This Saturday, November 2, Washington Spirit travels to North Carolina Courage to take on the Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park in a crucial NWSL regular season matchup. Much is at stake on the pitch for both teams, as multiple records will be up for grabs and playoff positioning on the line. The unbeaten streak of Courage at home sets the stage for a frenzied battle, matching up with the momentum of the Spirit.
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Records to Be Broken: A Highly-Anticipated Fixture
North Carolina Courage comes into this game undefeated in 21 straight matches at home, one shy of the all-time league record. In addition to that, this outstanding statistic allows the team to make a statement of confidence and respect, as the Courage have defeated Washington Spirit the last four times they met, three being shutouts, which means they kept their net untouched.
In contrast, Washington Spirit comes into this match buoyed by two consecutive wins, both by at least two goals. The two results tie the league record for most multi-goal wins in a season and leave the Spirit on the cusp of something historic. A win now means more than just points; it could secure them the No. 2 seed-a critical advantage heading into the playoffs.
Heather Stainbrook and the Spirit Rookies: Young but Impactful
The roster for the Spirit has surprisingly been potent this season, especially Heather Stainbrook. She had her first league goal in the 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars, making her the sixth rookie on the team this season to push the team's goal count to 15.
Rounding out this match, another rookie that has people talking is Makenna Morris. She notched her fifth goal of the season in the same game, tying her for the league's most prolific rookie scorer. Together, these young players are proving that despite their age, they're a serious force on the field.
The Battle for Second Place: Spirit, Gotham FC, and Kansas City
The table is congested in the NWSL, where Washington Spirit, Gotham FC, and Kansas City fight for the second seed. Spirit occupies that place at the moment with 53 points, four goals ahead of Gotham and a point ahead of Kansas City. But there is still nothing set in concrete yet.
With Gotham playing Friday night and Kansas City on the field Sunday, final rankings may stay uncertain until the weekend ends. Still, a Spirit win on Saturday would lock in their No. 2 seed—if they hold onto the goal difference advantage over Gotham.
Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage: A Difficult History
Historically, the Spirit have struggled against the Courage, winning just four of 17 regular-season matchups, and taking just two of those wins on the road. That dominance shows itself clearly at WakeMed Soccer Park, where Washington's record is 2-4-1.
What's more, Courage have kept their lead against Spirit in their last four meetings with an unstoppable defense. Recent history between the two teams shows they know how to nullify the game plan of the Spirit, like the last meeting between the two where Courage came out on top despite having fewer shot attempts, making it count with their defense to keep the control.
Ashley Hatch and Tara McKeown: The Spirit's Key Players
The Spirit will be highly eager to look out for the name Ashley Hatch, who, so far in her career, has scored nine times against the Courage-a feat yet to be achieved by any player in the league. Of course, Hatch's goal-scoring ability could unlock a way through the wall of Courage defense and secure an important win.
First, there's Tara McKeown, who, with a little luck, could turn into a real "Iron Woman" this season having played in every minute of regular-season action so far. If she makes it through Saturday's game un-substituted, she will enter very rare company in Spirit history, showing a kind of resilience and determination which could be invaluable to the Spirit this season.
Home Is Where Courage Is Strong: 21 Unbeaten
The unbeaten run at home for Courage is not less than impressive. They haven't lost at WakeMed since May 2023 and sit a game away from equaling the all-time home unbeaten record set by Reign FC. That puts even more pressure on the Spirit, who will have to try and overcome one of the league's toughest home-field advantages.
Further, this home dominance is supplemented by ball control of the Courage, averaging a league-best 57% possession. The facility to regulate the pace of the game thus acts as a big plus, specifically at home, where their backline becomes almost impenetrable.
Kaleigh Kurtz: Relentless Defender for the Courage
Kaleigh Kurtz has been one of the most important pieces to Courage. Over the past four seasons, she has played over 10,000 minutes-the most of any player in the league in that time. And she's been crucial to the Courage back line, providing stability that allows its attack to be free-flowing. She will be a key obstacle for the Spirit if they want to be the ones to finally beat the Courage.