Houston Dash v North Carolina Courage 0-2-2/4-0-1 3:30 PM EST In the Lifetime Game of the Week, Houston GK Jane Campbell faces off against the league’s most potent offense, an eight-headed monster of variable scoring options (McCall Zerboni, Crystal Dunn and Jessica McDonald all have two goals, while Debhina, Lynn Williams and last week’s GOTW Merritt Mathias all have 1.) Houston hasn’t scored since their first game of the season, but will have former Golden Boot Kealia Ohai back for regular duty, who should help Nichelle Prince spread the defense’s attention.
Washington Spirit v Chicago Red Stars 1-2-1/2-1-2 7:00 PM EST Washington GK Aubrey Bledsoe has twice as many saves as the #2 on the list. She’s been having a good year, but probably would appreciate either some defensive help or the team’s weighty roster of offensive stars to begin producing. Mallory Pugh and Francesca Ordega both have marked two goals for the Spirit, but the team hasn’t played to potential. Chicago’s Sofia Huerta is the current POTW and, in the ongoing absence of Julie Ertz, Casey Short, and Stephanie McCaffrey (at least from regular duty) there may be a slight bump when last year’s MVP Samantha Kerr, fresh from international duty, makes her Chicago debut.
Orlando Pride v Seattle Reign FC 1-2-1/2-1-0 7:30 PM EST Orlando earned their first win of the season last week against an underpowered Dash. This week they host playoff contender Seattle. Orlando, even counting Kerr in Chicago, may get the most bump from returning internationals to fill in an unproductive midfield. Sydney Leroux has been running wild as a holding striker, playing a two-way game that often gets her pulled too far out. Seattle’s Jess Fishlock is always dangerous, and with Megan Rapinoe out, they’ll need her to be at the top of her game to put pressure on a physical Orlando defense. Their pace could be the doom of Orlando in this one.
Utah Royals FC v Portland Thorns FC 0-1-3/2-1-1 9:00 PM EST Utah’s draw-heavy record shows what a defense alone will get you in today’s NWSL. They’ve lacked any counter to the inevitable goal every team will give up on occasion, especially in the year of post-Breakers loaded rosters. Portland looks like the most well-rounded team again this year, with solid players everywhere on the field and Christine Sinclair leading the league in goals (4). They will give up goals, but they’ll also score them. Coach Laura Harvey said Utah GK Abby Smith is her #1, but Smith might be willing to share with Nicole Barnhart as this one winds along. Portland should have the rest of their internationals back. Utah will once again rely on the passing game trying to spring a speedy forward and eventually Becky Saurebrunn will carry the ball ¾ of the field and make us wonder why she doesn’t try that more, but it’s an uphill battle for Utah unless someone can score.
The NWSL: Top Performances is a weekly series looking at the top three goalkeeping, defensive, and attacking performances each week. Week four of the NWSL was full of tight matchups, with only one match ending by more than a one goal differential. Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher, and Sabrina D’Angelo each added another clean sheet to their seasons, while North Carolina Courage and Sky Blue FC found late equalizers in their weekend matchups. In total, there were six games in week four, with a total of 13 goals scored.
These were the week four matches:
North Carolina Courage vs. Seattle Reign (1-0)
Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash (3-0)
Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit (1-1)
North Carolina Courage vs. Utah Royals (2-2)
Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue (1-1)
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash (1-0)
Top Three Goalkeepers:
Alyssa Naeher— A late goal from Savannah McCaskill stopped Naeher from getting a clean sheet in both her matches this week, but her performances proved why she is one of the best goalkeepers in this league. She made three saves in the match against Sky Blue, including one that earned her an NWSL Save of the Week nomination. Naeher was ultimately unable to stop McCaskill’s shot that deflected off one of her defenders, but her saves in the second-half of the match against Sky Blue may have kept her team from dropping more points.
Abby Smith— Smith made some questionable decisions in Utah’s match against the North Carolina Courage, but she was ultimately able to make up for it with some fantastic saves. In the 48th minute, Smith came out to take a free kick near midfield. The ball was intercepted by North Carolina, and Smith had to run back to her net and blocked a shot from Jessica McDonald. Ten minutes later, Smith had another brilliant save off a strong shot from Kristen Hamilton. A costly mistake towards the end of the game led to a goal from Crystal Dunn and a draw for the Royals, but Smith definitely had many strong moments in this match.
Aubrey Bledsoe—Bledsoe had a few good moments in Friday night’s match against the Portland Thorns, but it was her penalty save in the 87th minute that earns her the number three slot this week. When going after the ball, Bledsoe slid into Emily Sonnett and the referee awarded Sonnett a penalty kick. Bledsoe had already allowed a penalty by Christine Sinclair earlier in the game, but this time Bledsoe saved the shot off her foot and helped her team earn a point on the road.
Top Three Defenders:
Taylor Comeau— Comeau played the full 90 minutes in both matches for the Chicago Red Stars this week. She played a critical role in those two matches, shutting down offensive chances for both Houston and Sky Blue. Her best moment of the week came towards the end of the match against the Houston Dash, when she slid to stop Nichelle Prince from going one-on-one against Naeher.
Estelle Johnson—The Portland Thorns are not an easy offense to keep at bay, but the Washington Spirit sent the message early on that they weren’t going to let the Thorns run away with this match. Johnson played a critical role in getting that point across when she made a massive stop in the 12th minute. Ifeoma Onumonu made a run down the pitch, but Johnson chased her down and made an excellent slide tackle that stripped Onumonu of the ball. The Spirit defense wasn’t perfect that match, but they did shut down the likes of Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair.
Erica Skroski—In the 48th minute of Sky Blue’s match against Chicago, the Red Stars had an opportunity to go up 2-0. Michele Vasconcelos tried to break away with the ball, looking to go one-on-one with Kailen Sheridan, but a nice slide tackle from Skroski kept Vasconcelos from taking her shot.
Top Three Attackers:
Merritt Mathias—Mathias’s goal for the North Carolina Courage in the match against the Utah Royals was enough to make SportsCenter’s Top 10. In the sixth minute of the match, Mathias opened up scoring with a beautiful shot from about 30 yards out. After a corner kick was cleared out of the 18-yard box, the ball rolled to Mathias’ feet and she launched the ball into the top corner. The goal was the best offensive play of the week, and set the Courage up for a draw against the Utah Royals.
Sofia Huerta—Huerta also played the full 90 minutes of both matches for the Chicago Red Stars this week and walked away with two goals and ten total shots on goal. Her goal in the 6th minute of the match against Sky Blue was a beauty. She launched her shot from outside the 18-yard box and beat Kailen Sheridan at the far post. Her goal against the Houston Dash in the 74th minute sealed their victory and gave her some satisfaction after multiple close shots.
Savannah McCaskill— McCaskill scored her first NWSL goal over the weekend and it came at a critical time. Chicago went up 1-0 early in that match thanks to an impressive goal from Sofia Huerta. But McCaskill equalized in the 78th minute for Sky Blue. Kaitlyn Johnson sent the ball to her just outside of the 18-yard box and she took a moment to settle the ball before taking her shot. The ball bounced off Taylor Comeau and past Alyssa Naeher. It was McCaskill’s first goal in her NWSL career and the first goal for Sky Blue FC this season.
Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.
McKenzie Meehan is in her second season with Sky Blue FC. She was the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 draft.
Birthdate: 12/25/1994… My twin sister and I were born a month early on Christmas morning!
Nickname from teammates: Kenz or Kenzie
Hometown: Glocester, RI
Age started playing: I started playing with my sister in Smithfield, RI when we were six.
College/major: Boston College; majored in economics for my undergraduate degree and finance for my MBA
Career aspirations after soccer: I’m definitely still undecided, but I think it would be cool to workwithin the business side of the sports industry.
Why did you pick your particular uniform #: My dad wore #2 when he played college hockey at Yale University. He passed away while I was in college, so when I had the opportunity to be #2 for Sky Blue FC, I thought it would be a great honor.
Pregame meal: I like to eat chicken, pasta or rice, and fruit or a smoothie.
Workout music: Top 40/Pop but I like a bit of everything.
Favorite cartoon character: Tweety and Goofy
Fave movie: Pursuit of Happiness, The Blind Side
Fave actress: Jennifer Aniston
Hidden talent: Umm nothing really! I can do handstands
Mentor (in soccer or life): My mom
Fave charity/cause: Special Olympics and Make-A-Wish Foundation
Life motto: Enjoy the journey
Superstitions: I don’t really have many superstitions compared to when I was younger, but I like to juggle before warm-up to get focused and I like to do a few jumps before the game starts to loosen up.
Pets: None currently, but I grew up with two cats named Nora and Oreo.
If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why? Hmm, I would probably choose Katie Johnson because even though we’re very competitive, I think we’d still be able to have a lot of fun!
If you had your own reality show, what would it be called? I have no idea because I would never want to have a reality tv show!
RJ and Lindsay talk about week four of the NWSL and all 6 games that were played. They offer a fair or foul on Orlando’s attendance and who might be happiest to have their internationals back.
North Carolina has a 4-0-0 record and seven goals and I’m still inclined to discuss underperformance. Four goals came when needed against a scoring Spirit team, but the other three have been one-goal games, with two of those being late and very late by undervalued Jessica McDonald. Now they’ve handed Seattle their first loss (2-1-0) to stand atop the table. In the first of their games this week, Sam Mewis returned to action, and Abby Dahlkemper’s consecutive minutes streak, stretching back to Ye Olde Women’s League of 1865 came to an end.
Seattle were a blasé pinot gris without Megan Rapinoe. They had chances by Yanez and Dallstream, but couldn’t solve the backline of Erceg and rookie Kaleigh “Colonel” Kurtz, much less goalkeeper Sabrina DeAngelo. Kristen Hamilton had an assist and a yellow, which is a goal short of the McCall Zerboni Hat Trick. Michele Betos had four saves for Seattle.
Chicago 3-0 Houston 2-1-1/0-1-2
I was prepared to write that Chicago has been anemic, but Stephanie McCaffrey’s return might be a needed boost. Once again she was a late-game sub, plus the Red Stars scored two and benefited from an early own goal, and my predictive powers are, as that more popular pundit show says, suboptimal. In the seventh minute, Kristie Mewis beat her own keeper. Four disorganized minutes later, Lauren Kaskie put the Red Stars up two, and last remaining flagship star Sofia Huerta made it 3-0 in the 74th minute on a Colaprico assist. Each team has two yellows, so at least Houston is keeping pace in one category, but no shots on goal is a scary stat for them. The odd part is this was their first loss, 0-1-2, while Chicago rises to 2-1-1.
Portland 1-1 Washington 2-1-1/1-1-2
The stan review: Tobin’s back. Squuuuuueeeeeeeee.
The official review: Britt Eckerstrom started in net with Franch on the injury list. The first Washington goal, credited to Francisca Ordega (37′), involved roughly 45 Thorns players standing in the box staring at an errant deflection until it ended in the net. The Thorns tied it in first-half stoppage time on a Christine Sinclair PK following a Caprice Dydasco foul on Ifeoma Onumonu, who was a pressuring presence most of the game. Midge (I’m so old I can remember when she was “Margaret”) Purce was a constant threat on the outside for the Thorns, but their plans never played out. Washington keeper Aubrey Bledsoe saved a PK by Lindsay Horan later in the game to cement her credentials as “former backup.” Emily Sonnett is probably still yelling.
North Carolina 2-2 Utah 4-0-1/0-1-3
The goalkeeper howlers in this game defy my limited ability to report. Wait for your coach to play this game as a tutorial in how not to defend if you’d like. In the sixth minute, Merritt Mathias scored on a legit strike from somewhere near downtown Chapel Hill. That ended the reputable goals portion of this game. Utah tied it in the 52nd (Katie Stengel), pulled ahead in the 66th (Brittany Ratcliffe, who also had a yellow card on her McCall Zerboni Hat Trick attempt), and Crystal Alyssia Dunn tied it in the 80th. Seriously, though…if I’m relying on the NWSL website to report players how they would like to be reported, there needs to be some attention to the site using the right names. Apparently, Crystal Dunn has decided to use her middle name and the Brazilians have all added to their names. In less ranty news, Samantha Mewis returned for North Carolina after a long injury layoff, Abby Dahlkemper had a pregame profile that made me scared oftoe injuries and both keepers will remain unnamed for their protection.
Chicago 1-1 Sky Blue Football Club of New Jersey 2-1-2/0-2-1
It’s major news that Sky Blue got their first point of the season and it’s utterly confusing how Chicago, coming off a 3-0 win and with Sofia Huerta scoring in the first minute ,ended up tying. Savannah McCaskill scored for SBFCNJ in the 78th minute, assisted by Katlyn Johnson who may or may not be the Mexican national mainstay Katie Johnson, given the similarity of the NWSL website rosters to Witness Protection portfolios. Chicago’s Alyssa Mautz continued her playmaking streak, assisting on Huerta’s goal. CSI:SBFCNJ:SUV midfielder Carli Lloyd gets unofficial credit for drawing attention away from McCaskill, freeing her for the shot. Alyssa Naeher had three saves for Chicago and Kailen Sheridan saved five for Sky Blue.
Orlando 1-0 Houston 1-2-1/0-2-2
Orlando gets their first win of the season on a 65th-minute Chioma Ubogagu header off a Christine Nairn free kick. Orlando pressured hard all game, pushing the ball forward to the waiting Alex Morgan or a hard-running two way Sydney Leroux. Orlando repeatedly pressed Kristie Mewis’s side without success, which was okay by me as that’s where I sat in the first half. Houston keeper Jane Campbell had a strong save on Ali Krieger late in the second off a corner kick. In returning player news, Kealia Ohai made her season debut for the last thirty, shaking free from a tight checking defense a couple of times, but not connecting on any chances.
We all know that the North Carolina Courage are great. They are dynamic, driven, and talented. No one is denying that. In fact, it is the exact opposite. People are talking about them as though they are untouchable. This week on The Scouting Report it was even stated that they could have a chance at going undefeated this season. Whether that is true or not still remains to be seen, but there is something about this team that makes us hope that they could. Could this be the NWSL’s version of the 1972 Miami Dolphins? It could be, but it is likely not possible for any team—there are a lot of variables and factors that come into play throughout the course of the season. No team is untouchable.
Here are five simple reasons why North Carolina isn’t the exception:
1. Complacency
Like any great sports team, there will be moments when their guard will be down. When they are so confident in their abilities that what seems like the simplest of games can turn into a team’s worst nightmare. These are moments of complacency—when all the kinks are worked out, and the team is running like a well-oiled machine, but the issue becomes another team running faster. North Carolina has a fantastic mental game and outlook on the season. I mean, even their slogan for this year is #nofinishline. But anyone who has ever run a long-distance race will tell you that some miles will be better than others. You get into a groove, you grow content, you slow down, you recognize the change, and then you speed back up. The same will most likely happen for North Carolina. They will hit a rough patch at some point—even if for just a game—and then they will come back with the forcefulness we all know they possess.
2. Peak Too Soon
As can be seen with so many teams throughout the history of the game, sometimes teams just peak too soon. Look at the Chicago Red Stars last season. There was a moment when they looked so dominant that it was said that they would definitely win the NWSL Championship… and that didn’t happen. They peaked too soon. It may not happen to North Carolina. There are a lot of factors that come into play. But it can be said that they came into this season in much better form than any other team. They are working as a cohesive unit, while other teams are still trying to find all the parts.
3. The Injury Bug
No team is safe from the injury bug! North Carolina doesn’t have Sam Mewis right now because of it. And statistically speaking, Sam Mewis’s current injury probably will not be the last for the club this year, because things happen. Things that are outside of anyone’s control. It’s why no team can ever be considered untouchable. And when players have to sit out and are no longer an option, it can create holes that other teams are able to exploit. North Carolina doesn’t have a bad bench to replace from, but it isn’t necessarily Portland’s. And not all of the skillsets of players are interchangeable. No one else on the team can do what McCall Zerboni can do. No one else on the team can do what Crystal Dunn can do. So, if major a major injury occurs, that can sometimes mean a major change in playing strategy, and that can take some getting used to.
4. Rosters At Full Strength
I put forth earlier that North Carolina is playing considerably better than the other teams. They are a collective force, while other teams haven’t quite gotten there. But the other teams are working toward that, and they are getting better. They are also going to be getting a lot more talent once their rosters are at full strength. Take Chicago for example. They have won two games this season, but they have done so without Julie Ertz, Danielle Colaprico, and Sam Kerr. Orlando is currently missing Marta, Poliana, and Alanna Kennedy. So comparing North Carolina’s roster to that of other teams definitely bodes well for the Courage, but things may change once other teams have their complete arsenals at their disposal.
5. Self-Infliction
When a team is really good it is often said that something is “theirs to lose.” And for North Carolina, that certainly could be the case with regards to the potential punishment for not releasing Debinha back to Brazil for her international duty on time. The facts surrounding the situation are still a bit hazy, but the fact of the matter is that Debinha played in the March 31 match against Sky Blue when she should not have. No punishment has come down yet, but it would be a shame if North Carolina were to lose three points because of failure to follow the rules. It is these types of mistakes that are completely avoidable. It is what can take a spotless season and give it an asterisk.
There are plenty of scenarios in which North Carolina can be beaten—just like any team in this league can be beaten. Sure, they are stronger than most. They are focused, and headstrong, and extremely skilled. They are the complete package as of right now. But things can change in this league and in this game very quickly. That’s why it isn’t advised to count one team out, or to tally the win before the final whistle. Lots of things can occur, and the players are only human. No one is indestructible. No one is untouchable. Not even North Carolina.
It’s safe to say that the Boston Breakers folding changed EJ Proctor’s life.
The newly drafted goalkeeper seemed to be entering a great situation—competing with and learning from Nicole Barnhart—but after Utah selected Abby Smith in the Boston dispersal draft, it shifted the deck significantly, leaving Proctor without a contract or any kind of certainty.
But Proctor is goalkeeper. And goalkeepers like challenges that most of us would shrink away from. She’s also no stranger to working hard for a starting spot. She came to Duke as a walk-on, only to win the starting job in a breakout sophomore season. Her career at Duke culminated in 2017, when she posted a school record 18 clean sheets. In that season, her goals against average was .379, good enough to be ranked sixth nationally.
Roscoe Myrick/Utah Royals FC
I spoke to Proctor recently, to get her perspective on that experience: “At first I was honestly just like, ‘okay, this is going to very much change my situation there,’ so it’s a little bit intimidating. But you know, I just look at it like my job is to make the coaches question who is one, two and three every day. And that was kind of the situation I went into my freshman year at Duke, I went in as a walk-on. There was a senior and a fifth-year so I was kind of always the young inexperienced one… But yeah, I mean, it obviously sucks. Had she not been drafted, I probably would have had a contract. But it’s good that she’s someone else to learn from who’s good, who’s different from Barnie (Nicole Barnhart) and myself, so I just try to look at the good things.”
When it comes to situations beyond an individual player’s control, it’s not just the Boston effect. The broader reality is that there just aren’t enough spots on NWSL rosters. With limited roster sizes, it’s only really been practical to carry two keepers. For Proctor, quite understandably, that’s not ideal. “Honestly, a lot of teams, you want three goalkeepers, because it opens up so many different drills, the flow of things. It helps a lot. Right now Barnie’s coming back. If Abby was to get hurt, how would that work?”
For keepers coming out of college, the options are limited. Obviously, NWSL squads want to have depth at the position, but given roster constrains and a glut of solid keepers already in the league, that doesn’t leave much space. Occasionally, a graduate will break through, but more often they’re put in the position of staying in market without a contract. Of course, no contract means no pay, which is a tough pill to swallow. “I graduated from Duke and I don’t have an income,” Proctor told me.
If Proctor was on contract she would make at least the league minimum, $15,750 for the season. That’s not a lot, but it’s a lot more than nothing. Still, Proctor said, “they pay for living expenses. So I don’t really have any expenses to worry about. It’s just more like how I know I need to save this amount of money a month… And so I do stress about it a lot.”
Even these limited benefits highlight another feature of the league: the different accommodations provided by different teams. As the Salt Lake Tribune’s Christopher Kamrani reported, Dell Loy Hansen has gone above and beyond existing standards. That’s partly because he was “allowed to spend an extra $100,000 on housing” due to the quick turnaround on establishing the team. Kamrani says that “Most of the team lives in fully furnished apartments near Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. Club sponsor Maverik donated $100 monthly gas cards, while Ford took a leap and gave 10 cars for the team to split this season.”
Proctor, the youngest in the Royals pool at just 22, has been rooming with former Sky Blue and Portland Thorns player Kendall Johnson. At 26, Johnson has to be considered almost into middle age in NWSL terms. Proctor says that rooming with Johnson has been a good fit: “We actually get along really well so it’s been nice. Lucked out with that. I didn’t really know anything about her when I found out that she was going to be my roommate, but we balance out very well.”
For any player, moving across the country to a new environment is going to be tough. Proctor is no different in that regard. But while she certainly would like to be closer to her family, it’s not the two-legged ones that she misses the most. It’s her dogs. When she made a trip back to North Carolina a few weeks ago she was met at the airport with the two pups. “Oh my gosh, I was so thrilled, they were at the airport when I got home super late. They always make me feel so loved, one was jumping out of the car to get to me. So that was great. I sob whenever I have to say bye to them because my parents, my brother and my grandma will be out here this weekend for a home opener. So I see all of them, but the dogs, it’s like, ‘I don’t I know when I’ll see you again!’”
Transitions are difficult, but Proctor did say that she’s found it easy to fit into the keeper’s union she’s joined. While she would obviously prefer to be starting, she says that working behind Smith and Barnhart has been a great experience. “Barnie’s funny, you know she doesn’t say much. But she’s always just kind of laughs and she’s just fun to be around. And then Abby’s just kind of very lighthearted, always in a good mood. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, so we mix well personality-wise and goalkeeping-wise as well. I think there’s kind of a good variety to us.”
Proctor also confirmed what we all pretty much already knew: it’s good to have Becky Sauerbrunn as your captain—partly due to her leadership qualities, but also for her sense of humor. “Becky is so funny and sarcastic. I honestly can say I respect her more than anyone I’ve ever played with, but she’s the most sarcastic person and I love it because I would’ve never thought that was there.”
Roscoe Myrick/Utah Royals FC
What is life like for a keeper trying to play her way into the team? Not very exciting most of the time, it turns out. For all that being a professional athlete implies moments of glory, the truth is that your average day is pretty mundane. According to Proctor, her day is organized around training. “So our trainings are either at 9:15 AM or 11 AM. Most of the time they’ve been at 11 so we usually have to be at the stadium around like 9:30 or 9:45, unless we have treatment. Have breakfast there, have our meetings, have band activation, and go to training until 12:30 or 12:45. Then come back to the stadium, shower or whatever, post-practice things you need to do, and then usuallyaround 2:00 or so is when we get home. I would either do my extra workout stuff in the morning because I get up early, so I do that before training, or right after at the weight room. And then a couple of nights weekly I’ll coach kids.”
When Proctor isn’t practicing, watching game tape, or coaching youth players, she can be found watching sports. But it isn’t always soccer that grabs her attention. “I probably watch just as much basketball as I do soccer, if not more. March Madness is one of my favorites. There’s just always some basketball to watch. That was always great for me to go to at Duke, because I didn’t care that our football team wasn’t that great, but basketball—always fun.”
As the Utah season rolls on, it’s still unknown whether Proctor will be put on a contract or be given a chance to step between the pipes for the Royals. But for now the young goalkeeper is working on what she can control. As Proctor put it, right now her job is to give her coaches a new perspective on their goalkeeping options.
If Boston hadn’t folded, I don’t know what happens. Proctor might have found herself in goal on opening day. Maybe Barnhart is rushed back onto the field and Proctor is on the bench. Maybe a trade is made for someone else and Smith comes anyway.
Things happen in the span of a heartbeat inside a game. If the NWSL sees Proctor in goal this year, she’ll be ready. Overcoming the odds, from walking on at Duke to taking her team to the final four more than once, is kind of her thing.
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