North Wake News

The North Carolina Courage secured a 1-1 draw against Racing Louisville FC in a rain-soaked match at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night. The result provided the Courage with a point as they prepare for their home opener next weekend.

Racing Louisville took an early lead through Emma Sears, who scored from a corner kick assisted by Arin Wright just before the 15-minute mark. Despite some threatening attempts from the Courage, including key saves by Casey Murphy, Louisville maintained their advantage into halftime with a 9-6 shot lead.

The second half saw increased pressure from North Carolina, culminating in Riley Jackson's equalizer in the 69th minute following a well-executed play. Although the Courage continued to press for another goal, they were unable to capitalize on their chances despite outshooting Louisville 8-3 and controlling over 71% of possession in the latter half.

The match featured several notable appearances: Jaedyn Shaw made her debut for North Carolina and marked her 50th NWSL regular season appearance, while Hannah Betfort and Shinomi Koyama also debuted as substitutes. Kickoff was delayed by three hours due to weather concerns.

Looking ahead, the Courage will face Seattle Reign FC at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on March 22. The club will honor Jessica McDonald during this home fixture by inducting her into their Ring of Honor.