Lauren Milliet took advantage of every minute of play in the qualification round of the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup. Now, it’s on to the quarterfinals of the tournament held in Herriman, Utah.
Milliet, a 2015 Durango High School graduate, logged 139 minutes in the first four matches of the tournament for the North Carolina Courage. The Colorado College alumna logged at least 20 minutes in each match, including 68 minutes in her first career start in Game 2 against Washington, as a regular substitute in the three matches she did not start,
As a collective unit, the Courage looked every bit like the two-time defending NWSL champion with a perfect 4-0-0 record in qualification round play. The Courage ran away with the top seed with 12 points, followed by the Washington Spirit (2-1-1) with seven points.
The Courage also led the round in goals scored with seven and in goals allowed with only one. Milliet was on the field for five of North Carolina’s goals.
She subbed in Monday night in the qualification round finale in the 64th minute with the Courage ahead 2-0 – the eventual final score – against New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC. In the match, Sam Mewis and Crystal Dunn, a pair of U.S. Women’s National Team stars, each scored. Mewis got on the board early in the seventh minute, while Dunn added her goal in the 57th. It was the first goal of the tournament for both women. Lynn Williams leads the team with three goals in this tournament, and she made a beautiful run and pass to assist Dunn on Monday night.
So far, Milliet has been strong with the ball having completed nearly 82% of her passes on 44 attempts as well as 80% of long passes. She has blocked one shot, drawn two fouls and won 63.6% of duels.
All along, Milliet said the sole focus of her side has been to improve each game, and the Courage have done just that.
Now, in the month-long Challenge Cup that will replace a regular season during this COVID-19 shortened year, the Courage will look to move along in the knockout stages to play for another trophy.
Facing the shortest rest of any team, the Courage will play at 10:30 a.m. Friday against the Portland Thorns (0-1-3), a rematch of the first qualification round game that ended in a 2-1 win for the Courage.
The winner of that match will play in the semifinals July 22 against the winner of No. 4 Houston Dash (1-1-2) and No. 5 Utah Royals FC (1-1-2), two teams the Courage have not yet faced in this tournament.
The quarterfinals and semifinals can be watched on CBS All Access, while the championship game at 10:30 a.m. July 26 will be broadcast on CBS.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
