SEATTLE REIGN VS NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE | 2024 NWSL SEASON | FULL MATCH 25.08.24

[Music] today's starting lineups brought to you by American Express for the Seattle rain this is how they will line up tonight yeah it's an interesting one J CU obviously at Cook has gone over to the Kansas City current with Jordan bug getting her first start 18 years old you know she played in the summer series but I think G so young and Anna son goit down that left hand side will really have good teley and I think the pivot in the Middle with Quinn and Jess fishlock will be really pivotal yeah this could be a very different looking Seattle Team meanwhile for the North Carolina courage coming off three straight wins here's how they'll line up yeah it's interesting because a lot of people will know Danny webal as being a defensive midfielder but in this team in the summer series she also played in that left back position fely rch is obviously managing her minutes as well so the Midfield three again Deno salivan what a player she is Ashley Sanchez coming off the back of three and three goal scor in the league Courtney vyan down the right hand side and Tyler Lucy interestingly enough today Jen tonight genen starts on the left hand side and I think we could see them will switching in that three North Carolina looking to pick up some points on the road they have been hard to come by for this courage team this season but now let's get ready to love the game from Lumen field on a night where they all Rose for rapino putting that number 15 Jersey up high honoring the Seattle Legend who just retired last season so Megan Rino in attendance to watch this rain team which had started at least to pick up some points before the break lean four straight draws though this team in dire need of some wins 2 N and five they sit at the moment yeah it was interesting early on in the season they had a moment against a San Diego wave that's a bad giveaway there Ashley Sanchez picking it up for North Carolina the Courage by the way in what I'm going to call pink Seattle in Navy that's Claudia Dicky in light blue in goal for Seattle fortunate that Sanchez was not able to get a shot off just fishlock longtime teammate of Megan [Music] rapino ball in and punched away that almost looked like it happened in slow motion but Laura Harvey liking the way things are starting as Casey Murphy called into action early unbelievable really we're only one minute into the game J we've already seen down the Upp end Claudia Dicky really poor giveaway dearra King goes for that Casey Murphy I think didn't really know where her angles were cuz it wasn't really much Pace on the ball but better to clear your lines and get it out the way Laura Harvey sitting at 99 career win she's been there for a while since May 3rd that's the last Seattle win no nwsl coach has ever made it to 100 she's already the winningest coach can she get Triple digits tonight first corner from Sophia herera she'll get it back from King Huerta putting it back in play and AC cross still not clear finally Murphy does get her hands on it keeps it in play Casey Murphy part of that US Gold Medal winning team at the Olympics back up to Alysa nir there's thna gorich yeah I think she's going to be a big player for this team you know I've seen her play a lot with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona and a great addition to the Seattle rain team along with you know G this season I really think they can offer something different and I think we're going to see as I mentioned pregame a different Seattle rain team because they're sitting bottom of the table their performances haven't been good enough and when CLA dicki had that turnover I was about to say Jen you know San Diego wave game when they went down to 10 players earlier on in the season they showed good signs they came back and won that game down to 10 players and it looked like there was going to be a turning point and then since then they haven't won so they haven't really kicked on nelia mesir from Haiti also a new addition that was signed in July along with a couple of young players one of whom is in the starting lineup you mentioned Jordan bug was supposed to be playing with the Florida state seminal this fall but instead opted to go pro just turned 18 earlier this month no l Barnes tonight still out with in injury for Seattle so the young bug the start at Center back here's Vine new addition for the courage wearing number 22 making her nwsl debut tonight 26 years old competed in both the 23 World Cup and this past Olympic Games for Australia good addition to this team Jen I think obviously Tyler Lucy usually goes down that right hand side she's playing on the left and I think what I like about Tyler Lucy as well she has one opportunity where she has a good window she gets out of her feet and usually delivers the ball or gets a shot on frame but I think Courtney Vine's been a really good addition to this team Ryan Williams will get up and down that sideline as well she's on it now for North Carolina back to Kaye Curts and the offside flag comes up against the courage second meeting of the Season between these two clubs they played April 27th in kry North Carolina the courage picking up a one- nothing win in that game and there you see that resume for Laura Harvey imagine she's battling some emotions as well with the ceremony that happened pregame honoring Megan rapino a player she knows so well coached for so many years yeah there's a lot of emotions to manage within this game and I liked what Laura Harvey said she still loves this team they've not got off to the best of starts everybody can see that there's no denying that but one thing we all know is Lura Harvey will do everything everything she can to put the best team out there and she mentioned the new ownership to us how it's been a breath of fresh air and she really saw how they've come into play in the last six seven weeks with regards to the trades they've been able to make there been a lot to catch you up on as it involves the nwsl as you might have been maybe watching some of the summer Cup games over the summer or watching the Olympics no doubt the regular season 10 weeks to go until the playoffs eight teams will make the playoffs North Carolina currently sitting in six Williams that will go out for a North Carolina corner and while both teams come in with a four-match unbeaten streak in the regular season the points they picked up in those streaks quite different with the four draws for Seattle giving them four points and North Carolina three wins and a draw giving them 10 [Music] willia Berkeley puts it in and it's knotted Down Still Alive North Carolina trying to make something of this opportunity King just gets it out of danger it's interesting cuz six minutes into this game we're seeing Williams get a lot of joy down this right hand side and that's certainly something I think the North Carolina courage are looking at that left back area for the Seattle reain a lot of the goals this year the Seattle reain have conceded is when they're in transition there's a massive Gap in the center of the field and I think that's something that other teams have looked to capitalize on but no doubt Seattle rain have the quality in the new additions they have as well Sanchez a goal in each of the last three regular season games for North Carolina Bine does add some Pace up top but that one a little bit out of her reach Shawn NW his third year as head coach of the courage two-time challenge Cup champion and his style it is no doubt possess possess possess and they have led the league in that possession category this season and he's done it as he reminded us with an awful lot of player turnover he said really when he took over started from Ground Zero as interim head coach in 2021 really changed what this North Carolina Club looks like Denis O Sullivan one of the few that has been with North Carolina number 10 in pink since the franchise started in 2017 two time and WSL Champion Ireland International and certainly a leader in the midfield for this North Carolina Club yeah I like to watch Shar said to us Jen with regards to the last game in the regular season against racing Louisville he made three sub stitutions at Hal time they were one- nil down and then it changed the game and I said it must feel good when a coach makes that type of decision and I think the best coaches can make those in-game decisions and sometimes they don't come off and sometimes they do and he said he's never done that in his career ever and he did and it worked huera has played every minute this season for Seattle and keep an eye on number 11 if she serves a ball in and her teammates find a way to score off of it she will will stand alone as the assist leader all time in the nwsl she has 31 career assists sfia herera he tied for the most in nwsl history yeah this season I think s h is having to play a completely different role based upon players like Lou Barnes having minimal minutes this year due to injuries and when Lou's comeing to the team she's been in and out but I think Sophia HTA I mean the numbers don't lie and she's got a fantastic delivery down that right hand side but a lot the time this season because of the Seattle Reign losing the ball in transition she's had to kind of defend a lot more than we've seen her in previous years and it was interesting earlier on in the season when I did a game there we asked her about this record and she was like am I she was completely unaware you know this is somebody I've played against many times and she was in that attacking role in that in that front line area and she did that for Chicago red stars for so many years Jordan hide him up Canadian Olympia one of two on the Seattle Team along with Quinn applying some pressure to Murphy and the backline of North Carolina no carolene yet for the courage this regular season the reigning nwsl MVP the Brazilian International who did make a return and compete for her country at the Olympics as they won silver but sha Nas's telling us she just wasn't quite ready at and it's a different Journey for all of these players as they come back to their clubs after a grueling tournament like the Olympics we've seen that some players like at Trinity Rodman started today helped her Washington Spirit team to a win but then you've got other players Sophia Smith M Swanson maybe not quite ready to get back into action yet I always say Jen It's Different Strokes for different folks and it doesn't mean the players don't want to play it's about managing the load and we've seen early on in the season a lot of injuries being picked up based upon on the load of games that there was there tournaments in the [Music] season but I love the fact that nwsl is back you know I'm back in America now for the long stretch we've got 10 more games but it's just so exciting as we've seen this opening weekend on the return and I think we're going to see as we saw Kansas City current have now lost two games and before that they hadn't lost Orlando Pride beat them on their home turf and I think this second part of the season because there's eight teams that now make the playoffs I think we'll see a little bit of extra incentive for teams at the bottom to kind of do a little bit more Sanchez dribbling forward Taps it out to vine in some space [Music] Vine see in that moment J I'd love Courtney Vine just to get her head up a little bit more it was almost like a hit and H type of pass they had runners in there you can see Ashley Sanchez was making the run just take a look and just to the left hand side and maybe someone can make that run and pull on the edge of the penalty spot now you mentioned Courtney Vine coming over from Sydney FC playing in her home country of Australia just one appearance at the Olympics this summer what kind of a player what what does she really add to this North Carolina team I think you know she can stretch the back line I think she's equally good on the right as well as the left and I think you know she keeps her width as well and I think that's something that not many wide players can do cuz a lot of them have a tendency to come inside because when teams play a three back the fullbacks are usually overlapping but I think she's very disciplined and as we've seen you know she's not afraid to run in behind she'll do the defensive work on the other side of the ball we know sh nigh house likes to play those types of players that will do that work you can't just play for this courage team and just kind of stand up top you know everybody has to defend and I think she does that really well now roomi back on it in the middle of the field for North Carolina [Music] Vine trying to get him behind the defense Shay Holmes that left back spot for Seattle in this match tonight Laura Harvey saying she played brilliantly in the summer cup Sanchez summer cup featuring the nwsl teams and Liga and Mei teams from [Music] Mexico heida that apparently was clean in the eyes of the referee Greg davka Haida perhaps had a question about that just so isol isolating though Jen you can see John H was picking up the ball and the gaps between the Midfield and the defense is so big and fair play to her you know she tried to Come Away With The Ball there was four players around her Vine could get to this and will it holds up beautifully Vine in her NW cell debut unselfish maybe too much so across for Lucy come on Courtney Vine take it yourself how you thinki Le in I mean I could see what she was trying to do and I was thinking okay play it now play it now Tyler Lucy does a really good job of coming in from the left but here I want to see cine have a little bit more conviction go towards goal you can see the Seattle rain Defenders were trying to recover around they were trying to but you can see what she was trying to do Tyler Lucy in the end I don't think was even expecting it but you could see I just like to see courney Vine have a little bit more self-belief and go towards goal second corner of the match for North Carolina Sanchez bending it toward Claudia dicki gloves it decisively dicki the young goalkeeper in her third year with the rain was out for nine matches started the last three before the break but in her eight starts just eight goals against couple of shutouts I love when people describe Claudia dicki they speak about the all- around athlete that she is how she can play many sports how she can throw a football and when I say football J I mean American football how what we call football in England yeah she played two sports for a while the University of North Carolina basketball and soccer eventually giving up basketball to focus solely on [Music] [Applause] [Music] soccer s gich hasn't had too many touches yet you can see for there number 34 in Navy top left of the [Music] screen fish lock to G Holmes seconde Seattle player out of the University of Washington Quinn this is probably the best spell we've seen the Seattle r have with regards to possession North Carolina Cur have had most of the possession in this opening 15 [Music] minutes and Seattle I think would be prepared for that right that they were going to have long stretches in this match without the ball so a little surprising maybe that to your point they they have been able to keep it a little bit better than maybe even they anticipated sure but I think it's all about you know the retention of the ball we saw Quinn pick up the ball there and play the ball you know too slow and then G's not got on the ball at all in this game in the middle of the field Jess fish hasn't touched the ball so nich down the right hand side hasn't had the ball at all and I think the North Carolina courage as seeing a weakness down this right hand side we're seeing Williams and Courtney Vine have a field day going up against Holmes and you can [Music] [Applause] [Music] see Quinn coming back dictating play six-year player with Seattle fresh off the Olympics with Canada as you may have seen earlier 59 active nwsl players competing at the Olympic Games this [Music] summer the North Carolina courage are doing a really really good job of boxing out the Midfield g& fish cannot get on the ball they look really organized in North Carolina courage you can see it's forcing them to go long Seattle Raina having to go long to Jordan he and there's a turnover that was offside but the ball's turning over too [Applause] much trip up Lucy Goes Down fishlock comes away with it she's immediately looking up over the top hio will give Chase but Murphy first to the ball tackle from Jess fishlock you could see what she was trying to do in playing Jordan Heimer early to try and catch North Carolina courage backline off guard and you could see it almost just dropped underneath it's incredible to think for this Seattle Club just one win in their last 15 regular season matches prior to this season Seattle had never had 15 games without at least three wins this is a club very accustomed to success and Laura Harvey was very honest with us in our call obviously there's been an ownership change and the transition to that over the last couple of years really with a number of ownership changes it's been trying on this club and you look at some of the players that went away from Seattle obviously Megan rapino retiring and then Rose LEL heading out some and Emily Sonet as and you can't you can't like replace those types of players but you have to try and I think at the beginning of the season they just did not I mean the emotional side of losing those types of players like even Mega rapino is massive on this team and the impact it's had probably on L Barnes and Jess fishop when they're going into training every day I think that's a little bit underestimated but Laura Harvey feels optimistic about the new ownership and said she really saw how much they're really helping in the last six to seven weeks with regards to train and those types of things and I mean Bey bolster we haven't even spoken about the fact that they Trad her away Jaylen how obviously come to the Seattle rain and it'll be interesting now because Jordan he will have to score more goals and I think that's something that other teams have I said you before you went on there Jen you know you look at the team sitting high at the top of the table Barbara bander shinga sfia Smith they're playing for teams and they're scoring goals you know and that's no coincidence why those teams are at the top it's a team game but you have to have a center forward in this league that can put the ball in the back of the net and get at least double digits or close two now you mentioned that Baler trade the most recent move for Seattle and baller's five goals accounting for nearly a third of the goals the club has scored this season Jaylen how just a couple of training sessions Laura Harvey telling us is available Off the Bench tonight coming over from racing Louisville the roomi Ana couldn't hang on to it up top that is a hand ball you can tell that Laura Harvey as well felt quite emotional about that trade you know she welcomed jayen hown but she said allow you know letting Bethany BSA go was not an easy decision and you see how they just getting up warming up the jayen how trade also makes sense to me but if she stays fit and healthy I think she'll be a fantastic addition to this [Music] team and Laura was telling us too I think we're going to see a lot fewer player for player trades because of this new collective bargaining agreement that you may have heard about if you haven't well you should because this is just it's massive really Leanne in terms of what this means for the players if you haven't then where have you been because it's been literally the best news I've seen this week and the one thing that stands out to me Jen is the fact that players have a choice of where they where they go I've mentioned this story many times but I've gone into practice before where teammates have been traded without any type of choice pause for a moment as Holmes is causing Havoc s gorovich got her head to it and I've always said to if you're paying me millions of dollars you can fly me to the moon and back I'll go but we're talking minimum salaries previously in the nwsl where players are being told where they have to go and it's not fair and thankfully that's Chang yeah that is changing as well yes there's so many good things more maternal care more care overall in terms of the players well-being mental health and I think it allows other teams that are not implementing those types of Standards they're going to have to step up second corner kick coming now for Seattle querta one of two players in nwsl history with 30 plus goals and 30 plus assists in her career lower ball towards sorich herto will have another shot at it plenty of time keeps it on the ground flick what a flick by G King now Seattle still not done puera her onetime ball is blocked Jeep number one all-time leading scorer for South Korea and what a flurry of activity in front of the goal for Seattle what a touch what a back heill this would have been so beautiful if it went in the back of the net but it's only players like G that would have been goal of the season for me if that goes in but only players like G have that in their locker the ball also has to have enough Pace on it to be able to put that on frame but that is such great creativity and only a player like G can do that fabulous player in her first year in the nwsl one goal three assists but a glimpse right there of what she can [Music] do the nwsl on ESPN is presented by Ally the bank that's your Ally and in part by vital Farms raising the standards got a good look there at the 18-year-old Jordan bug one of two u8 signings as mentioned she just turned 18 August 11th happened over the last few weeks for the Seattle Team anley mccamon the other C just 17 years old different Avenues and Pathways to the league now becoming even more important as may have noticed was part of that collective bargaining agreement no more draft no more college draft no more expansion draft I think for a lot of Americans that will feel really alien but obviously myself being European we're quite used to that and I get the whole Glitz and glamour of having a college draft and those types of things but you'd like to think that coaches are going scouting these players anywhere and they not just relying upon assists and goals in the college system I mean you have to go out and Scout players if you want the best players to come Scout them and you find out what their qualities are do they fit in with the system of your team yes or don't they then you don't get them so I think it's going to take a little while for people to understand and adapt to the new format but I think in the long run there'll be no doubt some Kinks at the beginning but I think in the end in the long run I think it'll be better for the [Music] lead North Carolina at the moment has Seattle pinned in on the far side [Music] well Seattle did have that spell of possession at one point but the numbers heavily in favor possession wise of North Carolina I think those final third entries as well gen 16 you know really ring True to this game and this team and how Seattle rign just are not having any penetrative passes in the final third getting down the end line where are the balls going to come from I just think the gaps between all three you know the Midfield the defense and the front I think it's too big and I think Laura Harvey would be looking to close those gaps you know if she has time and they still it's still z0 at half time we still got a long way to go but I think the gaps need to be smaller everything's still there for this Seattle Team who as we talk about the moves they're making admittedly yes of course they're fighting for the playoffs Laura Harvey told us and with eight teams making it to the postseason this year for the first time ever in the nwsl look that's still a possibility but they're also obviously thinking long term and what they can build this club into longterm as some of those main faces that have been the leaders and the keys for so long like a Megan rapino like a l Barnes who's still there but injured has had some injuries this season Jess fishlock who else who's going to be that next wave to help carry this club into the future [Music] I think some of the moves they've made are identifying some of those players I think you look at the Seattle rain team the way it started the season they were playing in a diamond in a 442 anchor James Turner was in there he hasn't really worked out in that formation for her but I think like we always say we're waiting for the Seattle rain team to kick on and push on and they have to they can't always keep relying upon players like Jess fishlock we know she'll turn up every single game and give 150% but there has to be other players that also Step [Music] Up bab McLaren G coming back to collect and eventually going all the way back to Dicky very comfortable with her feet as are most goalkeepers these days Odyssey J and North Carolina courage are defending so well because they're having to have G drop so deep G was almost on top of the 18 y box trying to received the ball and J fishlock was almost horizontally next to her there is fishlock alltime leading scorer now for Wales lost it to [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Lucy whistle is blown [Applause] up Megan Rino enjoying the night her night really as this one kicks off we'll look forward to chatting with her at [Music] halftime Casey Murphy facing her former team North Carolina goalkeeper played for Seattle couple years 2019 2020 Sanchez really been rejuvenated this in her first year with North Carolina after being traded from the Washington Spirit Vine back to [Music] Sanchez offside as Williams got a little too eager on this near [Music] sideline we've told you about the summer cup that happened over the break the championship still to come and tickets are on sale it'll be played Friday October 25th at San Antonio's Toyota Field Gotham FC taking on the Kansas City current you can go to nwslsoccer.com suum cup to purchase your tickets North Carolina went unbeaten through the group phase of the summer cup couple of draws and they wound up winning both of those in penalty kick shootouts and then a win lost at Kansas City in the semifinals and for North Carolina Shan nahas telling us it was about getting in a rhythm getting that consistency that he is always looking for because they've had so many injuries this season Holmes back to [Music] g a different approach for Seattle in that summer cup Harvey telling us is really more about rotation getting some players some minutes some opportunities win and a couple of losses for the rain in that competition Ida got low and quite get what she was looking for in that attempt that was interesting cuz it was almost like the ball in from G it was like kind of like a purposeful Ball but Jordan heidman couldn't quite get enough on it but again G's getting into really good spots where exactly you want her higher up the field she's getting Dragged In really really deep but you want her operating in those areas where she can kind of affect the play we haven't really seen enough we saw The Possession before North Carolina courage have had all of The Possession and Sean ah mentioned to us didn't he about winning more games on the road you know they really good at wake Med but they need to win more games on the road yeah both of these teams have struggled on the road North Carolina one and seven on the road this season Seattle has yet to win on the road they're 0 S and one so yes for both of these teams finding a way to get points away from home is going to be important if they want to make it through to the [Music] playoffs the thing is though the difference between these two teams one team's sitting in sick the other one's bottom of the tapable so and the numbers don't lie in this league but the greatness about this league is that we saw last season decision day last game of the season everybody can make the playoffs it's very unique the fact that eight teams now we could see teams like Louisville BFC San Diego those types of teams kind of actually having an extra incentive because if there were six those teams wouldn't get anywhere near it with the type of play and the points they've got on the board from the first part of the season has been nowhere near good enough Angel City to hovering right around that playoff line picked up a win on the road at San Diego and their return to the regular season with the Thompson with the [Music] brace historically as G at least gets that backline to think about things a little bit more for North Carolina courage have dominated this series against Seattle leading it 11 wins three losses three draws all of those coming in the regular [Music] season that's better from this Seattle R you could see J fishlock just over you know tried to get to the ball and then she couldn't quite get there but I like the high press I think at times they're pressing in isolation you know whether it's Jordan height going alone whether it's G going alone whereas that's the first time I think we've seen in this game where they pressed as a unit and they almost retrieved the ball back to bug the 18-year-old making her regular season debut in the backline for Seattle Quinn will often drop back there as well pick up and start Play I just think the Seattle rank speed of play is their ball retention is too slow I think they're getting in good spots but by the time they're playing the ball because it's so slow it's allowing the North Carolina courage to get back into position Holmes pops it up to ser gorovich [Music] Williams and Company trying to work out of the corner Curts it's been so solid in that backline for the courage this season narumi had to step in play some defense during the summer cup a holding Midfield spot [Music] now monaka touch to narumi I mean in the end it broke down but that is such good play North Carolina courage it straight off the training field you could see Jordan bug got dragged completely out of position and they were able to kind of break the North Carolina courage and I think you got to give credit they're very comfortable in the back line on the ball whether it be Berkeley whether it be kurts they're very good on the ball and they don't panic and I think you got to give credit to North Carolina colage staff because that's something they've worked on Sean n mentioned to us three years ago he had to almost completely revamp this whole team and he doesn't feel like they get enough credit for having to do that and it's true narumi coming in late on G whistled for the foul thei quietly has made her Mark in the Midfield third in the nwsl in tackles won last season in her first in the league leads the team and tackles one and fouls this season adding another T tally there it's [Music] G one of the messages I think we heard fairly consistently from Laura Harvey his frustration would eek out as this season has gone on it just the quality has not been there in the big moments where they need them she was very open and saying we needed to make some changes we have to bring in some more players well they've done that covich you're seeing getting the start tonight be really interesting to see if mesir gets into this match which she can do and then we can start to assess well does this team have the pieces it needs to compete yeah I think the quality of players they're bringing in son Govich Jaylen how those types of players who have no doubt in the long run will be good quality but I think the Here and Now might take a little while for some players you know to adjust to their new environment hopefully flura Harvey it won't take them long and I think with the Seattle R team we've been waiting for them to just kick into gear and they just haven't you know nobody expected Seattle rain to be sitting at the bottom of the table and nobody expected Orlando Pride to be sitting at the top and that's why this league is so fantastic based upon those those things but we know historically Seattle rain are good at possessing the ball they're always in an amongster playoffs year after year but it's been a lot of certainty off the field and play for them as well and hopefully the new ownership the trades Laura howy having the control over that I think can hopefully help cuz these type of quality players they're bringing in G one of the best players to ever play in the WSL in England Player of the Year time after time when she went back to South career to play people expecting her to go back there and retire then she comes to this league and she's been excellent so they've got no doubt they got the puzzle pieces but it's am it's about it all coming together and players consistently telling us from overseas that they come to this league because they want to be challenged know we talked to S gorovich this week and she knows this league she played for Portland for a couple of years promises that she has no allegiances left as she's now joined their Rivals but she said look Switzerland is hosting the Euros in 2025 I wanted to get the best competition that I could get this is a player by the way who's been winning champions league titles with Barcelona previously had played in Germany was with Atletico Madrid for one year but she knew this was where she wanted to be yeah and I think a lot of players we spoke to fely Rouch as well this week and it was so infectious to hear the amount of players you know the Zambian players that are coming to the league everybody wants to come back and I think in years ago everybody kind of came and and they went back to their countries in Europe like players including all the ones from England there's about 10 of us that came over and it was almost like then the league folded whereas I think now they're seeing this is sustainable and whenever I come back here Jen I'm like this is unbelievable and I've seen a lot of my teammates playing in the against Gotham you know Arsenal Chelsea and you can see they're all in Time Square they having the time of their lives they're in DC and when people say to me I Now understand why you love America so much because you know it's it's the facilities it's the stadiums The Fan Fair this crowd trying to get behind the Seattle team tonight at Lumen field and you mentioned the league folding that the previous league in the United States the WPS and WSL going strong biggest perhaps best year ever in 2024 14 teams more to [Music] come wal does no it doesn't that it stayed in play Shay Holmes was pleading her case and the assistant referee helping out that was tight very very [Music] tight both teams in search of a spark and a rather pedestrian first half Lions share The Possession to North Carolina not much of a threat in the attack from either team [Music] North Carolina will look different once kene returns to this [Music] lineup can they continue to pick up points as they've been doing in her absence G with the takeaway two Defenders to beat just loses it edge of the area the roomy taking it away for North Carolina both of these clubs have tasted championships for North Carolina nwl Champions 2018 2019 Shield winners both of those years as well Seattle three time Shield winners their last coming in 2022 but what about the here and now that's what both of these clubs are trying to figure out and if you broke this nwsl regular season into Parts this is the one where all the clubs knew they needed to be flying they had to be getting it right the Olympic break is over now they stare down final 10 weeks and a push to the postseason interesting Jen you can see in the top of the D in the middle of the field Danny weal you know before the game was playing in that left back position and now pushed into pushed into that defensive Midfield spot where she's more familiar in there they're in a three when they're on the attack and then it's almost like and I'm surprised the Seattle R haven't seen that when they're on the attack s gorovich on the takeaway fishlock gets there first love the idea and that's exactly what I was talking about you know with Danny weal dropping into that Midfield area there's a massive space down the right hand side it's great if it comes off the North Carolina courage but I think you often leave spaces so aort B you could see there tried to play Jess fisho I'm not quite sure Jess fish had to slide maybe the ball just overran because if she stayed on her feet maybe she could have taken a touch but maybe the ball's just a little bit too far ahead of her but good it's much better we saw The Possession moments ago is much better from the Seattle Reign much better you see G getting higher I think everybody's kind of got a little bit higher which is allowing them to kind of put pressure on the ball higher up the [Music] field still scoreless in this nwsl after dark matchup in Seattle the rain hosting the North Carolina courage as both teams get back into regular season play final match of the weekend in the [Music] nwsl and if you're Seattle all that emotion the festive party-like atmosphere from pregame when they retired Megan Rino's Jersey you you want to see that if you're Seattle continue it's been a quiet first half who knows maybe after Megan rapino chats with us she should go give a little halftime speech I wouldn't be surprised speaking of which in our CarMax halftime report we will talk to the one and only Megan rapino we'll also have first half highlights and Analysis [Music] [Applause] n WSL celebrating the return of its Olympians this weekend across the league seing celebrations as those players come back and put on their Club jerseys after representing their country in Paris this summer six of them between these two clubs Quinn one of two Canadian suiting up for Seattle along with Jordan heida up top I like the story that phy rch mentioned to us Jen about her medal because you remember she said everybody was asking her where's your medal and she's like well Casey Murphy's got a gold and they were like keep please keep bringing it to training and eventually by the third day she said she got sick of everybody asking her and she brought in and everybody took pictures the uh the German who won bronze expect to see her perhaps in the between the Seattle rain and the North Carolina courage Z 0 after our first half Jen hildr lean Sanderson on the call ready to see what this second 45 brings both of these teams hoping to pick up Points North Carolina knows they need to be better on the road the courage playing in pink tonight and Seattle in Navy on their home field Shay Holmes with the throw in player who's overcome three ACL tears in her career in her second year with the rain see Courtney Vine one of the new faces for North Carolina just next to there got the start in her nwsl debut the Australian International no changes for either team at the half we'll see how long that lasts because when it's 0 in the way that first half went you think both both of these teams be looking for a bit of a boost where they can find it yeah I think overall the courage have had the better you know performance defensively I still they've had a lot of final third entries as well but I think you know Olivia winggate could come into this game as well I think at some point and could cause a lot of problems but I think for the Seattle rain team you know they need to really push on they need to dominate possession at times we know we're used to them historically being a team that has the possession of the ball but I think this season like I mentioned before they started out in the diamond Midfield they've kind of gone away from that a little bit and I and you know what I I do feel a bit sorry for players like Jess fishop because you know managing your emotions in games like this when you constantly see your former teammate and friend Mega rapino there being celebrated you think please just come back know she lost Emily Sonet Rose lvll and those types of players as well and Lou Barnes has been injured so the core of this team has completely gone we already seeing one new face and and Anna serag gorich signed August 5th Jordan bug another one a young u8 player getting the start at Center back tonight her regular season debut number 32 there for Seattle s gorovich coming back to the nwsl for the first time since 2019 Since By the way when she was playing with Portland her last game was against Seattle now a part of this rain team that's looking for little bit of reinvigoration in their attack especially after the trade of Bethany Baler could see Jaylen Howell make her rain debut in the second half perhaps nilia Mones as well Haitian International I think Veron katco last year was a real bright spark at started the season had an injury has had an indifference season due to minutes but I think if they can keep her fit and healthy she can start games and equally come off the bench you know in the 60 70th minute and have an impact on the game so perhaps some of the changes that you can look out for as this half goes on for both teams Windgate who lean mentioned one of the options Off the Bench for North Carolina along with fow their German international bronze medalist at the Olympics Vine looking to get around the corner does she keep it in play looks like it will be a corner for North Carolina really good play from Courtney we saw that in the first half in the first 10 minutes she was getting down the right hand side and then didn't really do it that much good play from Holmes to Shadow her out initially but then she just gets you know she does keep it in play you can see but recovers really well there Holmes Bia Berkeley to take what will be the third North Carolina corner of the match little bit of a different look this time back to Berkeley now the service they were looking to put on goal it does but in the end nothing too difficult for Claudia dicki yeah it was a well worked set piece in the end when you see a center back going out to take the corner kick you think they must be trying something different because usually you know the attacking minded players would have been on the ball but I think you know it got a shot off in the end and they're getting into those final third areas where they can cause problems and Berkeley able maybe to just put a bit of a different look on things remember watching her play collegiately for Florida State National Champion Center back who loved to get up in the attack good long service speaking of long service Zer King was the closest Seattle player to that [Music] ball King hia s gorovich the front three across the top for Seattle G floating around beneath them Shan Nas expression doesn't change an awful lot not sure if he's happy with what he's seeing or not his team unable to find an advantage as of yet winners of three in a row before the international break [Music] fishlock looking for options wherea pops [Applause] it [Music] [Applause] Quinn we're already seeing 5 minutes into this second half how much higher this RAR he sopia h had a really good ball into the box it almost fell to G's head because he sopia h now on the right hand side higher up the field where she can cause problems ball actually stayed in play t gorovich space and time for Quinn service G with the left and the save best look of the match so far for Seattle so much better from the Seattle I mentioned the distances in the first half they were so deep really good balling from Quinn and you wouldn't want it to fall to anyone other than G doesn't quite catch hold of it Casey Murphy does a really good job in the end covering that around but better positive play from the Seattle reain I say best opportunity I I might put that little flick in the back heel from G on the corner kick near post that hit the post as probably the other one of note I think that one Jen was more unorthodox you know you don't really see she created that out of nothing I think I I know what you're saying with that one where it was more of a team situation and it fell to [Music] her Holmes working her way up The Far Side hide him up back the other direction herera had cut in s gorovich now good Movement by the Rain King and all of a sudden this attack flowing a little bit better for the home team so much better ball retention has been quicker I mentioned in the first half this type of ball out from Jordan heer pings it out wide you know this is a really good ball in from zovic you could see almost fools on the head of holes Sierra King doesn't quite catch hold of it 100% and it goes over but you can see sopia H down his right hand side again High Press whatever Laura Harvey said to the Seattle rain team at halim certainly they're Fearless in this second half and you can see they've started it on the front foot Laura Harvey reminder sitting at those 99 wins she's probably the last one who wants to be reminded about that since she's been at that milestone for quite some time the last win for Seattle back on May 3rd in the regular season did have a win in the summer cup but new ownership for draws before the break perhaps a sign that things were starting to turn in the right direction but to get all the way there just two wins on the season not going to cut [Music] it Sanchez she need to be more involved for North Carolina Vine had some success in the second half and earns another Corner again good play from Courtney Vine down that right hand side Holmes recovers really well because she got caught in behind and talking about all these Olympians Holmes defending here on Vine has some Olympic Connections in her family you ready you ready for this little bit of trivia I'm ready I'm ready kind of deep for this one here her uncle was an Olympic gold medalist in 1996 in wrestling how about that now head coach at Iowa in the wrestling program that's just some fun Olympic trivia for you lean late night I thought you was going to tell me someone's cat's name or something like that I only love your triv I only save the cat names for the really special [Laughter] moments I'm enjoying that matchup though I think Holmes is getting caught in behind a couple of times but she's recovering quite well Courtney V's getting a lot of joy down the right hand side and he's opening 10 minutes in the second half and that game you mentioned genen on May 3rd against the San Diego wave I actually did that game it feels like forever ago and they went down to 10 players zerra King got that red card after 10 minutes and most teams would capitulate and you know they'd end up conceding loads of goals no the Seattle Reign didn't and I really thought that was going to be a moment where they were going to push on go down to 10 players that early against a good s Diego wave team at that point and they found the way to get the win and then since then it just hasn't happened and when I was around the team during that moment you could feel it like they still had that belief I watched them practice they still had the quality and training but it just isn't transitioning onto the field good to see Holmes back to her feet and great to see subd in attendance of course here helping to celebrate Megan rapino momes off to the side as she gets taped up and Berkeley ready again from the corner for North Carolina one initially by herera CLE players go down the whistle has blown nwsl on ESPN presented by Ally continues on September 8th from Red Bull Arena Gotham FC take on the Houston Dash at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2 that match will also be streaming live on ESPN plus and let me just tell you if you were a fan of the Olympics this summer you liked watching the US win gold well Gotham is probably the team you want to watch a lot of us representation on that club as they all start to get back to full health and right now Gotham in the top four in the the standings currently sitting in fourth just a point behind Kansas City six Olympians on The rosters of our two teams tonight we said it at the beginning the league is picked up this tagline of we play here and now it is gold silver bronze play here and North Carolina can actually claim all three of those medals first time ever that one club in the nwsl has had players represent each of those three medals and now a chance for fishlock lays it off King a [Applause] save we've seen two moments in this game we saw it with the North Carolina courage in the first half where Tyler Lucy couldn't get on the end when Courtney Ry should have shot I think it's an interesting one sovich does a really good job here a great way to pass I think Jess fog has to just take one touch and put it in the back of the net I understand why she was pass into zerra King but sometimes you can she has to put that in the back ofet at Sierra King for me I think Jess fishlock had two options she went with the pass I understand that but I think I'd like to see Jess fish just hit that one first time but again positive play from the Seattle rain in the final third but that has to be a goal one way or another yeah you can see Seattle creating opportunities they out shooting North Carolina Big Stretch and save there from Casey Mur Murphy too it's not always easy to be a backup goalkeeper whether it's your club team or your national team and Casey Murphy one of the backup goalkeepers to Alysa nire on that US Olympic team so think about all that she went through did not get it an opportunity to play but obviously still part of that team that Journey the ride to gold and all the stress that comes with it yeah I had a conversation with Jane Campbell in Houston a few days ago about that and obviously she was an alternate and didn't even get to get a medal which I think is completely ludicrous but she had a great attitude about it you know she said I knew I wasn't going to get a medal if we won and it was about being there for the team but it's not an easy thing to do Jen trust me I've done it in tournaments myself in regards to being on the bench and trying to best facilitate your teammates and what you can do and it's not an easy job G on to it now for Seattle the rain really pushing the header but it is right at Murphy whatever Laura Harvey or maybe Megan orino did go in there and have a speech at halftime what is working so much better for Seattle right now in the attack yeah they're certainly on the front foot I expect sha Nahar to potentially make some type of tactical change at some point because it's been a completely different first half to the second now North Carolina threatening the other way an opportunity with the left foot but Dicky all over it Manaka mat to Kubo didn't get too much on it MVP of the challenge Cup Final in 2023 for North Carolina 20 years old out of Japan forget sometimes how young some of these players are I think this game has been quite choppy quite Scrappy the way I'd expect you know a return to their teams to go I don't think we've seen that in the nwsl this weekend I think we've seen some really good games good performances is high scoring but I think there's been a lot of turnover in this game and a lot of Disconnect disconnected passes uncharacteristic like from certain players and these things happen when they haven't played with each other for a little while and hopefully it will start to kick into touch but I think for both teams turning over the ball far too easily Berkeley well into the attack from her Center back spot look to continue a run for a moment roomi Vine came sliding through with the ball out of her reach what a ball from narumi you could see it was any type of touch courney Vine nearly got a touch on this so fantastic ball in any touch and it goes in the back of the net monar was also creeping there on the front post but again positive play from both teams if I was to say first half North Carolina coverage dominated possession looked like the team to score as the second half has taken place Seattle rain looked like they would a team to score and then it shows you what the North Carolina courage can do in the blink of an eye it's a great ball into the box Jess fishlock down at the moment for Seattle MVP in this league fishlock in 2021 as a change is happening Tyler Lucy coming off and Olivia Windgate player you mentioned Leanne looks to be coming on seconde player with the courage out of Notre Dame was the number six pick in the 2023 draft and has been dealing with some issues this season head coach shanas saying it wasn't necessarily physical she had some things she needed to work through did not make her debut until July 7th so the last match before the international break wound up scoring in that match and that comeback victory yeah she did really well in that game came on at Hal time as part of a triple substitution that Shan Nar made and really made an impact so hopefully now she's healthy she can bring something to this team I think she's very Dynamic when they're on the attack Tyler Lucy just couldn't quite get into this game I don't think many of the front line for the North Carolina courage have cauy V's had a good relatively good game but Ashley Sanchez hasn't really been on the ball you know before this game in the in the regular season three and three but hasn't quite got hold of the ball in those areas so I think this is a positive change for sha Nahar and hopefully fish's going to be okay think that little that little wink was like yeah I'm good looks like she's to check back in which is good sign for Seattle Jess fish just doesn't leave the field and if she does it's usually for a really valid reason type of player that just we have to drag him off the pitch we saw last season when she was injured and she was on the sideline and she was almost like an assistant coach orchestrating everything going on fish L back on now for Seattle herts just played all the way back to her [Music] goalkeeper Windgate hoping for a return touch not there initially Williams now Sanchez [Music] here is Windgate All American at Notre Dame in her senior year to Sanchez bouncing ball she'll want better yeah that wasn't the ball for me the ball should have been out to the right hand side to Williams I like the fact that asie Sanchez is getting in those spots to get a shot off because she's not really been effective in this in this game tonight but I think the better option was out wide [Music] pia dicki has the ability to really drive the ball you think about that one chance they had not too long ago started off the foot of the goalkeeper [Music] bug 18yearold regular season debut did well where to [Applause] [Music] [Applause] now fish lock leading hide them up Burkley is [Applause] there Seattle ready to make their first change of the night Verona gatco the player set to come on I think you were just talking about her lean I was and I think you know if she would have stayed injury free earlier on in the season would have been a player that would be key for them I think last year was a real bright spark never left the field a play really and can playing a number of roles in this team but I think that's a positive substitution for the Seattle Reign and she's always in amongst it lco what an incredible performance she had in the post season in particular last year game winner both the quarterfinal and the semifinal for Seattle as the rain made it to the nwsl championship eventually losing to Gotham FC in that match I think the good thing about BR katco I think she offers something different but she gambles a lot and she's very good at kind of anticipating a mistake something like that I've seen her score goals where everybody else has stopped and she's continued her run so I think that's something that sets her apart from a lot of the players for the Seattle Reign Vine Runners on the move too close the outstretched arms of Dicky time now for advanced stats brought to you by degree mentioned that North Carolina has been the more dominant team in this series in fact they've shut out Seattle eight times in the 16 previous matchups that includes their meeting earlier this season in North Carolina one- nothing Victory Tyler Lucy had the gamewinner in that one in the 37th minute Sanchez Williams has the ball played out [Music] lco four goals two assists in the regular season last year this her third year with the rain spent four years at Houston prior to that North Carolina talking about their Road W mentioned it in the first half courage 1 and seven on the road compared to 70 and one at home this season it's an incredible difference between the performances and the results in particular and Johan n said we've tried everything we've tried going for walks we've tried changing what we're eating but in the end he said it just comes down to mentality about really having to have competitive mentality take that on the road with them certainly fighting here against the Seattle rain team this season in this match tonight yeah sha nah spoke to us about the fact that when I asked him about the triple substitution he made against racing Louisville he said he did it and then nobody even had a chance to even complain about it because they won the game and he just spoke a lot about the culture of the team you know he obviously has to make decisions that are times and some players won't be happy but he's like we don't have time on our roster for people that are kind of suling to a certain degree you just got to get on with it you're a professional athlete some days will be good some days will not be not so good you just have to get on with it and I think the culture he's created there and I think he made a really good point in the fact that he had to completely regroup revamp this team from from nothing and I think they become a real good mainstate team within the nwsl [Music] it's been a great atmosphere all night before pregame with the rise for rapino Jersey retirement ceremony and see the attendance 16598 second highest Standalone attendance for a rain game in club history North Carolina had a great crowd as I recall in their home matchup of this series earlier this season and sha nahas was frustrated they did not give him a better show just the one goal to show for perhaps a similar feeling for the Seattle club that has struggled all season long to produce in the attack [Music] [Music] [Music] Sanchez breaking up what had felt like a rather predictable pattern for a few moments there for North Carolina lco leading the way for Seattle [Music] you use the word disconnected in the first half with the Seattle Team Leanne it it felt that way a little bit there it looked like lat Go's running and all of a sudden there are three North Carolina Defenders around her and her Seattle teammates nobody really close enough to come help her out of that situation yeah I think it's been a better second half in the Seattle Reign I think in that moment as well R katco looked like she was about to kind of lose control of the ball and kind of looked like she was going to fall over in the end but I think they've definitely been better in the second half I think you know there's still 20 minutes to go g start they started to play a little bit higher we can see they're dropping in deep but I think the tempo of the game you know it's a little it's gone a little bit flat in the last 5 to six minutes but I think you know Courtney v is having a good time down the right hand side and I think they just need a little bit more from their front areas with the Seattle rain team heam has used that little skip turn to advantage of a couple times this ball little [Applause] overcooked good run though good ball just over hit just a little bit but it was good from Jordan heightman to get into that almost in that number 10 role to be able to play the ball through to lat go bug [Music] Quinn back to cover as bug had progressed higher up the [Music] field weather [Music] h started this match at left back has had to pick up some time there with phro the German international out at the Olympics expect to see her soon had a great conversation with her this week she's excited to get back into nwsl play bronze medalist for Germany this summer and I spoke to her about one of my questions to her was that how can we get more German players coming to the league because they just don't really seem to come oh giveway here quick shot from Windgate could be a moment just like that that decides this game the way it's gone quite strange really because we saw this in the first half in the first 30 seconds Floria dicki just lack of concentration gets quite fortunate in the end the Olivia wing makes a good effort but I think you know sometimes when you try and play out from the back it can cost you but I think it's how you play out from the back and I think we saw that in the first 30 seconds of the game M cladia dicki and Seattle fortunate there as two changes including the debut in the nwsl for N Out mundir out of Haiti they call her Coco first player from Haiti in NW USL history watch out for the One V one skills if she gets the ball at her feet Laura Harvey telling us she is something really special and Jaylen Howell now makes her Seattle reain debut after coming over in the trade from racing Louisville earlier this month really good substitutions really good to have that in their locker to be able to bring these types of players on I think for Jaylen how now she just needs a run of games in this team she's had a lot of injuries in the last couple of Seasons not played as many minutes as she would have probably liked Vine as Keepers come out Dicky's out of the goal it's open for North [Applause] Carolina all of a sudden things looking really shaky in the back for the rain ball across from Williams Dicky comes out to grab it and just goes down to catch her breath perhaps for a moment yeah quite strange really there's been a couple of moments we've seen Claudia dicki making an error in these moments you know courney Vine nearly gets on the end of it she comes off her line she should have come up a line a little bit sooner I think in the end she gets quite fortunate she makes it I think Courtney Vine should still run through the ball there and does well actually to recover that's a really good tackle really good tackle I'm sure Laura Harvey wouldn't have wanted her trying to put in a tackle there you'd want your go keeper trying to recover back to the goal but in the end recovers really well here is mesier Haida picks it up lco waiting Haida takes it now lco off the rebound has it blocked Howell say hello to Jaylen Howell oh it's wide what a beginning that could have been in her time in Seattle well played Jaylen how and that's a glimpse of of what the Seattle rain team can have you can see here I thought J hman should have passed it and I thought equally Veron latco hitting the ball off balance but this is the one look at that little J Inside So Close from Jaylen Hal really good effort with the left foot just goes wide but I said it'll be good for jayen how to get a run of games for the Seattle rain team no doubt there's a player in there the quality that she has a lot of people talk about you know the prospect that she could be for the national team all she needs now is to get a run of games and I have no doubt she'll be so good for this team how a two time NCA Champion two-time Herman Trophy winner as you see the change that was made there for North Carolina Victoria picket coming on to replace [Music] Sanchez lco Yeah Ashley Sanchez just hasn't got into this game at all sometimes those things happen you know sometimes it's not your day sometimes a game look out for you mesier has a look hia G ready and waiting takes the shot now has it blocked she's calling for a hand ball sag gorovich and fishlock were the two who came off for Seattle with those changes by the way here is Howell another chance it's right at the crossbar thought it was sailing over but it did indeed require a save in the end from from Casey Murphy wow that was strange because it looked like it was going over and I think if Casey Murphy knew zura Harvey getting the crowd going she feels there on the front foot and you can feel it coming since Jaylen Hal's come into this game had a couple of looks but Casey Murphy I think she have known the ball was going to drop she probably would have tipped it over the bar cuz in the end got quite fortunate but they've certainly taken it to another stepped it up another gear to Seattle [Music] rain or a hard be urging the crowd to get going search of that win number 100 in her career knows her team needs it the nwsl on ESPN is presented by Ally the bank that's your [Applause] ally you can feel the intensity has ratchet it up here for both teams in the last 5 10 minutes or so substitutions sometimes can help you do that bug a teenager maintaining her composure G ready for her moment takes the shot and it's right at Murphy yeah we've seen a lot of moments like that in the game there was moments before where G just dropped her shoulder and cut the defender and got a really good sha that one was just a little bit no legs on it by the time it got to the end but Seattle rain again they've taken it to another level we saw them start the second half really well on the front foot and then there was moments in the game the courage of coming back into it and now you can see the substitutions that have come into the game have really made an [Music] impact just over 10 minutes to go plus stoppage time in this one I'm intrigued to see how jayen how also fits into this team because I think having Quinn there will allow jayen how to be able to go a little bit higher up I think for racing Louisville she often at times had to sit quite flat in as a defensive midfielder when she did play so I'm intrigued to see when you've got that recovery or the cover of Quinn there you can see that jayen Hal can be a little bit higher and have an impact maybe in and around the box and how coming out of Florida state was really one of those players who for some time was considered perhaps to be know the next big defensive midfielder for the US national team she does have five appearances with the us but fallen out of favor love to try to make that up perhaps a fresh start for her just when she needs new environment in Seattle and then alone came came Sam coffee Jen yeah that's [Music] true Howell is playing on four yellow cards should point out so should she pick up another yellow that would force her to miss the next match whenever that [Music] happens pick it out to Windgate Windgate herera oneon-one Windgate herera no she doesn't want any part of that goes down does the job to [Music] defensively more soccer action coming your way on Tuesday as Bay FC takes on back-to-back Champions League winners FC Barcelona that's at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN [Music] plus Shan nahas his brother Damon nahas currently the interim head coach at University of North Carolina the the legend that is Anon Dorrance announcing his retirement earlier this season Mayas Brothers certainly with a strong footing in women's soccer in the state of North [Music] Carolina better chances for Seattle in particular in this second half nothing to show for it though at least not yet Holmes had it taken away by [Music] Vine hers has just been so solid so consistent in the back for North Carolina broke the nwsl record for consecutive minutes played earlier this season it's gone over 7,000 consecutive minutes now for the North Carolina Center [Music] [Applause] back quera over the head of Haida [Music] some fatigue starting to show itself as we get later into the night in Seattle mesier sometimes people can ask you know which team would a win mean more to and I think in these types of moments Seattle rain for sure sitting bottom of the nwsl you know I know Laura Harvey if they if this continues in this way it stays 0 0 and it's a tie therefore it's not a loss but then again they still haven't won and where does that confidence come from so I think if the Seattle R can create even one chance you never know come closed a couple of times Munda seir Captain for Haiti at the World Cup in 2023 Quinn oh it's off the head and out ctt's got her head to it for North Carolina that will set up a corner kick for Seattle what a clearance from Kurds great strike from Quinn but what a clearance from kurs good play again from G one the Ser caused a lot of problems since she's come into the game just in amongst it great strike from Quinn but curs does really well really really well Casey Murphy may have had it covered potentially but it's better to be safe than sorry coach puts herself on the line there crowd setting the tone for this corner kick to come for Seattle first of the second half for the rain they had three in the first half quera to [Music] deliver glatco gets it back see North Carolina ready to make a couple more changes see a few players up for Seattle as well Riley Jackson who's about to head off with the US u20 World Cup team one of the changes along with Meredith spec spec was named the July best 11 had a couple of assists in the summer cup for North Carolina and Riley Jackson 18 years old or second year with North Carolina out of Roswell [Music] Georgia it's good to see that both teams are making substitutions and going for the game nobody's sitting back they're making substitutions that can impact the game cuz sometimes coaches in these moments will be like I want to shut up Shar whereas they're going for it [Music] wera the nwsl on ESPN presented by Ally will continue September 8th be sure to tune in for that one take place from Red Bull Arena Gotham taking on Houston 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2 have a little break and then we'll be with you pretty much every Sunday as we head down the stretch in the regular season in the nwsl [Music] [Music] ball over the top latco will take your time look for reinforcements Howell [Music] there emry Damas the player that we showed you at halftime who has a young girl was so happy to have her picture taken with Megan Rino Rino honored earlier tonight as adamus comes on 18-year-old out of Dallas Texas quite a few appearances this [Applause] season and Olivia Athens the other change 26-year-old in her third year at the club went undrafted in 2021 but wound up earning herself a contract appeared in six matches last year these substitutions from the Seattle ring show me the guy to make a big push in his final moments very attack inm minded types of substitutions I think North Carolina CS have been really organized in this game but they haven't really shown much in the final [Music] [Applause] third hia G making way for the two who just came on adamus and Athens for [Music] Seattle lot of space opening up now teams both getting a little stretched [Music] 90th minute we'll all be watching the stoppage time board see what's left in this [Music] [Music] one how much do you gamble how much do you go if you're either team right now I think right now shaar has accepted it'd be okay getting out with here with a point I think for Laura Harvey Everything's Relative you know before the game kicked off we had one team bottom of the table we have one team in Sixth and I think when you look at this game tonight North Carolina coachs haven't really got going Courtney Vine had a couple of good moments down the right hand side but other than that everything has been in in isolation that was a really good tackle for McLaren in that moment but I think Seattle rain have certainly made the substitutions to go for it but there just hasn't really been many opportunities genen that have been created in the final third where you haven't really seen players going in on goal for a breakaway or you know somebody pulling out and getting a shot of couple of moments where G had that but they were half [Music] chances think of one Zer King had that opportunity where fishlock had it in the box and maybe a bit unselfish could have taken it herself or King could have should have put it away there have been a couple chances probably more so you'd say for Seattle in this match right yeah and I think as well like those moments we saw when Tyler Lucy almost got in the end of it when Courtney Vine should have shot then just fish passing to zerra King we're seeing those moments but we're not seeing them enough I think we've not really seen many much creativity to be able to go towards goal apart from those two moments other than that they've been quite half chances Seattle out shooting North Carolina 14-4 5 to3 On Target in the [Music] [Music] match Quinn oh good quick touch was Adamas who kept it [Applause] [Music] alive with Windgate dropping that deep defensively there was nobody there as an outlet for North [Music] Carolina well played Curts it was good play originally from mesir as well cuz odama is absolutely rocketed in to her and her first touch was really good sure to stick around after the conclusion of this one we got a special football W coming up next Alexis Nunes Ali creger will have you covered [Music] there quera [Music] pick it glance over the shoulder by the captain O [Applause] Sullivan mesir CAU going in the wrong [Applause] direction Quinn picks out Munda seir ball will bounce for [Music] [Applause] lco Athens excuse [Music] me nice Cut numbers in the box but so too is O Sullivan [Music] those two passes from both teams just epitomizes this game both teams unforced errors giving away the ball cheaply when they're on the in the moment where they could go forward I think there's so much turnover in this game and unforced errors it's been so Scrappy I'm just thinking it should be illegal for any game that starts at 10 p.m. scoreless it's just not right maybe that'll change we're at stoppage time you never know I think as well especially for the bright light of this game is the Mega rapino obviously retirement of the Jersey I think that's been something that's been a real positive and something for the fans to come out in and I hope the fans continue to come back for the Seattle [Music] rign New pieces just starting to get in place mundir one of those or n gorovich but watch out here Speck has an open Lane Ln just couldn't get it to her that was the chance that ball had to come sooner spec was down the left hand side and if your wing gate just overran the ball took too many touches and needed to play that ball [Applause] sooner Quinn goes to the the ground back up to their feet as play continues for Seattle goes [Music] across that was a really good ball into the box from latar adame has nearly anticipated and got on the end of it was a fantastic ball in [Music] [Music] ball high headed and off the posst is [Applause] in EM Maria doz finds a way using every bit of the post the goalkeeper doesn't matter the 18-year-old honoring her Hero on Rino's night wow what a story we showed that a halftime gen of adames and Megan rapino when adames was just a kid and now to score this goal what a header it seemed to take an eternity for it to go into the back of the net it looked like Casey Murphy was going to get a touch it's such a good ball in and it's a fantastic header from adamez and I think Laura Harley will be so delighted she made those substitutions it look like Casey Murphy it came back off the post and I didn't see how rain deserved that in the second half with the substitutions that were made was a fantastic ball into the box and a great finish and I love the celebration from adamez doing the mega rapino celebration it's such a great story rapino loves it what a way to finish rapino starts tonight you have to do it you have to do it well done emry adamus meanwhile action happening on the other end second goal of the season for adamus who is getting set to leave to join the US u20 team at the upcoming World Cup in Colombia what a way to go out [Music] new nwsl after dark couldn't disappoint [Music] us Seattle had created the better chances they had looked the more dangerous team and now finally will the nwsl's winning his coach Laura Harvey find her way to win number [Music] 100 she will celebrate you know Laura Harvey's feeling that one as is the Seattle [Music] Team oh