Three minutes of second-half stoppage time proved too much for Sky Blue FC, who gave up a late goal to the North Carolina Courage to open their 2018 NWSL season with a 1-0 loss on the road.
In the 92nd minute, Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle drove the ball out from deep in the home team’s defensive half before splitting the Sky Blue defense with a long through ball for Jessica McDonald. As goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan came racing off her line in attempts of cutting of McDonald’s view of the goal, McDonald cut around Sheridan, causing the keeper to dive to the ground in an unsuccessful last-ditch effort.