Through a confluence of cosmic coincidence, all four teams that had already qualified for this year’s NWSL playoffs were paired against each other for the final weekend of regular season play. The Portland Thorns defeated the Chicago Red Stars earlier Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening saw the North Carolina Courage’s finale against the Orlando Pride at WakeMed Soccer Park. Beyond playing for pride, the remaining stakes were a win or draw by the Courage would keep the Pride in Cary for next Sunday’s NWSL semifinal; a Pride victory would bring the Red Stars to the Triangle.

After going down two goals to Orlando, the Courage battled back to equalize late in the match. But an added time free kick goal by the Pride’s Alanna Kennedy proved the game-winner, as the Pride earned the 3-2 victory, their second win over North Carolina this year.

“The two most important things were not getting a red card and getting everybody healthy,” said Courage manager Paul Riley. “Me and Tommy [Sermanni, Orlando’s manager] talked before the game, and we said we just wanted to get everybody healthy. And then, of course, the players obviously didn’t listen to us because they went out and it was an unbelievable battle; it was like a playoff game.”

The Courage sought to get off the mark just two minutes into the match. Speedy striker Lynn Williams got behind the Pride backline and clear on goal, but Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was steady for the save on Williams’ shot.

Orlando grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute, when Chioma Ubogagu charged up the left flank and crossed into the area to Kristen Edmonds, whose one-touch flick was true enough to sneak past Courage keeper Katelyn Rowland for the 1-0 advantage.

Another chance for North Carolina to get on the board went wanting in the 29th minute, when a pinpoint cross by Jaelene Hinkle found Kristen Hamilton perpendicular with the far post. But Harris made a twirling save of Hamilton’s volley to maintain the Pride’s lead at intermission.

Orlando doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, when Alex Morgan fed Marta with a through ball that the Brazilian gathered before calmly slotting her finish past Rowland.

The Courage got a goal back in the 62nd minute. Taylor Smith entered the area before laying off to Williams, who maneuvered into space before blasting her shot into the postage stamp.

“Taylor got the ball and was running down the side,” Williams said. “She started to cut in, and I found a little pocket, took a touch, and I just let it rip. I looked up, and it was going in the upper 90.”

Four minutes later, Ali Krieger was whistled for a penalty after tripping Debinha in the area. Williams notched her brace by depositing her ensuing kick from the spot past Harris for the 2-2 equalizer.

But the Pride had one more goal in them as the teams entered added time. After Abby Dahlkemper shouldered down Jasmyne Spencer about 23 yards outside the area, Kennedy—who the Courage traded to Orlando during the preseason—curled her free kick into the upper ninety to give Orlando the 3-2 win.

“Alanna pulled that one out of her back pocket,” Morgan said. “I had no idea she was such a free kick specialist, but it was an amazing goal.”

The Pride (11-6-7, 40 pts.) extends their unbeaten streak to nine games on the trot, something that was at the forefront of their players and coaches’ consciousness.

“We continuing our unbeaten streak, and wanted to continue our momentum,” Morgan said. “We didn’t want to rest players; we wanted to come in here and win, and that’s what we did. We wanted to prove that we are dominating right now in this league, and it doesn’t matter where we go.”

That’s a far cry from April, when the Pride visited Cary and lost to the Courage to go winless for three games to open the 2017 season. After the match, Harris had choice words for her teammates that went viral. After Saturday's win, Harris reflected on the team’s journey since that rough start.

“I think it’s a testament to the character of this team and our coaches that we stuck to the plan, and no matter how rough it got we got it sorted [out],” Harris said. “I think holding people accountable isn’t ruffling feathers; I think that’s what we do if you want to be at the top of your game. If you want to be the best at what you do, you hold people and yourself accountable.

“This group is wonderful; it’s a wonderful group of kids,” Harris continued. “Sometimes it’s tough love, and that’s sports. This isn’t college soccer, this is a job, and you have to perform, and if you don’t perform someone is biting at your ankles. Alex, Marta, Rachel, and our back line, everyone right now is coming together, and continuing this momentum is going to be huge for us going to Portland.”

The Pride win means the Courage (16-7-1, 49 pts.) hosts Chicago in the NWSL semifinal next Sunday, October 8. The Red Stars defeated North Carolina all three times the teams met this year. That fact already had Riley spinning the message mere minutes after Saturday’s loss.

“No one has ever won the [NWSL] Shield and the championship, and we’re 0-3 against [Chicago], so we’re now officially the underdog for next week’s game,” Riley said. “So for me, it’s a great place for our team. We’re the junkyard dogs, we don’t mind being the underdog.”

Before the Courage moves onto the second season, let’s put a bow on the successful first. Last Wednesday, the Courage defeated the Houston Dash to clinch the NWSL Shield, signifying the regular season’s best overall record. NWSL Managing Director Amanda Duffy was on hand Saturday to present the Courage with their silverware. However, the Courage, née Western New York Flash, has higher aims in mind, namely repeating as NWSL champions.

Williams said that while the Supporters Shield checks another accomplishment off the Courage’s to-do list, the team understands the real championship begins next weekend.

“The regular season games mean a lot, and you never want to lose,” Williams said. “At the same time, these teams have a bigger picture going forward. We both want to win the title, so it’s about playing hard but also playing safe a little bit.”.

Moreover, Saturday’s attendance of 7,020 is a Courage club and season high, surpassing the 6,298 on hand for the season opener against the Portland Thorns.

“It’s amazing,” Williams gushed. “Coming from Rochester to North Carolina has been amazing. You still see fans out here about an hour after the game, still wanting pictures and autographs. It’s awesome to know we have this city and town rallying behind us. We play for many things, and one of them is the fans. Hopefully, we inspire little girls and boys to want to play.”

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

NC: Rowland, T. Smith, Erceg, Dahlkemper, Hinkle, Holstad (Hatch, 63’), Zerboni (Mewis, 63’), O'Sullivan, Debinha, Hamilton, L. Williams (McDonald, 77’)

ORL: Harris, Catley, Krieger, Alves, Edmonds (Spencer, 76’), Camila (Hill, 35’), Kennedy, Weatherholt, Ubogagu (Pressley, 83’), Marta, A. Morgan

GOALS

NC: L. Williams, 62’ (T. Smith); L. Williams, 67’ (PK)

ORL: Edmonds, 22’ (Ubogagu); Marta, 51’ (Morgan); Kennedy, 90 + 1’

CAUTIONS

NC: Dahlkemper, 90’

ORL: Harris, 66’; Marta, 72’

EJECTIONS

NC: ---

ORL: ---

ATTENDANCE: 7,020