Down a Player, Up Three Points

The NC Courage grind out a 1-0 win away at Houston Dash, playing more than 20 minutes a player down after Ally Schlegel's red card. Trevor and Katie break down the win at Houston and look ahead to Kansas City at home. In This Episode Looking Back: NC Courage vs Houston Dash Ashley Sanchez is inevitable, Manaka Matsukubo delivers another moment of magic, and the back four put in one of their best collective performances of the season. We break down how the Courage ground out three points away from home with ten players. Standout Stats Equal shots at 16 each, but Houston managed just two on target versus our eight. We dig into what that gap tells us about how the match was really won. Looking Ahead: KC Current Kansas City has the most goals allowed in the league and no clean sheets, but they have the offensive firepower to hurt anyone with Temwa Chawinga, Croix Bethune, and Lo’eau LaBonta leading the way. We break down how the Courage can exploit their defensive struggles and share our picks for the starting XI. Courage News A packed international break with Manaka Matsukubo, Riley Jackson, Evelyn Ijeh, Kailen Sheridan, Carly Wickenheiser, and Lauren Thompson all in action. We run through the results, the highlights, and what stood out. Plus, Chioma Okafor shares her thoughts on her NWSL debut. Around the League Jess Fishlock goes down with an injury after announcing her final season and we're hoping for the best for her. Columbus and Atlanta join the NWSL as the next expansion teams in 2028. And the debate over switching to a European calendar is heating up, so we share our takes. About The Lion’s Pitch Podcast Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way. New episode drops every Thursday. Subscribe & Follow Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary Produced by Mary Pruter Edited by Danielle Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.