Courage put on a scoring clinic in 5-0 rout of Racing Louisville

The Courage are back to scoring goals.

North Carolina’s 5-0 victory over Racing Louisville on Friday night marks the team’s first win of the regular season. The Courage got off to a slow start this year, opening with a draw against OL Reign and following that up with a tough 2-1 loss to the Pride.

The game was also the team’s first with Sam Mewis, who returned to the Courage after her successful campaign across the pond with Manchester City.

🎞 Watch back the action from WakeMed 🎞#NCvLOU | @Nationwide pic.twitter.com/FHUdrStJCA

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 29, 2021

The goal-scoring began early. Abby Erceg headed one home off a North Carolina corner in the 7^th minute to put the Courage up 1-0.

Kiwi goes kaboom 💥#NCvLOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/3gMuG1kdKS

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 28, 2021

The second half is when North Carolina’s offense really started to take off.

The Courage’s second goal came in the 63^rd minute when Lynn Williams got on the end of a through-ball from Debinha. Driving into the box, Williams cut inside to beat her defender and rifled the ball into the back of the net. Williams’ goal, her first of the season, doubled North Carolina’s lead 2-0.

🎶 She’s scoooooring in the rain ☔️ 🎶 Love to see it @lynnraenie 👌

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— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) May 29, 2021

Only five minutes later, Debinha tapped in a deflected Jess McDonald header to add to the Courage’s mounting lead.

Hallie Mace capped off a sensational night for North Carolina with a brace of her own. Her first goal came in the 75^th minute with a banger from the top of the box to make it 4-0. Then, in the 90^th minute, Mace volleyed in a McDonald cross from the back post to give the Courage a commanding 5-0 win.

Magnificent from @hailiemace 😱#NCvLOU | https://t.co/iecT7II54a | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/DkXUl7wbJ3

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 29, 2021

The Courage will now go on the road to face the Chicago Red Stars on June 5. Racing Louisville will look to rebound against the Thorns in Portland on the same day.