The North Carolina Courage benefitted from an own goal to open the scoring, built a three-goal lead, and cruised to a 3-1 win Sunday over the host Chicago Red Stars at Bridgeview, Ill.
Denise O’Sullivan and Kerolin had the Courage goals, with each player scoring for the first time this season. Those tallies helped North Carolina (11-9-2, 35 points) end a two-match winless streak. North Carolina has secured at least a point in four of its last five matches.
Ludmila scored for the Red Stars, who had trouble generating many quality scoring bids. Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy had two saves.
Chicago (9-11-2, 29 points) had a chance to pull even with the Courage in the standings, but that didn’t work out as a two-match winning streak — both shutouts — came to a halt.
It was 1-0 in the Courage’s favor after Cari Roccaro’s own goal in the 14th minute. O’Sullivan’s goal in the 41st minute extended the margin, benefiting from Tyler Lussi’s assist.
Kerolin’s goal in the 64th minute came off an assist from Olivia Wingate, who entered as a substitute in the 18th minute. Kerolin was in her second Courage match.
Ludmila got Chicago on the board in the 67th minute, with Taylor Malham assisting on the sequence. Ludmila worked down the left side and sent a shot over North Carolina’s defense into the far side of the net.
Ludmila has played in only four matches, but she has scored in back-to-back outings.
The Courage also defeated Chicago 3-1 in June.