**Cary, North Carolina** – San Diego Wave FC travelled to the home of the North Carolina Courage on Sunday afternoon and now head back to the West Coast with three points in the bag as Alex Morgan’s 41 ^st minute finish lifted the visitors to a win at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Just five minutes in, North Carolina had a golden look at goal as they looked to spring into the lead. Running down the right side of the field was midfielder Debinha, and having been played into the penalty area, the Brazilian did well to take the pass in stride but could not ultimately fire a shot on goal as the visiting Wave defense took a breath.
An action-packed first half for San Diego forward Alex Morgan began in the 22 ^nd minute when the American was able to threaten the North Carolina backline with a chance of her own. In the center of the penalty area, Morgan was able to squeeze between a pair of Courage defenders and meet a lofted cross just a few yards out from goal. However, though she made solid contact with the ball, her headed effort landed just wide of the left-sided post and out of play.
Then, in the 40 ^th minute, North Carolina again looked lively as defender Carson Pickett did well to win the ball back in her own attacking third and pick out teammate Diana Ordoñez with a cross at the back post. Like previous attempts for both sides, though, Ordoñez’s headed was high and over the goal as the chance went begging.
That chance would prove costly, too, because not one minute later did Alex Morgan open the scoring for San Diego with a calm finish in the 41 ^st minute. A splitting through pass from midfielder Taylor Kornieck found the run of Morgan in between two defenders down the center of the field. Then in behind, Morgan did well to drag the ball across the left side of her body and produce a left-footed effort that sailed past Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy and in for the lead.
At the halftime interval, both sides created several opportunities, but it was Morgan’s goal for San Diego that stood as both the lone tally and the only shot on target in a back-and-forth encounter.
Into the second half, the two sides traded chances as San Diego’s Tegan McGrady had a powerful drive saved by Murphy in the 51 ^st minute before Debinha again had a go at goal only for San Diego netminder Kailen Sheridan to prevent the goal with a low save in the 56 ^th minute.
However, the closest opportunity for the Courage in the second 45 minutes came via a direct free kick in the 76 ^th minute approximately 25 yards out from goal. Debinha, who was a constant for the hosts throughout, stepped over the ball and produced a beautiful curling effort that ended up closer to the goalkeeper’s side than the other option. The effort sailed through the air and attempted to dip back down, but ultimately could not land inside the frame of goal as North Carolina’s search for an equalizer continued.
The final chance for North Carolina came in the 83 ^rd minute, again through Debinha, as Brianna Pinto laid a ball off for the Brazilian on the left flank for her to run onto. The pass led Debinha to curling a right-footed shot that could not end up bending back toward goal enough to beat Sheridan.
In the end, North Carolina fell to San Diego by a lone Alex Morgan goal, leaving the Courage winless in there attempts (3L) while the visiting Wave FC are propelled to four wins of the season taking 12 points from 15 possible in their opening five regular season matches.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights