North Carolina Courage
2020 season
OwnerStephen Malik
General ManagerCurt Johnson
Head CoachPaul Riley
StadiumSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
NWSL Challenge CupQuarterfinals
Community Shield5th 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)

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.

Team

Coaching staff

As of October 1, 2020
Source: North Carolina Courage[1]
Position Staff
Head coachEngland Paul Riley
Assistant coachUnited States Scott Vallow
Assistant coachUnited States Bill Paladino
Assistant coachUnited States Sean Nahas
Assistant coachEngland 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. Nation Player
1 GK Canada CAN Stephanie Labbé
3 DF United States USA Kaleigh Kurtz
4 FW United States USA McKenzie Meehan
5 MF United States USA Sam Mewis
6 DF New Zealand NZL Abby Erceg *
8 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Denise O'Sullivan (loaned out)
9 FW United States USA Lynn Williams
10 MF Brazil BRA Debinha
11 DF United States USA Merritt Mathias
13 DF United States USA Abby Dahlkemper
14 FW United States USA Jessica McDonald *
15 DF United States USA Jaelene Daniels *
19 FW United States USA Crystal Dunn *
20 MF United States USA Ryan Williams
21 DF United States USA Cari Roccaro
23 FW United States USA Kristen Hamilton *
25 DF United States USA Meredith Speck
No. Pos. Nation Player
26 DF United States USA Hailey Harbison
27 MF United States USA Lauren Milliet
37 GK United States USA Samantha Murphy
99 GK United States USA Katelyn Rowland
— DF Canada CAN Lindsay Agnew (loaned out)
— DF United States USA Hailie Mace (loaned out)
— DF United States USA Addisyn Merrick
— DF United States USA Sinclaire Miramontez
— FW United States USA Ally Watt
— FW United States USA Rylee Baisden
— FW United States USA Danica Evans
— FW Albania ALB Kristina Maksuti
— MF United States USA Peyton Perea
— DF Mexico MEX Arianna Romero
— FW Jamaica JAM Havana Solaun
  • Player opted not to participate in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series.[3]

Player transactions

2020 NWSL College Draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League[5]
Round Pick Nat. Player Previous Team
Round 16United StatesAlly WattTexas A&M
Round 327United StatesSinclaire MiramontezUniversity of Nebraska
Round 428United StatesAddisyn MerrickUniversity of Kansas
Round 436United StatesBri FoldsAuburn

Players in

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

Players out

Date Player Positions played Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
August 4, 2020 Canada Lindsay Agnew DF Sweden KIF Örebro DFF Loaned. [13]
August 10, 2020 United States Samantha Mewis MF England Manchester City W.F.C. Signed; North Carolina retained NWSL rights. [14]
August 14, 2020 United States Hailie Mace DF Sweden Kristianstads DFF Loaned. [15]
September 9, 2020 Republic of Ireland Denise O'Sullivan DF England Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. Loaned until December 31, 2020. [15]
October 22, 2020 United States Crystal Dunn MF United States OL Reign Traded for Casey Murphy and $140,000 in allocation money. [11]
October 30, 2020 United States Rylee Baisden FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 United States Danica Evans FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Albania Kristina Maksuti FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 United States Peyton Perea MF Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Mexico Arianna Romero DF Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
November 4, 2020 United States Jaelene Daniels DF Unattached; North Carolina retained NWSL rights. Retired. [17]
November 12, 2020 United States Addisyn Merrick DF United States Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
November 12, 2020 United States Lauren Milliet MF United States Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
December 7, 2020 United States Ally Watt DF United States 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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 Cancelled Stadium: 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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 North Carolina Courage 4 4 0 0 7 1 +6 12
2 Washington Spirit 4 2 1 1 4 4 0 7
3 OL Reign 4 1 2 1 1 2 −1 5
4 Houston Dash 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1 4
5 Utah Royals FC (H) 4 1 1 2 4 5 −1 4
6 Chicago Red Stars 4 1 1 2 2 3 −1 4[lower-alpha 1]
7 Sky Blue FC 4 1 1 2 2 3 −1 4[lower-alpha 1]
8 Portland Thorns FC 4 0 3 1 2 3 −1 3
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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Portland Thorns FC (C) 4 3 1 0 10 3 +7 10 Community Shield
2 Houston Dash 4 3 0 1 12 7 +5 9 Runners-up
3 Washington Spirit 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7 Third place
4 Sky Blue FC 4 2 0 2 6 7 −1 6
5 North Carolina Courage 4 1 2 1 8 10 −2 5
6 Chicago Red Stars 4 1 1 2 7 7 0 4
7 OL Reign 4 1 1 2 6 8 −2 4
8 Orlando Pride 4 0 2 2 5 8 −3 2
9 Utah Royals FC 4 0 2 2 3 8 −5 2
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

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.
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