NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week 5

NWSL Week 5 Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage Recap

(Photo courtesy of NWSL)

This week’s NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week featured “The Mewis Bowl” as Kristie Mewis and the Houston Dash (0-3-2, 2pts) took on Sam Mewis and the North Carolina Courage (5-0-1, 16pts). The Courage remain the NWSL’s only undefeated team after they defeated the Dash 2-0 on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

North Carolina forward/midfielder/defender/everything Crystal Dunn got the Courage on the board in just the 3^rd minute of the match. Jess McDonald tossed a long throw-in that found Dunn at the edge of Houston’s six-yard box for her third goal of the season. The team scored their second goal of the game in the 48^th minute after Houston failed to clear a North Carolina corner kick. Courage midfielder Kristen Hamilton aka “Mrs. Irrelevant” (she was the final player selected in the 2014 NWSL Draft) settled the bouncing ball and ripped a shot from 25 yards out that went past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell for her first goal of 2018.

The Courage dominated the game from start to finish, allowing the Dash just two real scoring chances. Houston's best opportunity of the day also produced the match’s “save of the game”. In the 27th minute, Dash defender Amber Brooks had her header tipped away by Courage goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo. The ball remained in play and fell to the feet of forward Nichelle Prince, but her shot was saved by D'Angelo and cleared by the Courage.

What’s next?

The Courage will return home to host the Chicago Red Stars at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday, May 6, at 3 pm ET. This match will be streaming live on go90.

Houston will hit the road next weekend when they face Sky Blue FC at 6 pm on Saturday, May 5 in New Jersey. This match will be streaming live on go90.

The Portland Thorns will host Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, May 5 at 3:30pm ET in the next NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week.

The Batman Interview

Author Mark Reinhart talks about all things Batman in movies and on TV. The interview covers...(1943) Batman, (1949) Batman and Robin, (1966) Batman TV series, (1989) Batman, (1992) Batman Returns, (1992) Batman: The Animated Series, (1993) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, (1995) Batman Forever, (1997) Batman & Robin, (2005) Batman Begins, (2008) The Dark Knight, (2012) The Dark Knight Rises, (2016) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, (2016) Suicide Squad and so much more. Listen now and enjoy!

Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin in the 1943 Movie Serial "Batman"

Robert Lowery as Batman and Johnny Duncan as Robin in the 1949 Movie Serial "Batman and Robin"

 Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin from the 1966 Batman TV series 

 Michael Keaton as Batman 

 Val Kilmer as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in (1995) "Batman Forever"

Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl, George Clooney as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in (1997) "Batman & Robin"

 Christian Bale as Batman

Ben Affleck as Batman

Cover of Mark's book

If you would like to buy Mark's book, click the link below: 

https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Filmography-Mark-S-Reinhart/dp/0786468912

NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week 4

NWSL Week 4 North Carolina Courage vs. Utah Royals FC Recap

(Photo courtesy of NWSL)

The NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week returned to Cary, North Carolina for the second time this season. History was made as the league’s two newest teams went head to head for the first time ever. The North Carolina Courage (4-0-1, 13pts) remain the NWSL’s only undefeated team after they played the Utah Royals (0-1-3, 4pts) to a 2-2 draw on Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.

In a game that featured four unassisted goals, North Carolina defender Merritt Mathias opened the scoring in the 6^th minute with a world-class finish from 28 yards out. This rocket blast was her fifth career goal in NWSL and her first as a member of the Courage.

The entire first half went in favor of the Courage. North Carolina’s offense ended the half with six shots, one on goal, fourteen crosses and seven corner kicks. The Courage defense was rock-solid.  The only opportunity the Royals had in North Carolina territory was when USWNT star Kelley O'Hara got into the attacking third and had the lone shot for Utah that was handled easily by Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland, who was making her first start of the season.

The Utah Royals took advantage of two misplayed balls from North Carolina to take the lead in the second half. Before this game, Utah had not scored a goal in 267 minutes of play. Finally, forward Katie Stengel broke that streak and put one away for the equalizer. With that goal, Stengel broke a long scoreless streak of her own (she had not scored a goal in the NWSL since September 2016). The Royals took a 2-1 lead after forward Brittany Ratcliffe found the back of the net in the 66th minute.

In the 80th minute, the Courage would answer back and tie the game. After a poor clearance by Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith, forward/midfielder/defender/everything Crystal Dunn connected with the ball and knocked it into an empty net to make the score 2-2.

Player of the Match:

North Carolina Courage defender Merritt Mathias

(Photo courtesy of NWSL)

Merritt Mathias is the “Player of the Match” because, well, did you see that goal?

What’s next?

The Courage will hit the road to take on the Houston Dash on Saturday April 28 at 3:30p.m. ET for the next NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week.

The Royals will continue their search for the first win in franchise history when they return home to play against the Portland Thorns on Saturday April 28 at 9 p.m. ET. This match will be streaming live on go90.

NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week 3

NWSL Week 3 Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars Recap 

(Photo courtesy of NWSL)

  

Sandy, Utah was the site for this week’s NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week between the Utah Royals (0-1-2, 2pts) and the visiting Chicago Red Stars (1-1-1, 4pts). Pop star Rachel Platten's performance of the national anthem was a bad omen for the Royals as they fell to the Red Stars 1-0.

Chicago midfielder Danielle Colaprico provided the game’s only goal in the 27^th minute. After a poor clearance by Utah, Colaprico picked up the ball from just outside the 18-yard box, chested it down and shot her own volley into the top right corner of goal just out of the reach of Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith.

This match was an historical event because it was the first ever home game for Utah Royals FC. 19,203 fans (the eighth largest crowd in NWSL history) filled Rio Tinto Stadium hoping to witness the Royals first ever win in franchise history, but instead witnessed the club’s first ever loss. The game also featured the long awaited return of soccer legend Amy Rodriguez who made her first NWSL appearance 363 days after tearing her ACL in the 2017 season opener. Rodriguez’s  return was the highlight of the match for Utah when she entered the game in the 77^th minute. “A-Rod” wasted no time getting to work, creating chances; hustling to beat opponents to the ball and in the 88^th minute produced Utah’s only shot on goal for the day.

The save of the game came early in the second half, when Utah Royals forward Lo’eau LaBonta cleared a ball off the line that prevented Chicago from taking a two-goal lead.

Player of the Match:

Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico

(Photo courtesy of NWSL)

Danielle Colaprico is the clear choice from "Player of the Match", not only because she scored the game-winning goal, but because she was all over the field, doing the dirty work and making plays that won't show up on the stat sheet. I wouldn't be surprised if Colaprico doubles-up on the NWSL weekly awards and gets both "Goal of the Week" and "Player of the Week" for week 3. She has my vote for both. Also, Honorable Mention needs to go to Chicago Red Stars defender Arin Gilliland, who played lockdown defense on her side of the field all game long and did a great job getting forward and being apart of Chicago's offensive attack.     

What’s next?

Chicago will have a busy week coming up with two games in seven days. They will take on the Houston Dash on Wednesday April 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET then face Sky Blue FC on Saturday April 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Both games will be at home and will be streaming live on go90.

Utah will continue their search for the first win in franchise history when they travel to Cary, North Carolina to play the North Carolina Courage on Saturday April 21 for the next NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week at 3:30 p.m. ET.