2020 North Carolina Courage season

The 2020 North Carolina Courage season is 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.

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)

Team

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

Player transactions

2020 NWSL College Draft
Main article: 2020 NWSL College Draft
Source: National Women's Soccer League[5]
Round Pick Nat. Player Previous Team
Round 16Ally WattTexas A&M
Round 327Sinclaire MiramontezUniversity of Nebraska
Round 428Addisyn MerrickUniversity of Kansas
Round 436Bri FoldsAuburn

Players in
Date Player Positions played Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
June 19, 2020 Lindsay Agnew DF Houston Dash Signed a one-year contract with one-year option. [6]
August 31, 2020 Peyton Perea MF Santa Teresa CD Signed through the 2020 season. [7]
September 3, 2020 Rylee Baisden FW Brisbane Roar FC Signed through the 2020 season. [8]
September 3, 2020 Danica Evans FW Sporting de Huelva Signed through the 2020 season. [8]
September 8, 2020 Kristina Maksuti FW MSV Duisburg Signed through the 2020 season. [9]
September 9, 2020 Arianna Romero DF Houston Dash Signed through the 2020 season. [10]
September 30, 2020 Havana Solaun FW Klepp IL Signed through the 2020 season. [10]
October 22, 2020 Casey Murphy GK OL Reign Acquired with $140,000 in allocation money in a trade for Crystal Dunn. [11]
December 7, 2020 Taylor Smith DF OL Reign Acquired with the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor in a trade for Ally Watt. [12]
December 7, 2020 Jodie Taylor (NWSL rights) FW 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 Lindsay Agnew DF KIF Örebro DFF Loaned. [13]
August 10, 2020 Samantha Mewis MF Manchester City W.F.C. Signed; North Carolina retained NWSL rights. [14]
August 14, 2020 Hailie Mace DF Kristianstads DFF Loaned. [15]
September 9, 2020 Denise O'Sullivan DF Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. Loaned until December 31, 2020. [15]
October 22, 2020 Crystal Dunn MF OL Reign Traded for Casey Murphy and $140,000 in allocation money. [11]
October 30, 2020 Rylee Baisden FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Danica Evans FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Kristina Maksuti FW Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Peyton Perea MF Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
October 30, 2020 Arianna Romero DF Unattached. Contract terminated. [16]
November 4, 2020 Jaelene Daniels DF Unattached; North Carolina retained NWSL rights. Retired. [17]
November 12, 2020 Addisyn Merrick DF Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
November 12, 2020 Lauren Milliet MF Racing Louisville FC Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [17]
December 7, 2020 Ally Watt DF OL Reign Traded for Taylor Smith and the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor. [12]

Competitions

National Women's Soccer League
See also: 2020 National Women's Soccer League season

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 Virgina 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
See also: 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup
Preliminary round
June 27, 2020 North Carolina Courage 2–1 Portland Thorns FC Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT
  • Debinha 75'
  • L. Williams 90+4'
 Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
July 1, 2020 Washington Spirit 0–2 North Carolina Courage Herriman, Utah
8:00 p.m. MDT Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
July 5, 2020 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Chicago Red Stars Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT
Report Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Tori Penso
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. Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).
Quarter-finals
July 17, 2020 North Carolina Courage 0–1 Portland Thorns FC Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala[22]

Fall Series
See also: 2020 National Women's Soccer League season § 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 1 October 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. "North Carolina Courage Sign Jamaican Midfielder Havana Solaun". September 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  3. "NC Courage Fall Series Roster Update". September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  4. "NC Courage Announces 2020 Roster". June 23, 2020. 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 11 April 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  6. "NC Courage Signs Three NWSL Draft Picks, Agnew Ahead of Challenge Cup". June 19, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. "Peyton Perea Signs Contract with NC Courage". August 31, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  8. "North Carolina Courage Sign Rylee Baisden and Danica Evans to Contracts Through the 2020 Season". September 3, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  9. "Kristina Maksuti Signs Contract with North Carolina Courage". September 8, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. "North Carolina Courage Sign Defender Ari Romero". September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  11. "NC Courage Acquire Standout Goalkeeper Casey Murphy and Allocation Money for Crystal Dunn". October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  12. "North Carolina Courage Acquire Taylor Smith in Trade with OL Reign for Ally Watt". December 7, 2020. 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. "Hailie Mace to Play On Loan at Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  16. "North Carolina Courage Announce Roster Update Following 2020 Season". October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  17. "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 (27 May 2020). "NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret". Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  21. "2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved 22 June 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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