After a sluggish start for NC Courage, they dug themselves out in the second half thanks in part to Diana Rosario Ordoñez's 2 goals to come away with a 3-3 draw.

Both teams started the game with goal attempts, but the Portland Thorns struck first, thanks to Sophia Smith. Sophia’s goal came in the 8th minute when, after a scuffle in the middle of the pitch, she received the ball that was knocked loose. She started going down the field with the ball, passing through 2 defenders and dribbling around, passing it to herself to pass the third defender, where she was eventually alone for an easy goal. Portland continued to insert their dominance by creating more chances. One of those chances came in the 13th minute when Portland got the ball from a turnover. Sophia Smith came away with the ball and then immediately passed the ball to Christine Sinclair, who was covered in every direction, who then passed to Hina Sugita for a left-footed shot denied by Casey Murphey. More problems spilled over for NC Courage as they have trouble avoiding turnovers and keeping possession of the ball. Portland would then go up by two in the 24th minute when a combination of Smith and Sugita would set up a play where Morgan Weaver would wound up putting the ball on the back of the net. 

The Courage looked to regain control of the game in the second half after an abysmal first half. After a goal attempt by Diana Ordoñez failed and was blocked by Casey Murphey, North Carolina was awarded a free kick. Carson Picket took the free kick and this time, Ordoñez did not miss as he headed the ball into the back of the net. Portland would try to make it 3-1 in the 68th minute but Christine Sinclair, off of a corner kick, the header was blocked by Casey Murphey. Ordoñez kept on with the pressure and tried to score in the 71st minute when she received a corner, but it was exactly a player later where she scored her second goal of the game almost in the same exact way she scored her first. Her goal came from a cross by Ryan Williams. Sophia Smith, displeased with the score, came away with her second goal of the game in the 77th minute when she received a through ball from Olivia Lynn Moultrie while running past three defenders and dribbling around the goalkeeper for a goal. It was Portland’s turn to score again and they did in the 85th minute when Jaelene Daniels scored off her own rebound that was initially saved by Murphey but she could secure the ball. 

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Jackie Shinstrom]

Written by Wes Shepherd