— As the Portland Thorns strode onto the pristine pitch of Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park two hours prior to kickoff of their match against the newly minted North Carolina Courage, a number of players were snapping pics of the field. Former UVA standout and U.S. national team player Emily Sonnett even laid on her stomach and licked the Bermuda grass surface.

“People talk highly about this stadium and field,” Sonnett said. “I think a lot of players feel at home here. I said at this place, you can literally eat off the ground. I told Allie Long that I would lick the ground, and she said, ‘Lick the ground!’ And so I did it.”

“We just stepped on the field and it was immaculate,” Long confirmed. “The grass was perfect and the stadium was great. Emily loved it so much she wanted to lick it.”

It’s high praise coming from members of Cascadian team that averages nearly 17,000 fans a match. Yet while the facility might have felt welcoming to the Thorns, the home side was far less accommodating. Against the consensus top team in the NWSL, the Courage dominated the box score and ultimately the score line, earning a 1-0 victory in their new hometown debut.

“It doesn’t get any better than playing the Portland Thorns at home in front of such an incredible crowd,” said Courage forward Jessica McDonald. “We’ve been waiting for this day for our home opener, and it was just a great three points.”

Through a scoreless opening stanza, the Courage held 61 percent possession and outshot Portland 15-3.. The highlight of the half came in the 30th minute, when Lynn Williams drove up the left channel and crossed to Makenzy Doniak on the right half of the area.. Doniak’s shot flew wide, but the ricochet bounded to Debinha, whose bicycle kick sailed just wide goal.

The Courage picked up where they left off in the 59th minute. Williams made a lightning quick run to catch up to a through ball before maneuvering around Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, but Williams’ reward was an opportunity that bounded wide of the right pipe.

North Carolina seemed poised to score in the 74th minute when Sonnett was whistled for a handball penalty. But Franch correctly guessed and bodied away Sam Mewis’ kick from the spot.

The Courage finally found paydirt in the 81st minute. McDonald’s cross off the right area found the crown of Debinha, whose running header was true and gave the Courage the 1-0 game winner.

“I received a ball going in-line,” McDonald said. “I faked once, didn’t see anybody get in the box, faked twice, then saw Lynn Williams and Debinha coming in. I just tried to get [the ball] past the first defender and the goalkeeper, and Debinha came in with such a great header. It was absolutely tenacious.”

Courage manager Paul Riley ran out a three-person back line, a switch from last weekend at Washington. His team obliged by holding 55 percent possession and outshooting Portland 22-5 for the match.

“It was a battle of the midfields tonight,” Riley explained. “I thought we won the battle, to be honest. We created some great chances, Another night, maybe some more go in. They’re a tough team to play against, and it’s a good rivalry now, I think.”

Long, a former Tar Heel who won the 2008 NCAA Women’s National Championship with McDonald and Thorns teammate Meghan Klingenberg at WakeMed Soccer Park, agreed that North Carolina controlled the pace of play.

“They’re super athletic, and they high-pressed us and made it hard for us to get rhymn,” Long said. “We didn’t necessarily play the way we want to play. Credit to [the Courage]. We should have finished some chances in the beginning.”

The Courage (2-0-0) stay home next Saturday, April 29 when it hosts the Orlando Pride. North Carolina hopes to continue its winning ways, and show off their new digs.

“It was a fabulous night,” Riley said. “We talked to the players all week about a historical moment … It was a brilliant atmosphere. The ownership and management have done a great job setting us up to be successful.

“And this field feels like a putting green. If you can’t play on this, you can’t play.”

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

CAR: D'Angelo, Erceg, Dahlkemper, Hinkle, Kawamura, Doniak (T. Smith, 76’), Mewis, Zerboni, Debinha (Rosana, 85’), McDonald (Hatch, 89’) and L. Williams

POR: Franch, Sonnett, Menges, Klingenberg (Cox, 46’), Henry, Horan (Shim, 77’), Long, Bourielle, Nadim, Weber (Raso, 65’), and Sinclair

GOALS

CAR: Debinha, 81’ (McDonald)

POR: ---

CAUTIONS

CAR: Kawamura, 27’; Mewis, 76’

POR: ---

EJECTIONS

CAR: ---

POR: ---

ATTENDANCE: 6,298