A Hat Trick That Shifted Momentum
The North Carolina Courage recorded a convincing 5-0 win over the Orlando Pride on Friday night, ending a three‑game winless run that had left their playoff hopes in doubt. It was also the only National Women's Soccer League match scheduled for Friday evening.
Evelyn Ijeh was the centerpiece of the attack, notching a hat trick that began with a clinical finish in the 12th minute, continued with a swift header before halftime, and capped the performance with a well‑placed strike in the 70th minute. Her three goals gave her seven goals and two assists in her last eight games.
Lauryn Thompson opened the scoring in the fourth minute with her first career goal, while Ashley Sanchez added her team‑leading 10th goal of the season in stoppage time, underscoring the depth of the Courage’s offense.
Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan preserved the clean sheet with two saves, ensuring the Pride were unable to mount any meaningful response.
Banda’s Absence and the Bigger Picture
Barbra Banda, the league’s top scorer, was unavailable for Orlando after featuring for Zambia at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, a factor that may have contributed to the Pride’s lack of firepower.
The win improves the Courage to 7‑6‑3 on the season and marks their first victory in over a week, a timely boost as they prepare for a congested schedule.
With the victory, the Courage climb back into contention, while the Pride will look to regroup after a heavy defeat that leaves them outside the top tier of the standings.