by Alyce Collett (3/8/26)
Above: Evelyn Ijeh was the star of the show for North Carolina on Friday night, scoring a hattrick against Orlando. Photo: Lewis Gettier.
Friday night saw the North Carolina Courage snap their three match losing streak in a big way, thrashing the Orlando Pride 5-0 at home.
Reflecting to the media post match on the match that had transpired, Courage coach Mak Lind said that his first thought was that he was ”happy that we finally can bounce back.”
“The way we did it was incredible. [To] score five goals in front of the home fans is huge for us.
“Honestly, I think that could be even more goals. Sounds weird to say it, but there was great goal scoring opportunities, many positive things today. LT [Lauryn Thompson] makes her first goal, EJ hat trick, and historical, the first Swedish first hat-trick in the league….
“The way the game looked like, we were very intense, aggressive in the high press. We took the ball so many times in offensive half. Transitions, we created many good goal scoring opportunities. Offensively more controlled, more moving the ball with intent. [There was] a higher speed this game than the previous games, which makes us dangerous.”
One of the key things Lind has been talking about in the media for a number of weeks is how he wants his side to play a very energetic and attacking style of play, which really came together against the Pride.
“I’m very happy. I mean, a big part of the identity is we want to be possession-based, we want to try to dictate the game and the rhythm of the game” Lind explained.
“That doesn’t mean necessarily just keep the ball a lot and just move it from side to side too long. We want to also be able to break lines and be direct when we can with control, and that’s what I felt today. It was not just send the ball in zone three and chase it. It was more controlled attacks where we play fast. We see a space, we play into space. Can be zone one, zone two before we enter zone three and can score a goal.
“So today I feel like a big part of the identity and what I want to see, we saw it.”
It was also a historic game for a pair of Courage forwards after Evelyn Ijeh picked up a hattrick and Lauryn Thompson got herself on the scoresheet for the first time in Courage colours.
Thompson’s goal – North Carolina’s first of the evening – put the young Englishwoman in the history books because she became the youngest player in the history of the Courage to score a goal in the regular season.
“It was amazing, and it just makes me feel even better that my best friend [Erica Meg Parkinson] assisted the goal for me” Thompson said while speaking to the media after the match.
“We actually talked about this. We manifested it, and it feels good for now, but I know hers is coming soon, so I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.”
Credit: NWSL
Ijeh’s hattrick was historic because she is now the first Swede to score a hattrick in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“It feels amazing, of course” Ijeh confirmed when asked about how it felt to score three goals.
“And of course, I couldn’t have done it without everyone on the team. Everyone on the pitch and off the pitch is really important, so I think it’s a really big team effort today.”
Credit: NWSL
Credit: NWSL
Credit: NWSL
Ijeh also reflected on the mentality the Courage had to bounce back in such a big way after a number of poor results in a row.
“I mean, we’re really not trying to think about too much about the previous games” Ijeh explained.
“We just try to focus on what we can control today and what we can do better today, and I think we really put it out there on the pitch.”
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