R. Jackson (48, pen)
Denver Summit Starting XI
Abby Smith, Ayo Oke, Eva Gaetino, Kaleigh Kurtz, Janine Sonis, Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, Devin Lynch, Yuzuki Yamamoto, Tash Flint, Melissa Kössler
North Carolina Courage Starting XI
Kailen Sheridan, Ryan Williams, Natalie Jacobs, Maycee Bell, Felicitas Rauch, Riley Jackson, Shinomi Koyama, Lauryn Thompson, Erica Parkinson, Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh
Denver Summit FC dropped its mid-week matchup 0–2 to the North Carolina Courage in a hard-fought battle at Centennial Stadium. Despite the loss, the match marked a career milestone for Delanie Sheehan, who stepped onto the pitch for her 100th NWSL cap.
How the Action Unfolded
Denver came out aggressively in front of the home crowd. However, North Carolina struck first shortly after halftime when Riley Jackson converted a penalty in the 48th minute to make it 1–0.
Denver pushed hard in search of an equalizer, but the final blow came in the 81st minute from a familiar local face: Colorado native Allyson Schlegel doubled the Courage’s lead with a clean finish to put the match out of reach.
Key Stats & Numbers
While the scoreboard wasn’t in Summit’s favor, Denver created plenty of activity around the box and outshot North Carolina overall:
- Shots: Denver outshot North Carolina 17 to 14.
- Touches in Opposition Box: Summit dominated dangerous area entries with 27 touches in the box compared to North Carolina’s 17.
- Possession: The Courage held the edge in general play with 55% possession to Denver’s 45%.
- Expected Goals (xG): North Carolina was far more clinical with high-value chances, generating 2.49 xG to Denver’s 0.97 xG.
Match Summary
Despite outshooting the North Carolina Courage 17 to 14, Denver Summit FC dropped a hard-fought 0–2 mid-week decision at Centennial Stadium following a second-half penalty and late strike by the visitors.
Next Up: Saturday vs. Utah Royals Denver Summit FC looks to bounce back immediately this Saturday as they take on the Utah Royals at Centennial Stadium—come out to the pitch and support the team as they fight for three crucial home points!