North Carolina

Thorns FC earn 2-1 comeback win against North Carolina Courage | Portland Thorns FC

Published

12 months ago

August 21, 2023

Thorns FC earn 2-1 comeback win against North Carolina Courage | Portland Thorns FC

PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing down a player for almost 80 minutes, Portland Thorns FC scored a pair of unanswered goals to earn a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the North Carolina Courage in front of 22,107 fans at Providence Park on Sunday night. Hannah Betfort tallied her second goal of the regular season, while Sophia Smith scored her league-leading 11th goal of 2023. With the win, Portland (8-4-4, 28pts) moves back to first place in the NWSL standings with six matches remaining in the regular season.

Betfort Balling
Betfort scored her second goal of the regular season and her fourth goal across all competitions in 2023. Betfort has scored in each of the team’s last two regular season matches. At home, Betfort has three goals and one assist in her last two matches across all competitions at Providence Park.

Smile… She’s Back
Smith scored her NWSL-leading 11th goal of the season less than one minute after subbing into the match in her first game back since the World Cup. Smith has scored in 5 straight regular season matches for the second time in her career (2022, 2023), becoming the second player in NWSL history with multiple streaks of five or more games with a goal (Sam Kerr). Notably, Smith has four goals in her last two home games for Thorns FC.

Table Setters
Olivia Moultrie and Morgan Weaver both tallied assists in the match for Portland. For Moultrie it was her third assist of the campaign, while Weaver notched her fourth assist of the season. Moultrie is the sixth player to register three or more assists for Portland this season. For Weaver, it marks a career-best for assists in a single season.

Goal-Scoring Plays
NCC – Tyler Lussi, 19th minute: After Kelli Hubly was sent off for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity, Tyler Lussi lined up a direct free kick. Lussi fired her strike from the right side at the edge of the box off the crossbar and into the goal.

POR – Hannah Betfort (Olivia Moultrie), 41st minute: Building down the right side, Natalia Kuikka played a ball in over the top for Olivia Moultrie making a run to the edge of the North Carolina box. Moultrie delivered a lobbed one-touch pass to Hannah Betfort running into the box. Betfort backheeled the pass to herself and unleashed an outside of the foot strike into the left side of the net.

POR – Sophia Smith (Morgan Weaver), 69th minute: Sophia Smith won the ball in midfield and surged forward to the top of the box. Smith played the ball to Weaver making a run down the left side of the box and Weaver slotted it back to Smith for the finish at the right post.

Tonight’s crowd of 22,107 was the fourth-largest crowd for a home match in club history.
Thorns FC became the first team in NWSL history to win a game after a first-half red card.
Portland has scored 19 first-half goals this season – the most of any team in the NWSL.
Thorns FC have scored five goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half, only North Carolina Courage (6) have scored more goals during that span in games.
Portland earned its first win after conceding the opening goal since the 2022 NWSL semifinal match against San Diego Wave FC on Oct. 23, 2022.
Thorns FC recorded their fifth home win of 2023. Portland has scored multiple goals in all of those wins.
Portland has outscored its opponents 20-8 at Providence Park this season.
Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last three home matches (1-0-2) against North Carolina.
Hannah Betfort has scored in each of her last two regular season matches for Thorns FC.
Betfort has three goals in her last two home games for Portland across all competitions.
Sophia Smith scored less than one minute after entering the match as a second-half substitute.
Smith’s goal was her 11th of the 2023 campaign.
Smith has four goals in her last two home games for Portland.
Smith has scored at least one goal in each the last five regular season games in which she has appeared for Portland.
Smith has scored in 5 straight regular season matches for the second time in her career (2022, 2023), becoming the second player in NWSL history with multiple streaks of five or more games with a goal (Sam Kerr).
Smith has seven goals in her last five NWSL regular season matches.
Olivia Moultrie tallied her third assist of the season.
Moultrie is now one of six players with at least three assists for Portland in 2023.
Moultrie recorded her eighth career assist in the match. She is now tied for 10th most all-time in club history.
Morgan Weaver registered her fourth assist of the season and the 10th of her NWSL career.
Weaver is the fifth player in club history to register 10-plus goals and 10-plus assists in her career, joining Tobin Heath, Christine Sinclair, Alex Morgan and Allie Long.
Meghan Klingenberg made her 150th NWSL regular season appearance in the match.
Klingenberg is the 24th player to reach this milestone.
Emily Menges earned her 150th career start.
Menges is the fourth player in league history to make 150 starts all with the same club. She is the second player to accomplish this for Portland along with Sinclair.
Rocky Rodríguez made her first start and appearance for Thorns FC since May 12, against Houston. It marked her first game back with the club since returning from the World Cup.
Christine Sinclair returned to the starting lineup, making her first appearance after the World Cup.

Portland Thorns FC (8-4-4, 28pts) vs. North Carolina Courage (8-6-2, 26pts)
Aug. 20, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
NCC: Lussi, 19
POR: Betfort (Moultrie), 41
POR: Smith (Weaver), 69

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Hubly (ejection), 17

Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka (Reyes, 85), D Hubly, D Menges, D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Rodríguez (Porter, 68), M Moultrie, M Sinclair © (Nally, 22), F Betfort (Smith, 68), W Weaver (D’Aquila, 85)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Provenzano, D McGrady, F Vasconcelos

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Weaver, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Weaver, 2); FOULS: 8 (Coffey, Weaver, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 2

NCC: GK Murphy, D Williams, D Kurtz, D Berkely, D Pickett, M Miura, M O’Sullivan © (Tagliaferri, 83), M Pickett (Pinto, 60), F Lussi (Hopkins, 70), F Boade (Wingate, 46), F Ratcliffe

Substitutes Not Used: GK Rowland, D Clark, D Johnson, D Collins, M Stackpole

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Lussi, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Lussi, 2); FOULS: 10 (Miura, Pickett, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3

Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referees: Seth Martin, Baboucarr Jallow
Fourth Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Luis Guardia
Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees
Attendance: 22,107

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Next Game
Thorns FC head out for back-to-back road games, squaring off against the Washington Spirit on Sunday, Aug. 27, at Audi Field; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific) live on Paramount+.

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North Carolina

Tropical Storm Debby expected to bring rainfall to Virginia & North Carolina

Published

4 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Storm Debby expected to bring rainfall to Virginia & North Carolina

Tropical Storm Debby already has parts of Florida under tropical storm warnings. The Florida Big Bend is currently under a Hurricane Warning. Debby is forecast to briefly strengthen into a category 1 hurricane as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico where water temperatures are near 90 degrees.

As it continues its path over land it is expected to dial back to tropical storm strength as it reaches the Carolinas mid to late next week. Moderate rainfall is possible for northeast North Carolina and southern Virginia by the end of the week.

Higher amounts of rain are possible for southernmost portions of the Outer Banks but generally models show 2-4 inches for northeast North Carolina and 1-2 inches for southern Virginia through Thursday.

Stay with News 3’s First Warning Weather Team for the latest updates as the storm develops.

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North Carolina

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

Published

11 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical depression over Cuba. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday, bringing impacts to the Carolinas around the middle of next week.

Heavy rainfall and flooding are the primary impacts expected, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

“Gusty winds are also possible, but it is too early to predict specific impacts in great detail at this time,” the weather service said.

At the same time, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and some flooding associated with front expected to stall inland this weekend.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of the tropical depression, which would be name Debby if it becomes a tropical storm, was over Cuba and moving west-northwest near 15 mph. The hurricane center said a turn toward the northwest is forecast for Saturday, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastwardmotion Sunday night and Monday.

Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected throughout the day Saturday. Faster strengthening is possible Sunday, with the storm nearing hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said.

STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.

Here’s a look at what we can expect in the Wilmington area, according to the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Wind

The probability of tropical storm force winds has increased, especially for the South Carolina coast. The most likely time of arrival of for northeast South Carolina is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and for Southeastern North Carolina is during Wednesday morning.

Rain

The potential for significant rainfall exists with 8 to 12 inches possible from near Cape Fear to portions of thenortheast South Carolina coast. Flash flooding and urban flooding are possible. Some rivers, including the North Cape Fear River and the Waccamaw River, could exceed flood stage next week.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Enter your address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby

Marine impacts

Rough surf, including dangerous rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are expected this weekend and will persist into the upcoming week.

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the NC coast, it’s never too early to be prepared.

GET READY: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here’s what to know if you live in the Wilmington area.

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North Carolina

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

Published

18 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center continues to show ENC in the cone of uncertainty.(WITN)

It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Storms are possible Saturday through Monday as a developing tropical system gets closer.(WITN)

The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.