CARY, N.C. -- NC Courage U23 fought through an early deficit, pouring rain and a lightning delay Saturday night to claim a 3-2 victory against the Colorado Storm in the 2024 USL W League Final. In their second consecutive trip to the Final, the hosts earned redemption, this time claiming the title in front of their home fans at WRAL Soccer Park. 

Second-half goals from substitutes Macey Bader and Mackenzie Geigle pulled the Courage into the lead as they handed the Storm only their second defeat of a remarkable season.  

The Storm opened with high energy, and it immediately paid off. After the visitors earned a corner in the fourth minute, Reagan Kotschau sent in a ball that found defender Sydney Cheesman, who perfectly placed a volleyed finish home. 

However, the home side immediately responded, leveling three minutes later. Hannah Jibril gained possession off a goal kick and laid it off to Phoebe Goldthwaite. Splitting two defenders, Goldthwaite played a through-ball back to Jibril, who produced a calm finish as she broke in behind the Storm’s defensive line. 

After an extended half time following a weather delay, the Storm regained the initiative. Consecutive corner kicks gave the visitors multiple opportunities to break the deadlock, but they were unable to put their chances away. 

In the 66th minute, however, the Courage took their first lead of the night. Ivy Garner brought the ball up the right flank and beat her defender before sending a cross into the box. Bader was camped out in the box expecting the ball, and she put herself in the right spot to power home a header into the bottom right corner. 

Less than five minutes later, it was Bader again who helped the Courage extend their lead. Moving up the left side, her cross from the left flank found Geigle at the top of the six-yard box for a beautiful volley into the bottom-right corner.  

The Storm pressed forward and cut into the Courage’s lead with five minutes to go. Cheesman sent a long ball over the top of the defense and found the head of Addison Whitehouse, whose flicked header skipped just past the goalkeeper and snuck into the side netting. 

Both teams continued to battle through the downpour in the dying minutes of the match. The Storm sent multiple balls into the penalty area, but the Courage’s defense held firm to their lead, earning the side its first W League title. 

Scoring Summary 
COL – Sydney Cheesman (Reagan Kotschau) 4’ 
NCC – Hannah Jibril (Phoebe Goldthwaite) 7’ 
NCC – Macey Bader (Ivy Garner) 66’ 
NCC – Mackenzie Geigle (Macey Bader) 71’ 
COL – Addison Whitehouse (Sydney Cheesman) 85’ 

Lineups 

NC Courage U23: GK – Emily Edwards, D – Aven Alvarez, Kayleigh Herr, Taylor Chism, Kendall Holt, M – Baylor Goldthwaite (Macey Bader) 64’, Phoebe Goldthwaite, Amelia Brown (Cazzie Norgren) 78’, F – Ivy Garner, Hannah Jibril (Mackenzie Geigle) 64’, Mia Oliaro (Alexis Strickland) 78’ 

Colorado Storm: GK – Adelyn Todd, D – Sydney Cheesman (53’, Avery Vander Ven (Ashlyn Fernandez) 71’, Hannah Gallegos, Caley Swierenga (Jordan Crockett) 45’, M – Alexis Meyer (Jadyn Goodrich) 52’, Makayla Merlo (Adeleine Walick) 52’, Reagan Kotschau, F – Makenna Dominguez (Riley Baker) 71’, Amy Smith (Addison Whitehouse) 45’, Reese McDermott