Saturday’s 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup action saw the East Division begin play, while in the West, a highly anticipated debut for Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC did not disappoint.
North Carolina Courage 2, NJ/NY Gotham FC 0
The Skinny: North Carolina’s Brianna Pinto opened the scoring on Saturday night against NJ/NY Gotham FC — her former team — and later, captain Abby Erceg scored a second to ensure the win for the Courage in East Division play.
One Key Moment: The Courage opener featured a classic, lofted cross from the left side from Carson Pickett. With defenders on either side of her, Pinto timed her jump perfectly to head the ball past a diving Ashlyn Harris. It was Pinto’s first professional goal in her second season in the league.
GOAL @TheNCCourage! And it's Brianna Pinto who heads in a cross from Carson Pickett to give the Courage the lead! #NCvNJNY pic.twitter.com/8fb3zXDzpa
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) March 19, 2022
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) March 19, 2022
Inside the Match: The Courage put on a dominant performance on Saturday, outshooting Gotham 17-4 (with four shots landing on goal to Gotham’s one).
Despite the numerous personnel changes in the offseason, the Courage displayed their classic high-energy press, and forced Gotham turnovers left and right in the midfield. Without the likes of Allie Long (excused absence), Kristie Mewis (right thigh), and Ifeoma Onumonu (right ankle), Gotham had no answers in the attacking third, where they produced little.
Gotham will no doubt look to shore up the subpar defending that led to the two goals: the lackluster marking of Pinto on the first, and being unable to clear a cross in the second half, leaving Erceg with just enough space to finish for the insurance goal.
Although she had little to do, Katelyn Rowland stepped up well in goal for the Courage with regular starter Casey Murphy out with a right knee injury. Rowland made a beautiful, diving save at the hour mark to deny Gotham’s Paige Monaghan and keep the clean sheet. At the other end, Ashlyn Harris debuted for Gotham after an offseason move from Orlando and displayed a classic Harris reaction-save in the closing moments of the match to parry away a header by Debinha.
The Goals:
- North Carolina Courage — Brianna Pinto (Carson Pickett), 22′
- North Carolina Courage — Abby Erceg (Malia Berkely), 51′
— Emily Dulhanty
Orlando Pride 0, Washington Spirit 0
The Skinny: Orlando’s Amanda Cromwell era began with an encouraging scoreless draw against the defending NWSL champion Washington Spirit.
One Key Moment: Trinity Rodman nearly got on the board nine minutes into the match, and the entire sequence was a wonderful team effort from the Spirit. Emily Sonnett found Tara McKeown in the wide channel, and Ashley Hatch and Dorian Bailey cleared space centrally with diagonal runs which dragged the Pride out of shape. Hatch cleverly hopped over McKeown’s pass to Ashley Sanchez, who flicked the ball on to Rodman.
Beautiful move, @erinmcleod18 up to the task though 
@ORLPride | #PrideOfOrlando pic.twitter.com/hHJy36jdi9
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 19, 2022
@ORLPride | #PrideOfOrlando pic.twitter.com/hHJy36jdi9— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 19, 2022
Inside the Game: Washington brought high pressure which gave Orlando trouble at times, and it nearly paid off early in each half. Rodman’s shot was saved in the 9th minute, and then Kelley O’Hara started the second half with a pair of opportunities in the opening minutes. O’Hara drifted inside frequently to cut onto her left foot, joining the Spirit’s high pressure at times and staying high to help in the attack.
Similarly, Marta spent most of her night in a wider right position in order to cut inside on her favored left foot. She gave Spirit left back Julia Roddar trouble at times, but the most threatening opportunity of the night from Marta came from a set piece in the 71st minute, when her left-footed free kick from 20 yards sailed wide. Meggy Dougherty Howard struck the post in the 64th minute, shortly after checking into the game.
For a young Pride team with a lot of question marks and a lack of experience, it was a positive result against a Spirit team expected to do big things this season. Orlando absorbed pressure throughout the match and mostly did so in an organized fashion. That might sound like a low bar, but that is a welcome sight in Orlando.
— Jeff Kassouf
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