Match Forecast: Reign FC Takes on North Carolina Courage
Seattle Reign FC are back on the road today at 4:00 p.m. against the North Carolina Courage. This is the first meeting between the two teams in the 2024 season, but the 17th all-time meeting between the teams.
WHEN AND WHERE: The Reign kickoff at 4:00 p.m. PT at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
WHERE TO WATCH: Seattle-area fans can tune in on KONG and KING5+. The match is also available to watch on NWSL+.
2024 NWSL REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): Seattle Reign FC:1-4-0 (13th place), North Carolina Courage: 3-2-0 (5th place)
Key Points Ahead of the Match:
1. LAST MEETING – Seattle Reign FC and the North Carolina Courage last met near the end of the 2023 season, on October 1. The match took place at Lumen Field and ultimately ended with the teams splitting points in the match with a 1-1 draw. With over 10,000 fans in attendance, Reign forward Bethany Balcer scored the first goal, 21 minutes into the match. For just over 20 minutes, Seattle held onto the lead, but Courage forward Kerolin found an equalizer in the 43rd minute. The Reign played the entire second half down a player due to a red card in stoppage time of the first half but managed to keep the score level.
Since the start of the 2021 season, the two sides have met six times, splitting the series with two wins each and two draws.
2. SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA – The Courage currently sit in 5th place in the NWSL standings. Most recently, the team suffered its second loss of the season against Angel City FC. A brace from Angel City forward Claire Emslie made all the difference, with goals recorded in the 22nd and 54th minutes of the match. The Courage managed to pull one goal back, courtesy of forward Tyler Lussi in the 73rd minute, but it was not enough to make a comeback and salvage points from the match.
Seattle and North Carolina have not played against any of the same teams at this point of the season. Through Week 5, the Reign and the Courage rank top-3 in the NWSL in total passes and crosses.
“It is a little different than what the last couple of weeks, obviously with how much of a threat both Chicago and the Bay were in transition,” commented Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey. “I think North Carolina have that a little bit with some of their players, but I think their philosophy of how they like to play means that we have to be collectively ready to defend as a team to try and stop their threats. I think when teams have done that against Carolina, they frustrated them, hurt them in transitional moments and got opportunities against them. I think if you don't do that against them, it can be a really long night 90 minutes because they move the ball really well and play a brilliant style of football, in my opinion.”
3. A NEW CHALLENGE – As noted by Head Coach Laura Harvey and defender Alana Cook, North Carolina poses a different type of challenge than some of the other teams that the Reign have taken on this season. From the play on the field to making a quick trip out the warm and humid east coast, this match will challenge the Reign to earn its first road win of the season.
“I think North Carolina poses a different challenge than we've seen thus far in the season - their style of play, their distinct possession style. They'll have their 9s and 10s be a little bit more false and center backs probably have to step in with them. So yeah, like I said, it's a different challenge, different style, obviously we've been scouting that all week and working on that and seeing the different patterns of defending that we think will work. So, we feel pretty confident going in that we've been able to see what other teams have done against them that's been successful or not successful and look to kind of tweak and repeat some of those patterns and put our own kind of spin on it,” said Cook.
MultiCare Availability Report:
OUT
Claudia Dickey (knee)
Jordyn Huitema (back)
QUESTIONABLE
None