**CARY, N.C.** – The North Carolina Courage and San Diego Wave FC battled to a scoreless draw on Saturday night, with neither team able to break the deadlock in the end but instead earning a point ahead of the final week of the regular season. North Carolina’s Narumi Miura and Kerolin were not without chances on the night, but in the end San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and her defense did enough to preserve the clean sheet.
Though both teams took their time to produce quality in front of goal, the match picked up in a big way with a chance for North Carolina midfielder Narumi Miura in the 27 ^th minute. Miura had received a pass inside the box on the left side where she was able to step into space in front of goal and fire a shot toward San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Miura got a shot away with the outside of her right boot, but just as it was going to careen over the line at the far post, San Diego defender Madison Pogarch was in perfect position to head the ball off the line and end the threat.
An otherwise uneventful first half saw the sides balance their attacking chances as neither team were willing to take or give too much space as they grappled throughout the half. At the break, though, neither team were able to break the deadlock as Miura’s shot came closest.
Into the second half, North Carolina produced a second great look on goal on the night just before the hour mark as forward Kerolin nearly snuck a volley under Sheridan to open the scoring. The Brazilian was making the most forward lying run following a free kick from the left side, and the delivery sailed over everyone toward Kerolin at the back post. Kerolin then managed to get her right foot under the ball and get enough good contact to send it toward goal, but Sheridan got down in time to prevent it from sneaking under and in in the end.
Then, in the 67 ^th minute, Kerolin was back at it again as she was on free kick duty for the Courage about 23 yards out from goal, just to the right of the center of the field. Always a threat in front of goal, Kerolin managed to get her shot up and over the wall, but as it sailed toward goal Sheridan made the necessary shift in her footwork to dive to her left and parry the ball away in the end.
San Diego did have an opportunity of goal of their own in the 71 ^st minute as forward Alex Morgan got forward, but North Carolina goalkeeper Casey Murphy did enough to make a solid save and neutralize the threat in the end. Morgan was on the ball in the box to the left when she opened up her foot and attempted to curl her shot around Murphy to the far post. However, the goalkeeper did well to position herself and collect the ball with both hands and end the move.
At the sound of the fulltime whistle, neither side were able to find a result-defining goal but instead settled for a point a piece, an ending that leaves plenty to be desired but puts all eyes on next week’s regular season finale.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights