North Carolina Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez delivered a match-winning double as her side overcame the Seattle Reign 3-1 on Saturday night.
The result moved the Courage to a record of six wins, three losses, and three draws on the season, solidifying their place among the NWSL’s top sides.
Seattle’s Sally Menti gave the Reign an early advantage, blasting a cross from Sofia Huerta past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan in the 19th minute.
It was Menti’s first goal of the season, and the Reign, who came into the match with a 4-6-2 record, looked threatening in the early stages.
Sanchez responded swiftly, equalising less than four minutes after the opener to register her eighth goal of the campaign.
North Carolina then capitalised on a penalty opportunity when Seattle’s Madison Curry fouled Ally Schlegel in the box in the 64th minute.
Riley Jackson stepped up and converted the spot kick, putting the Courage ahead 2-1 and shifting the momentum firmly in their favour.
Sanchez added her second of the night in the 71st minute, a goal that moved her ahead of Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga in the league’s scoring charts with nine goals this season.
Sanchez now trails only Orlando’s Barbara Banda, who leads the entire league with 11 goals to her name.
The match had been pushed back an hour from its original start time due to expected high temperatures in the area.
In the other Fourth of July fixture, the San Diego Wave defeated reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC 2-0 to maintain their status as the top team in the league.
Melanie Barcenas opened the scoring for San Diego with a goal celebrated with a tea-sipping tribute to club owner Alex Morgan, who famously produced the same gesture after scoring against England at the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
Trinity Byars then sealed the result in stoppage time, catching Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger well off her line to finish into an empty net.
The Wave improved to a record of nine wins, four losses, and one draw, while Gotham, who signed Australian striker Sam Kerr earlier in the week, dropped to 6-3-3 with Kerr not expected to be available until July 15.
