2018 North Carolina Courage season


The 2018 North Carolina Courage season is the team's second season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States. On August 5th, the Courage clinched the 2018 NWSL Shield for the second consecutive season after a 2–1 win over Portland. The Courage finished the 2018 regular season with only 1 loss and broke the record for most wins in a season, most points and most goals.
On September 22nd North Carolina defeated the Portland Thorns 3-0 to win the 2018 NWSL Championship and completed one of the most successful seasons for a professional women's soccer team in the United States.

Team

Coaching Staff

PositionStaff
Head Coach Paul Riley
Assistant Coach Scott Vallow
Assistant Coach Bill Paladino
Assistant Coach Sean Nahas
Assistant Coach Nathan Thackeray

First-team roster

Player transactions

[2018 NWSL College Draft]

RoundPickPlayerPrevious Team
Round 110FWPenn State
Round 220MFUniversity of Colorado
Round 438DFDuke University
Round 439DFYale University
Round 440Ryan WilliamsDFTCU

In

DatePlayerPositions playedPrevious clubFee/notesRef.
January 16, 2018 Crystal DunnFW Chelsea F.C.Rights were acquired in trade with the Washington Spirit.
January 30, 2018 Julie KingDF Boston BreakersAcquired during Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft
January 30, 2018 Allysha ChapmanDF Boston BreakersAcquired during Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft
January 31, 2018 Merritt MathiasDF Seattle ReignAcquired in a trade with the Seattle Reign in exchange for North Carolina's first round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. The Courage also received Seattle's second round pick in 2019.
June 28, 2018 Heather O'ReillyMF ArsenalSigned after rights were acquired in trade with Utah Royals FC

Out

DatePlayerPositions playedDestination clubFee/notesRef.
October 23, 2017 Stephanie OchsFWPlaced on the Re-Entry Wire after the 2017 Season, wasn't claimed by another team.
January 16, 2018 Taylor SmithDF Washington SpiritTraded to the Washington Spirit in exchange for the rights to Crystal Dunn.
January 16, 2018 Ashley HatchFW Washington SpiritTraded to the Washington Spirit in exchange for the rights to Crystal Dunn.
May 9, 2018 Allysha ChapmanDF Houston DashTraded to the Houston Dash in exchange for the Houston's first round draft pink in the 2019 NWSL College Draft
June 28, 2018 Makenzy DoniakFW Utah Royals FCTraded to Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Heather O'Reilly.

Competitions

National Women's Soccer League

Preseason

Regular season

Postseason playoffs

League table

Results by round

International friendlies

As defending 2017 Shield winners and playoff finalists, the Courage were selected to participate in the inaugural Women's International Champions Cup. They defeated French side Paris Saint-Germain Women in the semi-final round and French side and defending UEFA Women's Champions League titleholders Lyon Women in the final at Miami Garden's Hard Rock Stadium to become the first ever champions of the event.

Statistics

Appearances

Goalscorers

Last updated: September 22, 2018.
Source: [|Competitive matches]

Honors and awards

NWSL Season Awards

MonthGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsRef.
March Jaelene Hinkle Debinha Crystal Dunn
April Jaelene Hinkle Crystal Dunn
McCall Zerboni		 Jessica McDonald
May Abby Erceg McCall Zerboni Crystal Dunn
June Abby Erceg
Merritt Mathias		 McCall Zerboni Crystal Dunn
July Abby Erceg McCall Zerboni
August Abby Erceg Lynn Williams

[NWSL Player of the Month]

[NWSL Player of the Week]

[NWSL Goal of the Week]

[NWSL Save of the Week]