M. Purce (26’ C. Boureille)

Discipline
North Carolina Courage: K. Kurtz, YC, 19’
Portland Thorns: T. Lussi, YC, 63’

Attendance: 6,172

 

Photo Gallery: North Carolina Courage v Portland Thorns, Saturday, June 16, 2019

All photos by Victoria Klum