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The North Carolina Courage have put together a 2026 campaign to be proud of. After narrowly missing the NWSL playoffs a year ago, the Courage has rebuilt themselves to be firmly entrenched in the playoff picture.<\/p>\n
However, things seemed to be trending in the wrong direction near the end of July, dropping three straight games and being outscored by their opponents 9-1 across the stretch. The Courage got their swagger back to the end of the month though, handedly beating Orlando 5-0.<\/p>\n
This game seemed to be a turning point for North Carolina\u2019s season\u2013 the Courage carried that momentum into August, putting together their best month of the season by far. With this, head coach Mak Lind was named the NWSL August Coach of the Month\u2013 putting a stamp on the club\u2019s best stretch of the season.<\/p>\n
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\nLind\u2019s squad started the month with a solid 2-0 win in Denver, followed by the club\u2019s signature win on the season\u2013 a 4-3 win on the road over the Spirit. This barnburner of a game would be capped off by a Natalie Jacobs game-winning goal deep into added time, making the Courage\u2019s best win of the season its most dramatic win as well.<\/p>\n
Then, following a loss in another dramatic finish versus Houston, Lind and the Courage bounced back with another two wins in a row. In those two games against Boston and Angel City, Ashley Sanchez continued her dominant season, scoring a brace in both games and being responsible for all four of North Carolina\u2019s goals over the two-game stretch.<\/p>\n
The month of August was capped off with a 3-2 loss in Kansas City, meaning the Courage ended with four wins in six matches throughout the action-packed month. More remarkably, Lind\u2019s team scored a borderline unfathomable 14 goals in the six matches, cementing themselves as the NWSL\u2019s most dangerous attack.<\/p>\n
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A Scary Squad Come Playoffs Time<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nThe mojo North Carolina found in August has now continued into September, starting the month 1-1, including an insane 6-0 victory in Chicago against the Stars. In just his first season with the club, Lind has transformed the Courage into one of the most dynamic teams in the NWSL, featuring an attack that strikes fear into any backline it is faced with.<\/p>\n
No team has more goals scored than the Courage, with 30 of those coming from Ashley Sanchez and Evelyn Ijeh alone. This attack has North Carolina right in the thick of the playoff picture, currently sitting fifth in the table at 39 points.<\/p>\n
Mak Lind has the North Carolina Courage playing perhaps their best football in years\u2013 and with an attack that is capable of netting goals at an unprecedented rate, August may have just been a sneak peek at what this team can do when November rolls around.<\/p>\n
Featured image via @nwsl<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/h4>\n
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