The 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup opened play Saturday, and the curtain-raiser featured key contributions from two UCLA products.
Both goals scored by the North Carolina Courage in their 2-1 win over the Portland Thorns were assisted by Bruins. Making her NWSL debut off the bench, defender Hailie Mace hit a beautiful cross from the right side that was headed in by Debinha to open the scoring in the game in the 75th minute.
Then, deep in second-half stoppage time, with the game tied 1-1, Sam Mewis made a push forward to try and win the game, and broadly replicated Mace’s earlier play, running up the right side and hitting a cross that was headed in, this time by Lynn Williams, to win the game.