[0.00 - 25.00]:  from San Diego.
[25.00 - 27.92]:  The world watches as a soccer icon plays
[27.92 - 30.24]:  in her final game with her daughter,
[30.24 - 32.52]:  Charlie in tow, Alex Morgan,
[32.52 - 35.16]:  prepares for an emotional send off.
[35.16 - 37.96]:  World Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist
[37.96 - 40.28]:  and an NWSL champion.
[40.28 - 42.76]:  We celebrate number 13 tonight.
[50.72 - 54.04]:  I'm gonna get to the point quickly.
[55.60 - 56.68]:  I'm retiring.
[57.96 - 60.48]:  Alex Morgan and I'm number one
[60.48 - 63.04]:  and I play Flipkart.
[63.04 - 66.12]:  Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years.
[66.12 - 67.20]:  Morgan, what did we find?
[67.20 - 68.32]:  There you go.
[68.32 - 69.64]:  There it is.
[69.64 - 70.64]:  Morgan.
[70.64 - 73.80]:  It was one of the first things that I ever loved
[73.80 - 76.36]:  and I gave everything to this sport
[76.36 - 81.44]:  and what I got in return was more than I could have ever dreamed of.
[81.44 - 85.20]:  Success for me is defined by never giving up
[85.20 - 86.16]:  and giving your all.
[86.16 - 88.80]:  That's it in the header and that's done it.
[88.80 - 92.08]:  I'm giving my all every single day on the field.
[92.08 - 95.16]:  Giving my all in the relentless push
[95.16 - 97.60]:  for global investment in women's sports
[97.60 - 99.84]:  because we deserve that.
[99.84 - 102.40]:  Charlie came up to me the other day and said that
[102.40 - 104.56]:  when she grows up she wants to be a soccer player.
[104.56 - 106.76]:  It just made me immensely proud,
[106.76 - 109.36]:  not because I wish for her to become a soccer player
[109.36 - 110.40]:  when she grows up,
[110.40 - 113.40]:  but because a pathway exists
[113.40 - 115.36]:  that even a four year old can see now.
[116.64 - 122.28]:  I just want to thank the fans for always supporting us.
[122.28 - 125.76]:  Being there, showing up day in and day out.
[125.76 - 128.24]:  Teammates, coaches, staff.
[128.24 - 130.84]:  Everyone who has played a part in my career
[130.84 - 134.04]:  has played some part that has made me who I am today.
[134.04 - 136.96]:  An artist in her campus, Alex Morgan.
[136.96 - 138.44]:  Rips a shot.
[138.44 - 140.24]:  50 holes for Ash.
[140.24 - 142.24]:  It's an end of me song.
[142.24 - 143.60]:  Still looking for a winner.
[143.60 - 146.68]:  I don't have much more effort.
[146.68 - 150.44]:  I'm so shaped into me because of you,
[150.44 - 152.04]:  because of soccer,
[152.04 - 154.12]:  and I am forever grateful.
[156.28 - 157.32]:  It's been a ride.
[158.32 - 159.16]:  Thank you.
[166.40 - 168.48]:  One final ride indeed.
[168.48 - 170.92]:  Morgan, a player that pushed this club,
[170.92 - 173.56]:  this league, and this sport forward.
[173.84 - 178.64]:  It has been a joy to be able to live in the era of Alex Morgan.
[178.64 - 182.44]:  We talk about the greats in a lot of different sports.
[182.44 - 185.40]:  The greats in soccer globally,
[185.40 - 188.28]:  and Alex Morgan is definitely among them.
[188.28 - 192.12]:  To be able to celebrate her in San Diego,
[192.12 - 195.52]:  her home one more time in front of this crowd.
[195.52 - 198.04]:  This is exactly what she deserves
[198.04 - 200.36]:  for all of the hard work she has put in
[200.36 - 203.68]:  over her beautiful 15-year career.
[205.00 - 207.72]:  Here comes Alex Morgan, again with Charlie.
[208.76 - 213.64]:  In front of a crowd that she has inspired time and time,
[213.64 - 217.64]:  again, Alex Morgan ready to be honored tonight in San Diego.
[219.08 - 221.48]:  And I'm not crying, you're crying, Jordan.
[221.48 - 223.44]:  There are so many good posters here,
[223.44 - 226.68]:  so many fans that flew across the country
[226.68 - 229.12]:  to come last minute to make sure
[229.12 - 232.96]:  that they got to experience Alex Morgan's last game.
[232.96 - 235.16]:  In her press conference earlier this week,
[235.16 - 239.52]:  she talked about watching Mia Hamm's last game as a young kid,
[239.52 - 241.80]:  and how that game changed her.
[241.80 - 243.76]:  She's changed so many players
[243.76 - 247.12]:  with the dream of doing what she's done.
[247.12 - 249.96]:  And now she gets to inspire those yet again
[249.96 - 252.40]:  who are in the stands to watch her play
[252.40 - 255.08]:  one last game of professional soccer.
[256.08 - 259.92]:  It's going to be a special moment here in San Diego.
[259.92 - 262.08]:  Final game for Alex Morgan.
[262.08 - 266.16]:  The wave captain led San Diego to unprecedented success
[266.16 - 269.44]:  as the wave became the first expansion team in league history
[269.44 - 272.12]:  to make the playoffs in its inaugural season.
[272.12 - 275.96]:  Led by Morgan, the club followed that by lifting their first trophy,
[275.96 - 281.08]:  the 2023 NWSL shield in San Diego's second season of play.
[281.72 - 287.20]:  Tonight's match will be Alex's 150th NWSL regular season match,
[287.20 - 289.56]:  200th overall club match,
[289.56 - 293.40]:  and 63rd with San Diego Wave FC.
[293.40 - 296.04]:  Joined by her family and friends at midfield,
[296.04 - 300.08]:  we honor Alex with a wave number 63 jersey.
[300.08 - 301.72]:  Fans, make some noise again.
[301.72 - 303.96]:  She's one of the greatest of all time.
[303.96 - 305.80]:  She is Alex Morgan.
[311.08 - 313.08]:  CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
[341.08 - 343.08]:  CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
[371.08 - 373.00]:  CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
[373.00 - 377.24]:  From Snapdragon Stadium, we prepare for this NWSL match
[377.24 - 380.16]:  featuring the San Diego Wave and the North Carolina Courage
[380.16 - 383.16]:  and the final minute of Alex Morgan's career.
[383.16 - 385.32]:  Jenny Chu caught up with a woman in the hour,
[385.32 - 386.96]:  so let's send it down to Jenny.
[389.48 - 393.32]:  Alex, first of all, congratulations on a remarkable career
[393.32 - 395.64]:  and of course the addition of your family as well.
[395.64 - 398.32]:  I know that the past couple of weeks have been incredibly emotional.
[398.32 - 401.32]:  I just heard you had an emotional moment in the locker room as well.
[401.32 - 402.32]:  Yes.
[402.32 - 404.32]:  How are you feeling today ahead of it?
[404.32 - 407.32]:  I'm feeling really good, no tears yet.
[407.32 - 411.92]:  It's, yeah, just been filled with a lot of time with family this morning
[411.92 - 415.32]:  and just really trying to enjoy every moment.
[415.32 - 419.32]:  And my teammates and everyone continues to surprise me every moment
[419.32 - 422.72]:  and every time I turn and look, but it's just incredible.
[422.72 - 428.32]:  I never expected to have like this much of a kind of surprise
[428.32 - 432.72]:  and like overwhelming feeling of just positive support.
[432.72 - 435.12]:  You've won everything on and off the pitch.
[435.12 - 436.12]:  Do you feel that?
[436.12 - 438.52]:  Do you feel the lightness, the weight lifted off of you
[438.52 - 440.92]:  kind of reflecting that you absolutely did win?
[440.92 - 442.92]:  Yeah, don't make me cry right now.
[446.32 - 447.72]:  Yeah, I feel...
[448.72 - 450.32]:  It was going to happen at some point.
[450.32 - 451.92]:  Gosh, why?
[453.92 - 457.52]:  Yeah, I've been smiling a lot these last few days
[457.52 - 463.32]:  because even just keeping in the retirement and the pregnancy for so long
[463.32 - 465.72]:  was just really difficult not to share with people
[465.72 - 468.32]:  and everything's so much better together.
[468.32 - 470.52]:  The reason I am where I am today and who I am
[470.52 - 475.32]:  is because of so many people that just impacted me for the better.
[475.32 - 476.52]:  I did nothing alone.
[476.52 - 479.52]:  And so the last weeks previously was really difficult.
[479.52 - 481.32]:  And so I've just been smiling a lot
[481.32 - 486.52]:  knowing that there were so many, so many incredibly good moments,
[486.52 - 489.72]:  but also like so many lows and valleys along the way
[489.72 - 491.52]:  that I had to like dig myself through.
[491.52 - 493.72]:  And so getting to this point now,
[493.72 - 497.92]:  just talking about, you know, being a human and being vulnerable to everyone
[497.92 - 500.52]:  and just smiling and enjoying the moment,
[500.52 - 504.72]:  like as an athlete, you only get to do that certain points in time.
[504.72 - 506.52]:  And this is just the...
[506.52 - 508.72]:  It's the most special moment.
[508.72 - 512.52]:  Well, enjoy this day, enjoy this moment because you absolutely deserve it.
[512.52 - 513.52]:  Thank you.
[514.92 - 516.92]:  Take a look at the starting 11.
[516.92 - 519.32]:  No surprise that Alex Morgan starts tonight,
[519.32 - 522.72]:  but one change for interim head coach Landon Donovan from 1-1 draw
[522.72 - 525.52]:  against Washington last week, Kristen Westfall.
[525.52 - 527.12]:  Slotten right back.
[527.12 - 530.52]:  Meanwhile, Shawn Nahas and his North Carolina team
[530.52 - 533.92]:  trying to play spoiler today, three changes for the courage
[533.92 - 538.12]:  from a big 2-1 victory over Kansas City last weekend
[538.12 - 540.12]:  at Wake Med Park.
[541.12 - 543.92]:  Alongside Jordan Angeli, I'm Maura Sheridan.
[543.92 - 547.52]:  Thank you so much for joining us here tonight.
[548.72 - 552.52]:  Just about ready to kick off between San Diego and North Carolina.
[552.52 - 555.32]:  Morgan wearing her classic number 13,
[555.32 - 558.32]:  her classic pink pre-wrap.
[558.32 - 561.32]:  And of course, she's got a bit of a lucky charm as well.
[561.32 - 564.92]:  Morgan announced she was pregnant or is pregnant this week.
[564.92 - 567.72]:  It's a big game with a lot to celebrate.
[567.72 - 571.52]:  And we are going to be telling a ton of stories about Alex Morgan
[571.52 - 573.52]:  when she's on the field.
[573.52 - 577.52]:  We are underway the last hurrah for Alex Morgan.
[579.72 - 583.12]:  San Diego in their del Sol kits.
[583.12 - 585.12]:  North Carolina in blue.
[586.32 - 590.52]:  Alex Morgan has accomplished pretty much everything in her career.
[590.52 - 593.52]:  She's won two World Cups, a gold medal.
[593.52 - 596.92]:  NWSL Shield with the San Diego Wave last year.
[596.92 - 600.92]:  NWSL Championship in 2013 with the Portland Thorns.
[602.32 - 604.32]:  A Champions League.
[604.32 - 608.72]:  She's won a WPS Championship.
[608.72 - 612.72]:  She's scored about every type of goal you can score.
[612.72 - 615.32]:  You know, the gritty ones, the beautiful ones.
[615.32 - 617.92]:  I remember the one where she chips it with her left foot
[617.92 - 621.72]:  over top of the defender and then volleys it full-time
[621.72 - 625.12]:  with her aka weaker right foot.
[625.12 - 626.92]:  She's done so much for this sport.
[626.92 - 631.32]:  Everything that she has been able to accomplish on the field.
[631.32 - 634.52]:  And you could see that when she was talking to Jenny Chu,
[634.52 - 638.32]:  the emotion of looking back at all those moments.
[638.32 - 640.32]:  Well, here comes San Diego.
[640.32 - 642.32]:  Trying to take a lead early.
[652.72 - 655.52]:  Well, Casey Murphy on the pickup.
[655.52 - 659.92]:  North Carolina going to deal with an emotional night as well on the other side.
[659.92 - 665.12]:  And of course, Murphy has been teammates with Alex Morgan on the US Women's National Team.
[665.12 - 670.12]:  When both teams were going through the handshakes right before they got ready,
[670.12 - 674.52]:  their last-minute preparations to go out on the field after the national anthem.
[674.52 - 677.52]:  There were a lot of hugs, a lot of big smiles from Alex Morgan.
[677.52 - 680.52]:  And actually where we got to watch her during warm-ups.
[680.52 - 683.52]:  And she talked earlier this week about how she's been smiling a lot.
[683.52 - 688.52]:  And every time we see her in warm-ups, the biggest smile on her face,
[688.52 - 691.52]:  you want to soak up every single moment of this.
[691.52 - 695.52]:  And I think that that's one of the things that stuck out most to me about what she said.
[695.52 - 698.52]:  She wanted to remember what it felt like going into the locker room.
[698.52 - 704.52]:  Remember what it felt like walking in today to be a part of the national anthem
[704.52 - 709.52]:  for one last time with her eyes closed and her hand over her heart.
[709.52 - 714.52]:  Those are things that I think are good reminders as players that this is a fleeting game
[714.52 - 717.52]:  and you want to remember those moments.
[717.52 - 721.52]:  Lucy calling for is redirected and out of play.
[721.52 - 724.52]:  So here comes a corner kick for North Carolina.
[725.52 - 730.52]:  Kealan Sheridan will have to get her box organized right now with a change.
[730.52 - 734.52]:  Just one change from the last game these players played.
[734.52 - 739.52]:  But making sure that they don't give North Carolina an early opportunity to get on the scoreboard.
[742.52 - 745.52]:  It will be a good chance to get to the top of the game.
[745.52 - 748.52]:  It will be a good chance to get to the top of the game.
[748.52 - 751.52]:  It will be a good chance to get to the top of the game.
[752.52 - 758.52]:  It will be Berkeley on this corner for North Carolina through the air header.
[758.52 - 761.52]:  It's in North Carolina tallies.
[762.52 - 767.52]:  Haley Hopkins rising for it and the visitors up.
[768.52 - 775.52]:  There's a picture perfect ball into the mix and what it looked like from San Diego
[775.52 - 778.52]:  was a little bit of a half zone with a few man markers.
[778.52 - 781.52]:  And it's Hopkins who just pops off of her mark.
[781.52 - 789.52]:  Donniak at the back post floats into this central space where there she's the tallest player on the field.
[789.52 - 791.52]:  Five ten good aerial presence.
[791.52 - 796.52]:  She can just redirect it back into the near corner past the outstretched arm of Kealan Sheridan
[796.52 - 800.52]:  and put this courage squad up one to nothing on the road.
[800.52 - 802.52]:  Something they do not do very often.
[802.52 - 807.52]:  They're here to make a statement that they're going to be a tough team come the end of this season.
[808.52 - 812.52]:  North Carolina just one win on the road this year.
[813.52 - 816.52]:  And for Hopkins that's goal number three.
[816.52 - 819.52]:  This season had an assist last week.
[819.52 - 824.52]:  And it come from behind victory for North Carolina against Kansas City.
[830.52 - 832.52]:  Murphy Morgan in front of her.
[833.52 - 834.52]:  Berkeley.
[835.52 - 836.52]:  Wow.
[836.52 - 837.52]:  Weatherhole turns it over.
[837.52 - 840.52]:  Alex Morgan in the box off her left foot saved by Murphy.
[841.52 - 847.52]:  This is what you expect from Alex Murphy or excuse me from Murphy to make this save.
[847.52 - 850.52]:  But Alex Morgan picks up the ball in a space.
[850.52 - 857.52]:  You could from some good defending high up the field aggressive from San Diego and Morgan gets it on her left foot.
[857.52 - 859.52]:  She's always looking for goal in that moment.
[860.52 - 862.52]:  Tried to sneak it in at the far post.
[862.52 - 864.52]:  You said Casey Murphy is her teammate at the national team.
[864.52 - 867.52]:  She said maybe not.
[868.52 - 870.52]:  Here comes a corner for San Diego.
[870.52 - 871.52]:  They go short with it.
[871.52 - 873.52]:  Sanchez dish back.
[874.52 - 875.52]:  Westfall.
[876.52 - 877.52]:  Laughs it up.
[877.52 - 878.52]:  It's right to Murphy.
[880.52 - 885.52]:  Lots of conversation but there are a coveted three points on the line in this game Jordan.
[886.52 - 887.52]:  And for.
[888.52 - 889.52]:  Alex Morgan.
[890.52 - 891.52]:  She wants to go out a winner.
[891.52 - 894.52]:  That's what interim head coach Landon Donovan told us this week.
[896.52 - 897.52]:  I'm just going to say it more.
[897.52 - 899.52]:  Despite what happens today in this game.
[899.52 - 901.52]:  Alex Morgan is a winner.
[901.52 - 905.52]:  We talked about all the games that the championship she won.
[906.52 - 911.52]:  But when you look back at some of the biggest moments I go back to 2010 when U.S.
[912.52 - 921.52]:  Soccer had to qualify in a two game playoff against Italy and who comes up big to make sure the United States get to the World Cup in 2011.
[921.52 - 922.52]:  It's Alex Morgan.
[922.52 - 931.52]:  She scores a really big goal and then she goes on to play in that World Cup score in the semifinal and score in the final.
[931.52 - 932.52]:  The U.S.
[932.52 - 938.52]:  Didn't win it but because of what she did they make it back to a World Cup final that next year.
[939.52 - 952.52]:  Goal after goal in really important moments the 2019 semifinal I think we all think of the World Cup in 2019 with Alex Morgan and what her her little tea sipping celebration in the corner.
[954.52 - 956.52]:  She has scored some iconic goals.
[959.52 - 963.52]:  But maybe one of my favorites 2012 when she's playing for the Olympics.
[964.52 - 969.52]:  In London it's a three three game against Canada in extra time.
[971.52 - 980.52]:  And Alex Morgan off a cross from Heather O'Reilly just pops off the back back line scores a beautiful header goal.
[982.52 - 984.52]:  To secure the gold medal.
[985.52 - 990.52]:  Will Sheridan going to snag out of the air pressure from North Carolina.
[991.52 - 997.52]:  But even in the end of yourself she's been clutch Alex Morgan 18 game winners that's time for second all time.
[998.52 - 1003.52]:  When you have that feel in the box you have it and she has had it since college.
[1003.52 - 1005.52]:  I remember playing against her when she was at Cal.
[1006.52 - 1009.52]:  She was one of the most difficult players to play against.
[1010.52 - 1013.52]:  But it's not just that more it's how hard she worked.
[1014.52 - 1028.52]:  She worked tirelessly to become better to make sure her right foot wasn't considered weaker to make sure her left foot was always strong to get on the end of crosses to do everything in her power to make sure she stayed at the top.
[1031.52 - 1033.52]:  It's a it's a handball a penalty.
[1033.52 - 1039.52]:  San Diego has a chance to equalize.
[1042.52 - 1043.52]:  Will it be Morgan.
[1044.52 - 1045.52]:  To step up to the spot.
[1047.52 - 1057.52]:  And here's a shot from Donnie who's played in a little bit deeper of a position and it goes straight off the arm of Denise O'Sullivan her arms in an awkward spot don't know why it's up so high.
[1057.52 - 1064.52]:  But Donnie takes advantage of it and she's going to give an opportunity to the woman that everybody's here to watch.
[1065.52 - 1081.52]:  Alex Morgan with a chance to step up the penalty to the penalty spot in her last game as a professional and they're looking at this right now just making sure this is a penalty.
[1081.52 - 1087.52]:  A penalty but as everybody saw on the field her family saw it's going to go to the spot where.
[1090.52 - 1096.52]:  Morgan five for six from the P.K. spot for San Diego in the regular season she is usually money.
[1101.52 - 1106.52]:  Has not scored in the regular season here in twenty twenty four this in her final game.
[1111.52 - 1123.52]:  Morgan saved by Murphy.
[1129.52 - 1132.52]:  Bit of a grimace there from Alex Morgan.
[1133.52 - 1140.52]:  She's probably going to give Casey Murphy a little bit but look at this the plays from Morgan to step up.
[1142.52 - 1145.52]:  And Murphy could just reach out for it's not far enough in the corner.
[1151.52 - 1160.52]:  But I think that penalty speaks to not just this moment it speaks to the crown that she wore for so long right heavy is the head that wears the crown.
[1161.52 - 1174.52]:  And Alex Morgan wore that crown as this best player in the United States for a long time as you see another look at that penalty shot and she can't help but smile.
[1175.52 - 1184.52]:  But when you look at what Morgan did with the crown on her head in the spotlight on her time and time again she sat there win or lose and did a press conference.
[1184.52 - 1194.52]:  She answered the easy questions she answered the hard questions she spoke for the people who had voices and she spoke for those who felt like they didn't have a voice.
[1195.52 - 1208.52]:  And I think that the way Alex Morgan carried herself on the field and off the field is going to be what's remembered most right all of the work that she did to push for women to have more investment in the game.
[1209.52 - 1219.52]:  To have equal pay to get what they deserve as female athletes that's what people are going to remember her for and she's always willing to step up to the spot.
[1220.52 - 1230.52]:  She's always willing to take that shot because she knows the spotlight is on her and I think that epitomizes who she's been over her 15 year career.
[1231.52 - 1244.52]:  Well I think it's fair to say that this next generation of players is better off because of Alex Morgan easy easy to play to say that she was the player you wanted on your team and you hated playing against her.
[1245.52 - 1254.52]:  But everybody that we got to talk to this week more I said Alex Morgan is one of the best teammates I have ever had in my life and that says a lot.
[1254.52 - 1270.52]:  Just an outcry across the sports world when Alex Morgan now she was retiring and announced her pregnancy just so much love for what she has done as you said on and off the pitch.
[1271.52 - 1278.52]:  And she did it through hard work and I was at a wedding with her one time in Hawaii and everybody else was hanging out.
[1278.52 - 1287.52]:  We were going to have lunch and Alex Morgan was doing sprints up and down the highway by where we were at in Hawaii because she knew she had to be prepared.
[1288.52 - 1294.52]:  She had to be better that day than she was the day before so all the kids listening she didn't get here because she was gifted.
[1295.52 - 1304.52]:  Does she have gifts. Absolutely. She got here because she worked relentlessly day after day to become better.
[1305.52 - 1308.52]:  San Diego equalizes.
[1313.52 - 1316.52]:  Kennedy Wesley the center back.
[1321.52 - 1327.52]:  And that's got to feel good one more time embracing your teammates after a goal is scored.
[1327.52 - 1351.52]:  The high of this feeling as Wesley jumps up at the near post senses a little gap there between Rao and Williams and make sure she makes this count as Alex Morgan gets to celebrate one more goal with her teammates in San Diego.
[1357.52 - 1378.52]:  Well you can hear the chance poetic now it's the farewell she deserves Alex Morgan walks off the pitch for the final time the end of a legendary career.
[1387.52 - 1390.52]:  Thank you.
[1417.52 - 1419.52]:  Thank you.
[1447.52 - 1449.52]:  Thank you.
[1477.52 - 1479.52]:  Thank you.
[1507.52 - 1509.52]:  Happy 40th.
[1509.52 - 1511.52]:  Happy 40th.
[1511.52 - 1513.82]:  Happy 40th.
[1513.82 - 1514.82]:  Happy 40th.
[1516.82 - 1519.82]:  God bless their children, you so clicks hard.
[1519.82 - 1521.78]:  Happy 40th.
[1521.78 - 1522.78]:  Happy 40th.
[1522.78 - 1524.28]:  Happy 40th.
[1524.28 - 1525.78]:  Happy 40th.
[1525.78 - 1528.78]:  Happy 40th.
[1528.78 - 1531.78]:  Happy 40th.
[1531.78 - 1533.28]:  Happy 40th.
[1533.28 - 1534.32]:  Happy 40th.
[1534.32 - 1536.32]:  Happy 40th.
[1536.32 - 1537.32]:  Happy 40th.
[1538.12 - 1544.12]:  Here in San Diego, what a moment for Alex Morgan to remember this forever.
[1549.12 - 1554.12]:  Just so clear what she means to the fans here, to the soccer world in general.
[1557.12 - 1562.12]:  And she passes the torch and the captain's armband to Kaitlyn Sheridan as she walks off.
[1562.12 - 1564.12]:  Symbolic, I think.
[1564.12 - 1567.12]:  Here's Sheridan, the keeper for San Diego.
[1568.12 - 1575.12]:  So San Diego over these last few games under head coach Landon Donovan have been trying to do things slightly differently.
[1575.12 - 1582.12]:  Not at their full strength roster, but you can see as they build, they're going to want to build with two holding midfielders.
[1582.12 - 1588.12]:  It's Donniak and Van Eggman, and that allows them to bring pressure a little bit higher on the field and create space in behind.
[1588.12 - 1595.12]:  Now with Amira Ali and she'll be the target as you just saw, but they're going to look often for Cascarino on the far side.
[1596.12 - 1601.12]:  One of their new players in a French international who came over in the summer transfer window.
[1601.12 - 1609.12]:  They're going to try to isolate her as much as possible to see if she can make it hard for this North Carolina defense.
[1610.12 - 1617.12]:  It's been a wild stretch here, Jordan, because, yes, Alex Morgan played her final minutes, but we saw two goals from us.
[1617.12 - 1619.12]:  One from each side already.
[1621.12 - 1623.12]:  Two very hungry teams here tonight.
[1623.12 - 1626.12]:  So if you're just tuning in for Alex Morgan, we are very excited.
[1626.12 - 1629.12]:  But also, NWSL is wild, so buckle up.
[1629.12 - 1632.12]:  Donniak, muscled away by Ryan Williams.
[1632.12 - 1636.12]:  This is a San Diego team that desperately needs a victory.
[1636.12 - 1638.12]:  Eleven games without a win.
[1638.12 - 1644.12]:  Prior to the 1-1 draw against Washington last week, had lost three straight.
[1644.12 - 1649.12]:  And one of the things that Landon Donovan wants is to let them have the ball a little bit more.
[1649.12 - 1659.12]:  So to create a numerical advantage in various parts of the field, whether it's essentially with the tooling that I just spoke about or in the channel.
[1659.12 - 1661.12]:  But can they make North Carolina uncomfortable?
[1661.12 - 1665.12]:  North Carolina is the best team in NWSL when it comes to possession.
[1665.12 - 1670.12]:  So Landon Donovan told us, can we have the ball a little bit more?
[1670.12 - 1674.12]:  Make them feel uncomfortable by defending for long stretches of time.
[1674.12 - 1678.12]:  I think that's going to be a task in and of itself.
[1678.12 - 1690.12]:  But you've seen a little little glimpses of that from San Diego as they've been building through these first few games under his tutelage.
[1690.12 - 1700.12]:  Donovan, the interim head coach, the second interim for San Diego, also had Paul Buckle, who led this team mostly during the summer cup.
[1700.12 - 1707.12]:  Prior to that, head coach Casey Stoney was relieved of her duties this summer.
[1707.12 - 1715.12]:  He spent a bit of a whirlwind of a year for San Diego.
[1715.12 - 1726.12]:  And that comes off the heels of being the shield winners in NWSL, which means they had the best record in all of regular season in 2023.
[1726.12 - 1728.12]:  And they started off the year winning the challenge cup.
[1728.12 - 1735.12]:  So two trophies back to back and a really difficult stretch in the middle of the season.
[1735.12 - 1744.12]:  Yeah, it was Alex Morgan, actually, who had the game winner in that challenge cup game against Gotham.
[1744.12 - 1750.12]:  Tyler Lucy getting the start today for North Carolina.
[1750.12 - 1752.12]:  Things Alex Morgan kept talking about this week.
[1752.12 - 1756.12]:  It was just all the people that have been there to help her get where she is.
[1756.12 - 1762.12]:  But even even this team, how special this team is, how supportive they are.
[1762.12 - 1766.12]:  And there is this is a really good team on paper.
[1766.12 - 1776.12]:  And I think that that's what landed on him and is hoping to bring out another header for North Carolina.
[1777.12 - 1779.12]:  My goodness.
[1779.12 - 1783.12]:  Philly row.
[1783.12 - 1791.12]:  Well, North Carolina, not a dominant team when it comes to set pieces, but they score early through a Hopkins header goal.
[1791.12 - 1794.12]:  And then on the opposite side, they get their next corner and they make it count.
[1794.12 - 1796.12]:  And this service from Berkeley is in the mix.
[1796.12 - 1798.12]:  Look at how many players are in there.
[1798.12 - 1800.12]:  About eight players huddling around.
[1800.12 - 1805.12]:  Sheraton making it difficult for her to get to the ball and feely row.
[1805.12 - 1813.12]:  All five foot seven of her finds the way to be the one that towers above to find it in the near post.
[1813.12 - 1815.12]:  Really good work from her.
[1815.12 - 1825.12]:  She gets a bronze in the Olympics this summer and her first goal in NWSL just a couple games later.
[1825.12 - 1829.12]:  Well, I don't think I thought this was going to be a game of aerial duels.
[1829.12 - 1832.12]:  That's what it's turned into.
[1832.12 - 1840.12]:  It started with Haley Hopkins for North Carolina feely row is the second score for the courage.
[1840.12 - 1844.12]:  And every single goal gets checked from VAR.
[1844.12 - 1852.12]:  But what they're looking at right here is I mentioned the ball that went in from Berkeley and it was hard for Kaylin Sheridan to get there.
[1852.12 - 1859.12]:  And I think the chatter is about Danny Weatherholt there who is standing in front of the goalkeeper.
[1859.12 - 1864.12]:  Is she impeding Sheridan's play to get to the ball?
[1864.12 - 1865.12]:  That's what they're looking at.
[1865.12 - 1866.12]:  Is that a foul?
[1866.12 - 1870.12]:  I don't think it's enough for a foul.
[1870.12 - 1879.12]:  So check complete goal confirmed to one goal lead now for the courage.
[1879.12 - 1882.12]:  You didn't have three corner kick goals on your bingo card.
[1882.12 - 1886.12]:  Absolutely not because both of these teams are pretty solid defensively.
[1886.12 - 1890.12]:  So you don't tend to give those up often.
[1890.12 - 1895.12]:  North Carolina heading into this game, I can see to just 19 goals.
[1895.12 - 1902.12]:  Now, of course, 20 with that Kennedy Wesley score right before Alex Morgan was subbed off.
[1902.12 - 1907.12]:  And then for San Diego, they've now conceded 22 on the season.
[1908.12 - 1912.12]:  Heading into this weekend, that was fourth best in the league.
[1912.12 - 1917.12]:  And San Diego has built themselves on being a very solid defensive team.
[1917.12 - 1921.12]:  And a lot of it happens because you have one of the best defending forwards in the world.
[1921.12 - 1924.12]:  Alex Morgan starts it from the nine position.
[1924.12 - 1929.12]:  But then when you go all the way back to their back line, they have the best defender.
[1929.12 - 1933.12]:  Should I say top five players in the world in Naomi Gurma.
[1933.12 - 1940.12]:  So they have this solid base that they could build off of just a couple of years ago when they came into the league.
[1940.12 - 1945.12]:  And now that's just continued as they layer in different coaches now, different tactics.
[1945.12 - 1950.12]:  They always can rely that they're going to be a tough team to break down defensively.
[1950.12 - 1953.12]:  And they have the best goalkeeper in the world.
[1953.12 - 1956.12]:  And Kaitlyn Sheridan in that.
[1956.12 - 1961.12]:  Well, for San Diego, five clean sheets on the year, it's really just been finding the back of the net.
[1961.12 - 1963.12]:  That's been an issue for them.
[1963.12 - 1966.12]:  Fifteen goals now on the NWSL regular season.
[1966.12 - 1970.12]:  That's as much as Temua Chawinga for Kansas City has.
[1970.12 - 1973.12]:  The Golden Boot leader right now in the NWSL as an individual.
[1973.12 - 1975.12]:  That's an incredible stat.
[1975.12 - 1982.12]:  And this is where San Diego has been searching and desperately searching, I would say,
[1982.12 - 1985.12]:  to figure out how they are going to score goals.
[1985.12 - 1987.12]:  They've made some changes.
[1987.12 - 1990.12]:  Bringing in Delphine Cascarino is a big one.
[1990.12 - 1994.12]:  And I think it's going to help them as she integrates herself into the squad.
[1994.12 - 2002.12]:  Maria Sanchez playing her more in a 10 position instead of out wide is going to get her on the ball more as they try to build through the lines.
[2002.12 - 2008.12]:  So there's little, little clues into what San Diego is trying to do.
[2008.12 - 2013.12]:  But they haven't found the right attacking pieces at the right moments.
[2013.12 - 2019.12]:  Williams runs out of space.
[2020.12 - 2024.12]:  Well, let's toss it to Jenny Chu for more on Alex Morgan.
[2024.12 - 2025.12]:  Thanks, ladies.
[2025.12 - 2027.12]:  Being here in person is just so special.
[2027.12 - 2035.12]:  The symbolic 13th minute substitute, her taking off her cleats, stepping off the pitch, having her ground, her feet hit the ground,
[2035.12 - 2037.12]:  the hugs from her entire team, the chants.
[2037.12 - 2039.12]:  I know you guys heard it on the broadcast as well.
[2039.12 - 2041.12]:  Alex Morgan.
[2041.12 - 2046.12]:  What a moment for the icon as she symbolically does everything.
[2046.12 - 2048.12]:  A beautiful goodbye.
[2048.12 - 2049.12]:  Thanks, Jenny.
[2049.12 - 2050.12]:  I love that.
[2050.12 - 2053.12]:  Let her feet hit the ground.
[2053.12 - 2055.12]:  Those feet have done a lot.
[2055.12 - 2057.12]:  They deserve a rest.
[2057.12 - 2059.12]:  They deserve a rest.
[2059.12 - 2068.12]:  But it goes back to what I was saying about how aware she was of soaking in every single moment to ground herself.
[2068.12 - 2073.12]:  Now grounded in her family and her future family.
[2074.12 - 2085.12]:  But also appreciating what the field has done for her, the platform it has provided her and what these fans who support her year after year
[2085.12 - 2089.12]:  through the ups and downs, what they have done.
[2089.12 - 2091.12]:  It was a really beautiful moment.
[2091.12 - 2092.12]:  It was nice to hear those chants.
[2092.12 - 2094.12]:  I liked Jenny chanting, too.
[2094.12 - 2098.12]:  I want I could have heard it more, Jenny.
[2099.12 - 2103.12]:  Corner for San Diego in Swinger.
[2103.12 - 2106.12]:  It was Donniak who was there and it ricocheted.
[2106.12 - 2109.12]:  It looked like off of Wesley.
[2112.12 - 2113.12]:  Donniak upset.
[2113.12 - 2116.12]:  I think that it was yet another corner, but it's smart.
[2116.12 - 2126.12]:  Play it into the mixer because neither team has proved so far in this match that they are proficient on defensive corner kicks.
[2126.12 - 2132.12]:  Donniak just couldn't quite get it back on frame and she's going to play an important role in this game.
[2132.12 - 2138.12]:  Can she get on the ball often and help San Diego progress the ball higher up in the field?
[2138.12 - 2145.12]:  But right now San Diego has done a good job of turning North Carolina over higher on the field, regaining the ball, earning corner kicks.
[2145.12 - 2149.12]:  That one coming from Amir Ali.
[2150.12 - 2157.12]:  Ali has not scored in 2024 the regular season for San Diego.
[2157.12 - 2160.12]:  The wave down a goal at home.
[2160.12 - 2165.12]:  Cascarino, the new addition on the centerpiece opportunity.
[2175.12 - 2178.12]:  Wesley again this time wide.
[2180.12 - 2185.12]:  That would have been I laugh because that doesn't happen often.
[2185.12 - 2194.12]:  You barely get three goals off of corner kicks, let alone four here, but it's great service from Delphine Cascarino in the back post.
[2194.12 - 2197.12]:  But Wesley just overruns that she has to come backwards.
[2197.12 - 2204.12]:  It takes some of the direction off of the ball with the emotions of the game.
[2204.12 - 2207.12]:  Now feeling like these teams can actually start to play.
[2208.12 - 2210.12]:  I think we're going to see a little bit more from North Carolina.
[2210.12 - 2214.12]:  This is, as I mentioned, the best possession team in the entire league.
[2214.12 - 2220.12]:  They play where they tried to create this box centrally and you can kind of see it now.
[2221.12 - 2223.12]:  It's always in the half space.
[2223.12 - 2230.12]:  Can they be in between lines in between seams of defenders always creating an outlet for the person on the ball?
[2230.12 - 2236.12]:  A little too aggressive there for Ashley Sanchez.
[2242.12 - 2247.12]:  Sanchez is really the engine for North Carolina.
[2247.12 - 2250.12]:  I don't see a foul there.
[2250.12 - 2255.12]:  I think Mengas touches it and then Sanchez skirts around her.
[2256.12 - 2258.12]:  I think she gets lucky to get away with that.
[2258.12 - 2265.12]:  And Mengas has to be tidier in those moments because they rely on her as one of those double sixes to build the ball out.
[2265.12 - 2268.12]:  But she can be loose at times in her possession.
[2268.12 - 2273.12]:  So can she not only be an outlet, but know when the time is to take multiple touches.
[2273.12 - 2277.12]:  Sometimes it's okay to just bounce pass it back into a center back.
[2278.12 - 2280.12]:  The line goes up.
[2280.12 - 2287.12]:  Melanie Varsenis, the 16 year old, has played more and more for San Diego.
[2288.12 - 2292.12]:  This is her third start in the regular season Varsenis.
[2295.12 - 2296.12]:  And I think I just said Mengas.
[2296.12 - 2298.12]:  I met Emily Van Eggman.
[2299.12 - 2300.12]:  I got Bay on my mind.
[2300.12 - 2304.12]:  Yes, we did do that game to be fair last night.
[2304.12 - 2316.12]:  In the midfield now with Hopkins.
[2316.12 - 2319.12]:  Wesley on her back.
[2319.12 - 2322.12]:  Quick touches here for North Carolina.
[2322.12 - 2323.12]:  Oh, Sullivan.
[2323.12 - 2334.12]:  Kurtz, who is an iron woman and has been for the last nearly three seasons.
[2334.12 - 2343.12]:  Going into this game where she has played seven thousand one hundred and sixty two straight minutes in the U.S.L.
[2343.12 - 2346.12]:  Does that make you tired just thinking about that a little bit?
[2346.12 - 2347.12]:  It doesn't seem like it.
[2347.12 - 2353.12]:  She plays with just so much energy and she's paired nicely with Malia Berkeley this year.
[2356.12 - 2362.12]:  That relationship has blossomed a lot between those two and Kurtz is an iron woman in name,
[2362.12 - 2364.12]:  but also what she can provide for them.
[2364.12 - 2366.12]:  The bite defensively.
[2366.12 - 2369.12]:  She'll step into the midfield to make the tackles if need be.
[2369.12 - 2374.12]:  But one of the benefits to having her back there is her ability to distribute not just short balls,
[2374.12 - 2383.12]:  but also picking and choosing the times to bypass the midfield and try to stretch the opponent's back line.
[2383.12 - 2386.12]:  Berkeley.
[2386.12 - 2388.12]:  Lucy in a space now head on a swivel.
[2388.12 - 2394.12]:  Tyler Lucy on a cross and it's broken up.
[2394.12 - 2397.12]:  Wesley got a piece of that one.
[2397.12 - 2403.12]:  It's going to bring us to the hydration break here in the first half.
[2403.12 - 2407.12]:  What a first half it has been.
[2407.12 - 2411.12]:  Then we saw three goals combined.
[2411.12 - 2417.12]:  We saw the final minutes of Alex Morgan's career.
[2417.12 - 2419.12]:  And we saw a penalty.
[2419.12 - 2429.12]:  Morgan got a chance to share this moment with her daughter, Charlie, which I think has been so special to watch.
[2429.12 - 2431.12]:  Her connection is beautiful.
[2431.12 - 2434.12]:  And Charlie has been embraced with this San Diego team.
[2434.12 - 2437.12]:  I saw an interview that the interview Alex Morgan gave this week.
[2437.12 - 2441.12]:  She said that Hillary Beale, the backup keeper, is Charlie's favorite right now.
[2441.12 - 2445.12]:  Yeah, it's so cool to have moms on your teams.
[2445.12 - 2451.12]:  When I played for Boston Breakers, Christine Lilly brought her girls in all the time and you grow so close to them.
[2451.12 - 2466.12]:  And I think for Alex to see her daughter grow up next to such strong role models, women who pursue what they want and are so kind to her daughter and her.
[2466.12 - 2476.12]:  It's got to be the best way to be able to raise a daughter, something I know that she's cherished with Charlie and Charlie's got some skills.
[2476.12 - 2480.12]:  Well, she said this week that Charlie said she wanted to be a soccer player.
[2480.12 - 2496.12]:  And, you know, Alex Morgan didn't say this, but I think that has so much to do with how she has inspired her daughter and all these little girls around the globe that she must just be so proud of what her mom has accomplished.
[2496.12 - 2501.12]:  And she's having a ball today, too.
[2501.12 - 2519.12]:  I think it's cool that they have this, that they'll get to watch this back when Charlie is older and to see the experience she's had with her mom after the games, win or lose, kicking the soccer ball around on the field.
[2519.12 - 2527.12]:  Just so happy for Alex and Servando that they're adding another addition to their family and Charlie gets to be a big sister.
[2527.12 - 2532.12]:  Maybe a little sooner, as she said, than they were hoping she was hoping she could make it through the end of the year.
[2532.12 - 2535.12]:  But not everybody gets to pick when their last game is.
[2535.12 - 2543.12]:  So I think it's a benefit that Alex got to know, hey, this is going to be my last game and I get to invite everybody.
[2543.12 - 2551.12]:  I get to understand that I can soak up every single moment knowing it was going to be my last.
[2551.12 - 2562.12]:  And it feels like she's done that throughout not just her time on the field, but when we saw her come in, she was talking to Jenny when she was eyes closed during the national anthem.
[2562.12 - 2565.12]:  She's just trying to take it all in.
[2565.12 - 2573.12]:  Well, I got to ask Charlie where she got those sunglasses she was wearing when she walked in pretty iconic, I would say.
[2573.12 - 2577.12]:  But again, just celebrating an icon here in San Diego tonight.
[2577.12 - 2588.12]:  And now Alex Morgan watches on as her team tries to claw its way back from a deficit in this first half.
[2589.12 - 2593.12]:  Weatherholt, Van Eggman on her back.
[2593.12 - 2597.12]:  Rao, who has scored.
[2597.12 - 2600.12]:  Hopkins.
[2600.12 - 2602.12]:  Berkeley off the swing now for North Carolina.
[2602.12 - 2606.12]:  Here comes that possession style that they play.
[2606.12 - 2609.12]:  Switching the point of attack.
[2609.12 - 2615.12]:  Sixty one percent possession against Kansas City in that two one victory last week for North Carolina.
[2615.12 - 2623.12]:  It was the 17th time since the start of last year that they've had 60 or more percentage wise possession.
[2623.12 - 2629.12]:  It's incredible number and it just speaks to what Shawn has created with this courage team.
[2629.12 - 2631.12]:  Such an identity.
[2632.12 - 2636.12]:  I really appreciate what Shawn has done at North Carolina.
[2636.12 - 2643.12]:  And just to put it in perspective, he took over Shawn has took over about three and a half or two and a half years ago.
[2643.12 - 2644.12]:  Excuse me.
[2644.12 - 2651.12]:  And in that first year was the first time that or the last time they haven't out possessed an opponent.
[2651.12 - 2655.12]:  And it was only by like a percent and a half they got out possessed.
[2655.12 - 2663.12]:  And since then in 48 straight games, North Carolina has out possessed opponents every single time.
[2663.12 - 2673.12]:  It's they love the ball and they have grown into this and players now want to be a part of the North Carolina courage because you understand their identity.
[2673.12 - 2674.12]:  You know you're going to get the ball a lot.
[2674.12 - 2684.12]:  You know your position is going to be important and there's some fluidity in it, but you also can understand the roles that are out there on the field and see how you fit into it.
[2685.12 - 2689.12]:  Lovely ball ahead to Sanchez and then it ricochets off a defender there.
[2689.12 - 2697.12]:  Cascarino, McNabb, Donniak, Van Eggman, now for San Diego looking to push the pace a little bit.
[2700.12 - 2701.12]:  Westfall.
[2702.12 - 2704.12]:  Starting out right back today.
[2704.12 - 2705.12]:  Barcenas.
[2705.12 - 2713.12]:  Batter through the air and just unable to really make good contact for Sanchez.
[2719.12 - 2721.12]:  Cascarino dispossessed on that one.
[2721.12 - 2722.12]:  O'Sullivan.
[2725.12 - 2729.12]:  Second best 11 last year in the NWSL Denise O'Sullivan.
[2730.12 - 2733.12]:  So important to this midfield for North Carolina.
[2733.12 - 2734.12]:  Lucy drives it forward.
[2735.12 - 2737.12]:  Pass back to her left footed shot.
[2737.12 - 2739.12]:  Tyler Lucy off the post.
[2739.12 - 2745.12]:  It looked like Saint George was celebrating thinking that it went in and just couldn't get to the rebound.
[2746.12 - 2754.12]:  What a quick dynamic attack switching the point in two passes from North Carolina to expose a little bit of space here on the near side.
[2755.12 - 2759.12]:  They're a pretty dominant right sided team when they attack.
[2759.12 - 2761.12]:  Almost 50% of their attacks come from that right side.
[2761.12 - 2765.12]:  So when they can isolate on the left, they try to take advantage.
[2767.12 - 2769.12]:  Lucy does have four goals this year.
[2770.12 - 2772.12]:  Hopkins on the turn.
[2773.12 - 2775.12]:  I'm too far in front of Saint George.
[2775.12 - 2791.12]:  And this is what I'm talking about this quick train change of possession from the right side to the to the left.
[2791.12 - 2795.12]:  And here Lucy with a one two and she just pings it off the far post.
[2795.12 - 2796.12]:  Caitlin Sharon.
[2796.12 - 2798.12]:  It doesn't have a chance on this one.
[2798.12 - 2801.12]:  Well struck from Lucy with her left foot.
[2802.12 - 2805.12]:  You could see the surprise there from Saint George.
[2805.12 - 2807.12]:  She's thinking it's going inside netting.
[2807.12 - 2809.12]:  She's ready to celebrate goal number three.
[2815.12 - 2822.12]:  Cascarino settles now into the 18 against William shoots and lifts out one high.
[2823.12 - 2825.12]:  That's what Cascarino wants it in.
[2825.12 - 2835.12]:  San Diego is going to have to find her often in these spaces where she can get out of defender one V one and try to cut it back into her dominant right foot.
[2835.12 - 2841.12]:  She has scored goal after goal with Olympic Leon like this right there.
[2841.12 - 2847.12]:  You could see Ryan Williams savvy to it knowing that she's a right footed player was ready to deny the shot centrally.
[2853.12 - 2854.12]:  Van Eggman.
[2855.12 - 2856.12]:  Wesley.
[2858.12 - 2863.12]:  Wesley has been thrust into that starting center back role as Abby Dahlkember was treated to BFC.
[2863.12 - 2864.12]:  She's done well.
[2864.12 - 2866.12]:  First is off her left foot.
[2866.12 - 2869.12]:  And it rattles off of Berkeley and out of play.
[2869.12 - 2873.12]:  There's so much trickery to Melanie bar sign us.
[2875.12 - 2876.12]:  Just a young player.
[2876.12 - 2902.12]:  But man every time she gets on the ball you have to be aware and one of the things Donovan is asking more of her is to be more direct get at players and you can see there she goes quickly to find her left foot centrally earns a corner kick through a little deflection Sanchez opportunity for a second ball.
[2907.12 - 2910.12]:  Being pestered by O'Sullivan doesn't get one off.
[2927.12 - 2929.12]:  Westfall Ali.
[2930.12 - 2931.12]:  Barsenas.
[2936.12 - 2942.12]:  They spoke to her barsenas puts it across Ali broken up and cleared out by Sun Sanchez.
[2943.12 - 2955.12]:  That's one of the things you can do too because if you're a defender you know barsenas is going to want to take you on one B1 and start and stop and make you look silly to be honest.
[2956.12 - 2960.12]:  Well she can then lure in other teammates to then combine and connect.
[2960.12 - 2962.12]:  It's a great one to find her in space.
[2962.12 - 2964.12]:  It's now that final product.
[2964.12 - 2973.12]:  Can she find the right pass with the right texture to allow her teammates running in and Sanchez and Ali to get on the end of it.
[2974.12 - 2986.12]:  Well Landon Donovan said the next step for barsenas too is just putting teams under a little more pressure and wants her to you know play without the ball as well.
[2989.12 - 2994.12]:  Just such a young player 16 for San Diego.
[2994.12 - 3007.12]:  Weatherhole surges Sanchez on the spin Williams.
[3011.12 - 3012.12]:  St. George.
[3014.12 - 3017.12]:  Ryan Williams in her seventh NWSL season.
[3018.12 - 3019.12]:  Wow.
[3020.12 - 3021.12]:  For Lucy.
[3026.12 - 3031.12]:  It's cleared out by McNabb McNabb did score the last game against Washington.
[3031.12 - 3033.12]:  It was in the 68th minute.
[3035.12 - 3043.12]:  The first half actually an own goal had gone off of her so able to get some revenge and help her team walk away with a point.
[3044.12 - 3045.12]:  William swerves.
[3046.12 - 3047.12]:  Girma.
[3048.12 - 3049.12]:  Last to touch and here comes a corner.
[3052.12 - 3065.12]:  You can see Girma right away trying to get San Diego quickly to organize get their heads right because this is where North Carolina has been most dangerous through the first 45 minutes is here on set pieces from the corner.
[3066.12 - 3076.12]:  So if you are going to be in this half man marking half zonal system the zone has to win the ball and you cannot let your man find any bit of space.
[3083.12 - 3084.12]:  Berkeley.
[3086.12 - 3088.12]:  And that header off the mark from Hopkins.
[3089.12 - 3097.12]:  Great driven ball in though because if you get a little flick there from Hopkins in the right direction it's easily deflected on the goal.
[3104.12 - 3105.12]:  Girma Sheridan.
[3106.12 - 3113.12]:  Two really important future players I think for the San Diego wave and it's not a new thing to say.
[3114.12 - 3115.12]:  Donniak.
[3116.12 - 3120.12]:  A bit of a heavy touch right to St. George got lucky on that one McNabb.
[3121.12 - 3123.12]:  And that's what Sheridan can do.
[3124.12 - 3128.12]:  They want to play with her as the 11th player on the field and make it 11 10 in possession.
[3129.12 - 3138.12]:  She can play short passes but the idea of having a goalkeeper can play with their feet is to bring more pressure in and then be able to play through it or beyond it.
[3140.12 - 3142.12]:  Find overloads or space.
[3143.12 - 3145.12]:  After that first line of pressure.
[3148.12 - 3157.12]:  And it's been difficult for San Diego because they've had three coaches this year and so everyone's come with some new ideas and this is a new kind of look from Donovan.
[3158.12 - 3160.12]:  He said he's OK with them making mistakes.
[3160.12 - 3174.12]:  Yeah and it's new for Kaitlyn Sheridan because it's a pretty aggressive starting place that he wants her to be at but she is so comfortable with the ball at her feet that she can take that responsibility easily.
[3175.12 - 3186.12]:  Doesn't scare her but in their game in the CONCACAF league she was almost at half field and played the ball.
[3186.12 - 3201.12]:  Well Jordan this is a mega cast and it's due to the N.W.S.L. Commissioner Jessica Berman. She had a lot of foresight of how important this event was going to be.
[3202.12 - 3212.12]:  And of course the impact that Alex Morgan has made on both the N.W.S.L. the global community. Murphy snags it out of the air Van Eggman trying to make some noise.
[3213.12 - 3223.12]:  And of course CBS Sports recognized the importance of this moment together with Prime Video and ESPN and everyone just partnered to make this so special.
[3224.12 - 3230.12]:  And one of the things that commissioner Jessica Berman has been able to do since she came into this league is just see things differently.
[3231.12 - 3248.12]:  To put a foresight on this league to do something like this say hey we have great media partners. Let's honor someone like Alex Morgan with the send off they should have and all come together with this simulcast.
[3249.12 - 3257.12]:  She's done that here. She did that recently where she went to the CBA and said there are the players union and said hey let's negotiate a CBA early.
[3258.12 - 3267.12]:  Slips through St. George has a chance and she takes advantage. Three goals for North Carolina in the first half.
[3267.12 - 3291.12]:  North Carolina can punish you in one of the ways they can is Malia Berkeley will oftentimes dribble into the midfield when she doesn't have pressure she goes on a little meandering run here weaving through the
[3291.12 - 3315.12]:  midfield and then dipping the ball in to St. George and this gets a kind of deflection half of McNabb but this is the space that they want to exploit at times they're so tricky with their quick combination plays in the middle of the field that this is then a shock to defenses quick a quick dribble a long ball and it's in the back of the net really good work from St.
[3315.12 - 3330.12]:  George to get that on frame and make the most of it what a high scoring half. We've seen four goals. We are now into stoppage time presented by nationwide.
[3346.12 - 3358.12]:  Where does San Diego go from here. Two goal deficit right now at home. So plenty of time to work their way back into this game.
[3358.12 - 3384.12]:  Williams St. George under lapping run to Williams Sanchez in the team shifty with it launches it up looking for Hopkins through the air and St. George knocks it out of play.
[3384.12 - 3408.12]:  It's good creation there from North Carolina because there's constant switching of lines of play. There's a forward that's coming into the midfield space a midfielder getting in behind the back line and it makes it difficult and Shawn has a system for opponents to track runners and know if I should step if I'm Naomi Garment go with the forward or if I should wait for the midfielder to then run in behind.
[3408.12 - 3423.12]:  And that's what makes this system tick and work and a lot of it is now run through Ashley Sanchez who has really found a new life in North Carolina this season past Murphy and everybody else.
[3439.12 - 3464.12]:  Coming up next Carmack's halftime report. There's a lot to dissect. Yeah they're going to it's going to be a busy one huh. Well this is exactly what North Carolina needed those. We talked about only one win away from home that was June twenty ninth at Washington and they've just been so black and white because they have eight wins and a draw at home.
[3464.12 - 3480.12]:  They've been fantastic at Wake Med but on the road at minus ten goal difference and just really struggling. We didn't even bring it up to Sean Nahas and he said I don't even want to talk about the road. I don't want to talk about it the forum that we have been on.
[3480.12 - 3489.12]:  He said his players this week someone saw it was eleven eleven and they were making a wish and someone one of the players goes well we all know what everybody's wishing.
[3489.12 - 3500.12]:  And he said we just have to get out of this funk and one way to do that is to capitalize on big opportunities. Yes set pieces are always the great equalizer.
[3500.12 - 3513.12]:  But then to get a goal in the run of play like they did just a couple of minutes ago through St. George is going to give them a boost going into halftime. No one said the wish out loud. No one did.
[3513.12 - 3534.12]:  But it was all felt. Everybody felt. But isn't that rule number one you can't say the wish so and say it perhaps it's coming true here at Snapdragon Stadium Westfall Wesley Sheridan.
[3534.12 - 3541.12]:  And this is where San Diego has to be a little bit better. Look at the stagnant players everybody's standing here.
[3541.12 - 3552.12]:  So if you're going to try to build you have to start to pull apart this North Carolina team and see if they can get out of this four two three one press that they're in.
[3552.12 - 3559.12]:  And now we see a little bit more movement but can Van Eggman be more available at times maybe drop a little bit deeper.
[3559.12 - 3565.12]:  So then Sheridan can play a line breaking ball forward right on cue.
[3565.12 - 3591.12]:  It's little things like that when things aren't going right. Those are the motions your teammates need to see to try to jump start an attack right now which it's not enough for San Diego in the build.
[3591.12 - 3599.12]:  Hopkins got us going in this match feels like a long time ago disrupted by the defense there for San Diego.
[3599.12 - 3607.12]:  That was a good example of what I was just talking about. It was St. George who pulls Gurma way out of position by a checking run.
[3607.12 - 3613.12]:  So now there's a gap that Hopkins can run into. And that's the space that Gurma just left.
[3613.12 - 3619.12]:  This is the interchange that makes it difficult to defend when you're playing against North Carolina.
[3619.12 - 3631.12]:  So the conversation between Gurma and the defenders in front of her whether it's Donniak or Van Eggman has to be a little bit better through these last couple of minutes of extra time but really into the second forty five.
[3631.12 - 3641.12]:  Hopkins scored in the fourth minute of this match. Here comes Malia Berkeley on a set piece opportunity.
[3641.12 - 3659.12]:  Nothing much there. It was Kurtz rising for it. Berkeley touched away by Cascarino.
[3659.12 - 3686.12]:  Well the fans think that deflected off of Berkeley and out but it is North Carolina on the throw Kurtz back and forth with O'Sullivan multiple times and now to Berkeley.
[3690.12 - 3693.12]:  That pass from Wetherholt nearly gets through.
[3697.12 - 3709.12]:  Wetherholt playing higher up the field in this game. No Nerumi which Nerumi has been the stalwart for this North Carolina courage team over the last season and a half since she came to NWSL.
[3709.12 - 3714.12]:  So without Nerumi centrally it brings Danny Wetherholt back into a midfield position.
[3714.12 - 3726.12]:  She had been playing left back as Keely Rao was out for the Olympics and then got a little time off coming back from you know just casually winning a bronze medal.
[3726.12 - 3736.12]:  And Wetherholt kind of made that position her own because the way that Shawn Nehas plays you can see Wetherholt right on the left side of your screen by the 30 on the field.
[3737.12 - 3745.12]:  She tucks inside and becomes this pseudo holding midfielder so that was really comfortable for Danny Wetherholt in those moments.
[3745.12 - 3748.12]:  Now we get to see her a little bit higher up on the field.
[3748.12 - 3760.12]:  Nerumi out with a leg injury for North Carolina McNabb. Sanchez is gearing up for one but a bit of a light pass.
[3761.12 - 3769.12]:  Westfall trying to juke out a defender in Lucy but it's Sanchez who steps to Barcenis.
[3778.12 - 3781.12]:  Barcenis gives it away.
[3791.12 - 3793.12]:  Lucy.
[3796.12 - 3801.12]:  There's a collision there in the midfield between Hopkins and Wesley. Hopkins slow to get up.
[3803.12 - 3809.12]:  Haley Hopkins has grown so much in her year and a half here under Shawn Nehas.
[3809.12 - 3817.12]:  Didn't get a lot of playing time last season but has been more consistent her 15th start now for the courage because she understands the system.
[3817.12 - 3829.12]:  You can tell when she's playing in the nine now she knows the times to press the back line or when to come back and play in a false time almost as an additional midfielder to then allow Sanchez to get in behind the back line.
[3831.12 - 3838.12]:  But it doesn't come with without a few whacks that she just got kicked on that last time she was trying to hold the ball up.
[3838.12 - 3849.12]:  Nearing the end of this first half in San Diego.
[3854.12 - 3862.12]:  There's a whistle to end the first 45 minutes celebration of Alex Morgan and all she has accomplished.
[3862.12 - 3871.12]:  We saw her walk off the pitch one final time and right now her team down two goals at home.
[3872.12 - 3882.12]:  It's going to be important halftime for San Diego to make sure one they get refocused and let the emotions all flee and get themselves back in this game.
[3884.12 - 3887.12]:  Well Jenny too is joined by Kennedy Wesley.
[3892.12 - 3898.12]:  You scored right before Alex Morgan came off.
[3898.12 - 3901.12]:  That is the last time that she's going to celebrate a goal with her teammates.
[3901.12 - 3904.12]:  How did it feel to kind of celebrate that with her and give her that.
[3904.12 - 3905.12]:  Yeah super special.
[3905.12 - 3908.12]:  I mean we all knew that this game was for her and her only she's done so much.
[3908.12 - 3914.12]:  Obviously you can't put it into words so it was super special and only the right way to send her off.
[3914.12 - 3920.12]:  So you seem to get back in the game turning from celebrating the icon and honoring her to needing these three points.
[3920.12 - 3921.12]:  How do you guys get back in it.
[3921.12 - 3925.12]:  Yeah I think we're doing some really good things and we're not sharp in areas where we need to be.
[3925.12 - 3930.12]:  So we just need to focus a little bit more lock in and keep doing what we're doing.
[3930.12 - 3931.12]:  Stick to what we know.
[3931.12 - 3932.12]:  Thank you Kennedy.
[3932.12 - 3933.12]:  Yeah thanks.
[3935.12 - 3937.12]:  All smiles for Alex Morgan.
[3938.12 - 3939.12]:  Her final hurrah.
[3940.12 - 3942.12]:  Charlie so proud of her mom.
[3943.12 - 3944.12]:  3-1 is the score.
[3945.12 - 3947.12]:  North Carolina up on San Diego.
[3952.12 - 3954.12]:  Welcome into the Carmack's halftime report.
[3954.12 - 3960.12]:  North Carolina up 3-1 over San Diego Wave at home at Snapdragon Stadium.
[3960.12 - 3968.12]:  But the first 13 minutes of this match were full of big emotions as Alex Morgan said goodbye to the game.
[3968.12 - 3974.12]:  You can see the tears streaming down her face fans chanting her name as she's in the air.
[3974.12 - 3975.12]:  Goodbye to the game.
[3976.12 - 3988.12]:  You can see the tears streaming down her face fans chanting her name as she exited the pitch playing a pretty significant 13 minutes to start this match and to end her incredible career.
[3994.12 - 3996.12]:  Welcome into halftime alongside Darian Jenkins.
[3996.12 - 4003.12]:  I'm Lisa Carlin just 13 minutes of Alex Morgan that we get to see but there was packed 13 minutes.
[4003.12 - 4006.12]:  It was 1-1 at the end when Morgan subbed out.
[4006.12 - 4008.12]:  She had an opportunity to score a penalty kick.
[4008.12 - 4011.12]:  What did you see for Morgan's performance in just 13 minutes?
[4011.12 - 4013.12]:  She looked like OG Alex Morgan.
[4013.12 - 4015.12]:  This is what we expected of her.
[4015.12 - 4019.12]:  Just buzzing around the defensive line causing problems.
[4019.12 - 4021.12]:  She had one opportunity where she cut it to her left.
[4021.12 - 4023.12]:  She had a really really good shot.
[4023.12 - 4024.12]:  It's saved by kissing Murphy.
[4024.12 - 4025.12]:  You know she wants it on the left.
[4025.12 - 4027.12]:  You know she wants it on the left.
[4027.12 - 4029.12]:  We were all hyped looking at it.
[4029.12 - 4033.12]:  And then here a penalty hits off of Denise O'Sullivan's hand.
[4033.12 - 4038.12]:  Mackenzie Doniak immediately raises her hand for the pen and it's AM 13 who steps up.
[4038.12 - 4049.12]:  We were all sitting at the edge of our seats but Casey Murphy had to just be a great goalkeeper extend her tall body and make this save.
[4049.12 - 4054.12]:  But Alex Morgan has a smile after just knowing that you know it was a good opportunity.
[4054.12 - 4055.12]:  It was a great save by Casey.
[4055.12 - 4059.12]:  But I would have loved to see her just walk out on a goal.
[4059.12 - 4061.12]:  But what a way to honor Alex Morgan.
[4061.12 - 4063.12]:  The full 13 minutes we got to see it.
[4063.12 - 4067.12]:  You are not the only one that wanted that goal to go in but hey you have to give it to Casey Murphy.
[4067.12 - 4068.12]:  It was a great save.
[4068.12 - 4069.12]:  She's a competitor.
[4069.12 - 4072.12]:  She's not going to let that go in no matter who's shooting that penalty.
[4072.12 - 4075.12]:  But North Carolina they had an excellent first 45 minutes.
[4075.12 - 4081.12]:  I mean they started the scoring in just the fourth minute and they end up getting three goals to end the first half.
[4081.12 - 4083.12]:  Why were they so dominant?
[4083.12 - 4086.12]:  San Diego can't defend a set piece.
[4086.12 - 4089.12]:  Malia Berkeley's service was impeccable both times.
[4089.12 - 4097.12]:  Rao here getting up and finishing this in chaos and then Malia Berkey dribbling forward through the center of the pitch pushing it over to St.
[4097.12 - 4102.12]:  George with a lucky deflection against McNabb on her end and gets the third goal.
[4102.12 - 4104.12]:  Take a look at the halftime stats.
[4104.12 - 4112.12]:  I mean shots even and shots on target but North Carolina able to just be so efficient in their ability to score.
[4112.12 - 4114.12]:  Two goals off corner kicks.
[4114.12 - 4121.12]:  One coming at the very end of this game but three assists from Malia Berkeley and Alex Morgan said goodbye to the game.
[4121.12 - 4122.12]:  Three one at halftime.
[4122.12 - 4124.12]:  North Carolina up over San Diego.
[4124.12 - 4127.12]:  More from the Carmack's halftime report when we get back.
[4127.12 - 4145.12]:  Half time between San Diego and North Carolina and this is the Carmack's halftime report.
[4145.12 - 4156.12]:  Alex Morgan said goodbye to the game in a historic 13 minutes to start this match and for more we welcome in Jenny to who is pitch side for this match.
[4156.12 - 4161.12]:  Jenny when the 13th minute struck and Alex Morgan's name was called to sub off.
[4161.12 - 4164.12]:  She took her shoes off and she walked off the pitch.
[4164.12 - 4169.12]:  What was the significance of that moment that was also beautiful.
[4169.12 - 4174.12]:  I think that before that what was so important is the fact that the team scores before Alex Morgan comes off the pitch.
[4174.12 - 4176.12]:  We knew she was going to come off the 13th minute.
[4176.12 - 4185.12]:  But the fact that she gets to celebrate with her teammates one last time on the pitch for that goal and you know she's in the locker room just fighting with her teammates yelling at them telling them to keep going
[4185.12 - 4187.12]:  because she is a competitor.
[4187.12 - 4188.12]:  Yes she takes off her cleats.
[4188.12 - 4193.12]:  She walks off barefooted to really take it all in like she said she was going to do today.
[4193.12 - 4199.12]:  It was very emotional to watch his teams both sides coming around to support Alex.
[4199.12 - 4201.12]:  Forty five minutes left in San Diego.
[4201.12 - 4204.12]:  North Carolina up three one over the wave.
[4204.12 - 4213.12]:  This was the Carmack's halftime report.
[4213.12 - 4221.12]:  Ready to start the second half North Carolina and San Diego here at Snapdragon Stadium.
[4221.12 - 4226.12]:  Let's take a look at the Carmack's never settle player spotlight.
[4226.12 - 4230.12]:  And today we're highlighting Alex Morgan from the San Diego way.
[4230.12 - 4231.12]:  I love the title.
[4231.12 - 4233.12]:  What a career.
[4233.12 - 4235.12]:  She deserves the celebration.
[4235.12 - 4241.12]:  She deserves the ovation that she got in Snapdragon Stadium.
[4241.12 - 4242.12]:  She's done it all.
[4242.12 - 4243.12]:  She's won it all.
[4243.12 - 4244.12]:  And now she gets to breathe.
[4244.12 - 4246.12]:  She gets to smile.
[4246.12 - 4254.12]:  She gets to enjoy these last moments of being on a team.
[4254.12 - 4256.12]:  You're underway here in the second half.
[4256.12 - 4268.12]:  Jordan, Angelie, Morris Sheridan, thank you so much for joining us here tonight.
[4268.12 - 4269.12]:  San Diego makes a change.
[4269.12 - 4272.12]:  It's Daniel Colaprico who comes in.
[4272.12 - 4274.12]:  Mackenzie Donia comes out.
[4274.12 - 4278.12]:  Colaprico was listed as questionable with a knee injury.
[4278.12 - 4280.12]:  Turns out she's good to go.
[4280.12 - 4286.12]:  And this helps San Diego in the build that they're trying to create here underland in Donovan.
[4286.12 - 4290.12]:  They want to build with two holding midfielders at Stanley Colaprico's bread and butter.
[4290.12 - 4297.12]:  She's played that position since she came into the league in Chicago all the way back in 2015.
[4298.12 - 4302.12]:  And she came to San Diego hoping to help build this team.
[4302.12 - 4303.12]:  And she's done that.
[4303.12 - 4305.12]:  We talked about the shield they won last year.
[4305.12 - 4307.12]:  And she's on the ball here.
[4307.12 - 4310.12]:  She's just going to help calm them down in the build.
[4310.12 - 4326.12]:  Be an available player for Girma to play to there on the left side.
[4326.12 - 4329.12]:  Williams on the throw.
[4329.12 - 4336.12]:  Ben Eggman, Colaprico.
[4336.12 - 4339.12]:  Colaprico is sprinting to its weather hole instead.
[4339.12 - 4341.12]:  The other way with Tyler Lucie.
[4341.12 - 4345.12]:  Some added energy from Colaprico, which this wave team needed.
[4345.12 - 4346.12]:  They're down two goals.
[4346.12 - 4353.12]:  This is an important game for them, not just because they're honoring Alex Morgan and they want her to end on a victory,
[4353.12 - 4356.12]:  but because where they're sitting in the table, 12th right now.
[4356.12 - 4361.12]:  Every single game now until the end of the year is going to be important.
[4361.12 - 4366.12]:  And three points are a necessity, especially at home where you can control the environment a little bit more.
[4366.12 - 4371.12]:  So they're going to need that extra added energy that Colaprico has already brought.
[4371.12 - 4375.12]:  All three wins for San Diego have come at home this year.
[4375.12 - 4379.12]:  And look, the middle of the pack, it's getting kind of crazy.
[4379.12 - 4380.12]:  It's heating up.
[4380.12 - 4383.12]:  We're seeing Seattle, a team that's now on a seven game unbeaten streak.
[4383.12 - 4387.12]:  We just saw Bay with an assertive win over racing Louisville last night.
[4387.12 - 4391.12]:  And so teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack.
[4391.12 - 4400.12]:  And if you want to make a playoff push in your San Diego, it needs to start right now.
[4400.12 - 4401.12]:  And this is NWSL.
[4401.12 - 4404.12]:  It gets really tight, including this game for both these teams.
[4404.12 - 4405.12]:  There's eight games left.
[4405.12 - 4412.12]:  So you're starting to get down to six point games and games that you have to win to keep yourself alive,
[4412.12 - 4417.12]:  which we saw Angel City do very well last year at the end of the year.
[4417.12 - 4422.12]:  But when you're talking right in the middle of the pack, the numbers get close.
[4422.12 - 4430.12]:  Portland is sixth with 27 points and San Diego's in 12th at 16th.
[4431.12 - 4432.12]:  That's how close it is.
[4432.12 - 4435.12]:  Eleven points between sixth and 12th.
[4435.12 - 4437.12]:  So there's going to be a lot of shuffling.
[4437.12 - 4446.12]:  There's going to be teams trying to fight and scrap and claw their way to those top eight spots.
[4446.12 - 4449.12]:  And for San Diego, they need wins right now.
[4449.12 - 4452.12]:  It is necessity.
[4452.12 - 4456.12]:  And remember, San Diego has made the postseason in each of the last two years.
[4456.12 - 4463.12]:  They only started as a club in twenty twenty two, made it in their first season with ten wins in twenty twenty two
[4463.12 - 4470.12]:  and then followed that up with eleven wins in twenty twenty three and an NWSL shield with everything happening.
[4470.12 - 4475.12]:  We haven't really talked about the health of the San Diego team.
[4475.12 - 4484.12]:  Cascarino McNabb centers now Ali looked to turn and fire.
[4484.12 - 4486.12]:  Her weather hold says no.
[4486.12 - 4488.12]:  McNabb keeps it.
[4488.12 - 4491.12]:  Mercedes slams that one off a defender.
[4491.12 - 4495.12]:  Westfall McNabb off her left foot, blocked.
[4495.12 - 4498.12]:  It's Sanchez this time.
[4498.12 - 4501.12]:  This team hasn't been healthy.
[4501.12 - 4505.12]:  Kyra Caruso, two goals on the season, a good center forward.
[4505.12 - 4508.12]:  An international player injured right now.
[4508.12 - 4516.12]:  Shaw, one of the best players on this team through the last year and a half, injured and not available.
[4516.12 - 4522.12]:  See how different they could be with some of those players in the attack who have scored goals for them already this season.
[4522.12 - 4531.12]:  Those are two of their top three goal scorers and they're not available.
[4531.12 - 4535.12]:  Lucy, we can say a similar thing about North Carolina.
[4535.12 - 4539.12]:  They've been without Caroline this entire season.
[4539.12 - 4540.12]:  Right.
[4540.12 - 4549.12]:  It's not like either team of these teams have been healthy, but the thing that differentiates them more is North Carolina has stability through their head coach.
[4549.12 - 4553.12]:  It has been the same for two and a half years and they know what to expect.
[4553.12 - 4556.12]:  Game in and game out under Shawn Nahas for San Diego.
[4556.12 - 4564.12]:  This is the third coach in one season in three different styles and you can see there are moments where it looks a little disjointed on the field.
[4564.12 - 4566.12]:  But you can't blame the players.
[4566.12 - 4571.12]:  They're trying to do their best right now with what they've been given under Landon Donovan.
[4571.12 - 4577.12]:  They're trying to implement his style, but it can be confusing.
[4577.12 - 4580.12]:  And then you have the injuries on top of that, right?
[4580.12 - 4587.12]:  And I think the transfer of Abby Doll Kemper, who was the first player signed with San Diego, now Alex Morgan retires.
[4587.12 - 4592.12]:  It's time for an identity shift for San Diego and they have to figure out what that's going to be.
[4592.12 - 4593.12]:  Yeah.
[4593.12 - 4597.12]:  I like the inclusion of the two French players.
[4597.12 - 4599.12]:  Delphine Cascarino will really be important.
[4599.12 - 4606.12]:  And then Pearl Moroni, who is on the bench available today, a left footed outside back.
[4606.12 - 4608.12]:  That's a different dynamic to the attack.
[4608.12 - 4613.12]:  Promising now for Westfall, but she launches that one right to Murphy.
[4613.12 - 4618.12]:  Jenny Chu is joined by NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.
[4618.12 - 4619.12]:  Thank you, guys.
[4619.12 - 4620.12]:  Jessica Berman.
[4620.12 - 4621.12]:  So happy to be here with you.
[4621.12 - 4626.12]:  Let's talk about this occasion that we are here celebrating the goat that is Alex Morgan.
[4626.12 - 4628.12]:  And it is across all platforms.
[4628.12 - 4629.12]:  How did that come to be?
[4629.12 - 4638.12]:  We heard, of course, like everyone just a few days ago that she was going to make today her final game and was announcing that she was pregnant and was actually going to get on the field.
[4638.12 - 4640.12]:  And we knew that the whole world need to see this.
[4640.12 - 4646.12]:  Boys, girls, men, women, everyone from all backgrounds should have the opportunity to see Alex everywhere.
[4646.12 - 4648.12]:  And that was our vision to bring to life.
[4648.12 - 4654.12]:  And within 24 hours of talking to our partners, they all came together and said no one should own this exclusively.
[4654.12 - 4660.12]:  Everyone should share in this moment so that we could put the fan first and make sure Alex gets the moment she deserves.
[4660.12 - 4666.12]:  When you think about her impact on this week as MLS and WSL Commissioner, how much has she done for this week?
[4666.12 - 4670.12]:  Well, it's a choice to do what she does off the field.
[4670.12 - 4675.12]:  And I think that's the thing that's made her beyond reproach and actually the true goat.
[4675.12 - 4685.12]:  But, of course, on the field, she's broken all records, all barriers, and she really walks the walk and is able to really show up off the field because she does the work on the field.
[4685.12 - 4688.12]:  And I think that's the thing that she's done really at every step of her career.
[4688.12 - 4690.12]:  She's been an inspiration coming into this league.
[4690.12 - 4703.12]:  She was the one who really used her platform to call to action the changes that needed to happen for this league that has now manifested a world where we have 28,000 people here cheering for her and her team.
[4703.12 - 4707.12]:  12,000 tickets were sold in one day when she announced that this was going to be her last game.
[4707.12 - 4709.12]:  That's the power of Alex Morgan.
[4709.12 - 4714.12]:  That is the star power that she holds, but also the new CBA as well, having a part in that.
[4714.12 - 4717.12]:  And I know you guys are so proud to have come together with the Players Association for that.
[4717.12 - 4718.12]:  We are.
[4718.12 - 4720.12]:  And Alex was actually part of that.
[4720.12 - 4723.12]:  I don't know that people know that, but she's actually a player rep.
[4723.12 - 4727.12]:  That means that she puts in the time off the field, with the union, with the league.
[4727.12 - 4730.12]:  She shows up to bargaining sessions, and she was part of the negotiation.
[4730.12 - 4740.12]:  This is really important to her to make our players free agents, to really give them put in the position of power to be able to say that I want to have free choice of where I play.
[4740.12 - 4742.12]:  And that's the global standard in this sport.
[4742.12 - 4750.12]:  We as a league are prepared to be held to that standard, and we're embracing it and working together to build this league in what we know can be the best league in the world.
[4750.12 - 4757.12]:  When you see all of these young girls here chanting Alex Morgan's name and the fact that she has raised the standard for everybody, what does it mean?
[4757.12 - 4758.12]:  It's incredible.
[4758.12 - 4767.12]:  I mean, I met little girls walking in today who were chanting for her, but also with signs saying it's because of you that I play.
[4767.12 - 4772.12]:  It's because of you I aspire to be a professional athlete, but it's also the little boys, and I'm a mom of two boys.
[4772.12 - 4777.12]:  And seeing the way that they see women and girls differently because of her is equally important.
[4777.12 - 4787.12]:  Her impact, I think, is indescribable, and I don't think we're going to really know the true impact until many years to come when we see the next, next, next generation.
[4787.12 - 4792.12]:  Alex Morgan, maybe Charlie will be in this league and will be playing on the field.
[4792.12 - 4794.12]:  Beautiful. Thank you so much for your time.
[4794.12 - 4797.12]:  Thank you so much.
[4797.12 - 4800.12]:  Well, I love what Commissioner Berman said there about raising the standard.
[4800.12 - 4808.12]:  Alex Morgan has done that, and then the commissioner and the rest of the league has followed suit.
[4808.12 - 4812.12]:  St. George trying to one-time it in just wide on that one.
[4812.12 - 4814.12]:  This is where San Diego has to do a little bit better.
[4814.12 - 4820.12]:  They go high press, and when it gets broken, there's a big gap between their midfield and their back line.
[4820.12 - 4826.12]:  And we saw it from Malia Berkley earlier with the assist she got at the end of the first half there.
[4826.12 - 4829.12]:  It's Feli Rao who's just dribbling at the back line.
[4829.12 - 4833.12]:  No one's stepping, so they're going to have to push.
[4833.12 - 4834.12]:  They're down two goals.
[4834.12 - 4841.12]:  San Diego needs to figure out a way to create a way that when they do go, they keep it contained to one side.
[4841.12 - 4843.12]:  You cannot let the ball out.
[4843.12 - 4847.12]:  If you go press on the left side to switch the point attack there to the right,
[4847.12 - 4854.12]:  because you can see all the space that North Carolina can eat up if that does happen.
[4854.12 - 4863.12]:  Well, Landon Donovan did say to us that Cascarino is going to be the person they lean on in the final third in this match to get the job done.
[4863.12 - 4865.12]:  But, of course, she's not scored in the NWSL.
[4865.12 - 4870.12]:  This is only start number two for her with the San Diego Wave.
[4871.12 - 4876.12]:  But she's a goal scorer, and that's what she's done in this winger position everywhere she's played,
[4876.12 - 4879.12]:  not only with Olympic Leon.
[4879.12 - 4883.12]:  She was there from her youth days just until recently.
[4883.12 - 4888.12]:  She's had 23 titles in France, but 45 goals.
[4888.12 - 4890.12]:  So she likes to pick up the ball.
[4890.12 - 4894.12]:  But one of the things that you're going to have to manage is if you do high press,
[4894.12 - 4901.12]:  she's not going to have the space to then drive into to find that cut into her right foot.
[4901.12 - 4908.12]:  So can players around her make sure that they're supporting her to quickly combine and make sure she's not the only one carrying the weight.
[4912.12 - 4913.12]:  Sanchez.
[4913.12 - 4915.12]:  That's a pretty nice touch.
[4915.12 - 4916.12]:  McNabb.
[4916.12 - 4925.12]:  The Landon Donovan also told us that he was just so surprised at how much Maria Sanchez is constantly moving.
[4925.12 - 4930.12]:  Obviously, a very technically sound player as well.
[4930.12 - 4932.12]:  Sanchez probably has.
[4932.12 - 4935.12]:  Well, now we're just talking about Cascarino.
[4935.12 - 4938.12]:  So I don't know.
[4938.12 - 4943.12]:  Sanchez is a technically proficient player, the best left foot in NWSL.
[4943.12 - 4945.12]:  But how do they utilize that right?
[4945.12 - 4948.12]:  She's often St. George runs in a Sheridan.
[4948.12 - 4951.12]:  Girma is there as the last line.
[4951.12 - 4956.12]:  She's often been utilized on the left side, but now he's playing her at the 10 spot.
[4956.12 - 4961.12]:  We haven't seen her on the ball as much as we would like here in this game.
[4961.12 - 4965.12]:  And I think that's one of the things that Landon Donovan is going to ask a little bit more of his team.
[4965.12 - 4968.12]:  Can they find Maria Sanchez in that second scene?
[4968.12 - 4971.12]:  And this is going to take a second, right?
[4971.12 - 4972.12]:  Because this collision happens.
[4972.12 - 4976.12]:  It's a misplay there between Girma and Sheridan.
[4976.12 - 4981.12]:  Sheridan has been aggressive coming off her back line to make sure she can cover that space in behind.
[4981.12 - 4992.12]:  But I don't think Girma took a look up to see that she was coming.
[4992.12 - 4995.12]:  Well, good to see everybody's all right from that incident.
[4995.12 - 5001.12]:  But Haley Hopkins is down right now for North Carolina.
[5002.12 - 5007.12]:  It's been a bit of a disjointed game for San Diego so far.
[5007.12 - 5012.12]:  To be expected, it was one of the first questions I had for Landon Donovan when we got to speak with him this week more.
[5012.12 - 5022.12]:  How do you let the players have the moment to honor someone that we've all looked up to for the majority of our lives, right?
[5022.12 - 5026.12]:  As players, they want to honor Alex Morgan.
[5026.12 - 5034.12]:  But then you have to hone it in, get refocused to be able to play the rest of the 90 minutes.
[5034.12 - 5037.12]:  And there seems to be a little bit of disconnect for them.
[5037.12 - 5039.12]:  One, I think it's simple right now for San Diego.
[5039.12 - 5045.12]:  If I'm in that huddle, I'm talking about can we play a little bit faster through the lines?
[5045.12 - 5049.12]:  Can we support each other more because they want to celebrate Alex.
[5049.12 - 5055.12]:  But the best way to do that is to find a way to get three points, and it has to be their work right off the ball.
[5055.12 - 5058.12]:  Yeah, it's not just a team.
[5058.12 - 5061.12]:  It's the teammate for San Diego.
[5061.12 - 5067.12]:  Their captain waving to the crowd as she walked off.
[5067.12 - 5071.12]:  And now she waves to the crowd and sits on the bench.
[5074.12 - 5078.12]:  And these signs, I would say sprinkled throughout.
[5078.12 - 5080.12]:  But really, they're just everywhere.
[5080.12 - 5081.12]:  Yeah, I loved that one on the left.
[5081.12 - 5090.12]:  I saw it earlier where it says, I came all the way from North Carolina to watch you play in your last game, Alex.
[5090.12 - 5092.12]:  Just ironic.
[5092.12 - 5096.12]:  They're playing North Carolina, and yet here she is rooting for Alex Morgan.
[5098.12 - 5107.12]:  Well, Brad Jensen is looking at this St. George and Kaitlyn Sheridan collision.
[5107.12 - 5114.12]:  And this could be dangerous because it's Bianca St. George here who touches it.
[5114.12 - 5116.12]:  She gets stopped by Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[5116.12 - 5119.12]:  I think Girma is just beyond Sheridan.
[5119.12 - 5123.12]:  That Sheridan is not the last player, but that's what it's looking at.
[5126.12 - 5130.12]:  Oh, so it's a red card.
[5130.12 - 5136.12]:  And it's on Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[5139.12 - 5147.12]:  And so they must have not deemed that Naomi Girma was in a position to be able to cover for Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[5147.12 - 5150.12]:  She denied a goal-scoring opportunity.
[5150.12 - 5154.12]:  And now Kaitlyn Sheridan is going to have to leave the field.
[5155.12 - 5160.12]:  And that's about as close as it can be, but there is clearly contact there.
[5160.12 - 5167.12]:  You can see Canadian teammate St. George and Sheridan sharing a moment there as here it is.
[5167.12 - 5172.12]:  The touch from St. George, she gets taken out, denied the opportunity to score the goal,
[5172.12 - 5177.12]:  which she was running pace for pace with Naomi Girma.
[5177.12 - 5181.12]:  Really difficult one there for Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[5185.12 - 5191.12]:  So it does look like Hilary Beal will come in for Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[5191.12 - 5196.12]:  Beal did play in the summer path, so she has NWSL experience.
[5196.12 - 5199.12]:  You know who's going to be excited about that?
[5199.12 - 5200.12]:  Charlie.
[5200.12 - 5203.12]:  Charlie to watch Hilary Beal.
[5207.12 - 5213.12]:  Well, another captain change too for San Diego because they went from Morgan to Sheridan,
[5213.12 - 5215.12]:  and now it's Girma.
[5222.12 - 5226.12]:  North Carolina also makes a sub that Haley Hopkins was getting looked at,
[5226.12 - 5228.12]:  and it looks like she's going to be changed out.
[5228.12 - 5233.12]:  So Olivia Wingate comes in.
[5233.12 - 5235.12]:  And very different players.
[5235.12 - 5239.12]:  Wingate typically utilized on the right side.
[5239.12 - 5244.12]:  So we'll see how Shawn Nehas sets his team up if Wingate will play in that nine,
[5244.12 - 5247.12]:  false nine position where Hopkins was playing.
[5247.12 - 5256.12]:  Maybe he opts for St. George to go up there to utilize some of her pace next to Wingate.
[5260.12 - 5263.12]:  And because of the sub windows,
[5264.12 - 5271.12]:  San Diego used a sub early, a window early for Alex Morgan bringing on Amira Ali.
[5271.12 - 5275.12]:  They brought Danny Colaprico on at halftime, so that's not a sub window,
[5275.12 - 5277.12]:  but this would be their second window.
[5277.12 - 5279.12]:  So it looks like they're going to make two changes in this window
[5279.12 - 5284.12]:  because they would only have one left as they try to push to get back in this game.
[5285.12 - 5288.12]:  Look at this, comes in.
[5289.12 - 5292.12]:  Cascarino's out.
[5296.12 - 5300.12]:  And Emily Van Eggman comes out as well.
[5306.12 - 5310.12]:  So they had to make two changes to bring the goalkeeper in.
[5310.12 - 5314.12]:  That's why you've seen Van Eggman and Cascarino come out.
[5315.12 - 5319.12]:  So now playing down a player, playing down two goals,
[5319.12 - 5324.12]:  this is where you see the fight in the grit of the San Diego team.
[5326.12 - 5329.12]:  Beal really thrust into this moment.
[5332.12 - 5336.12]:  Now has to defend a set piece and a tie from Sanchez.
[5337.12 - 5340.12]:  We'll toss it down to Jenny Chu.
[5345.12 - 5348.12]:  I spoke to Landon Donovan at halftime
[5348.12 - 5351.12]:  and he talked about the emotions being so heavy all week long
[5351.12 - 5355.12]:  and he said that what he told them at halftime is that the intensity needs to be there.
[5355.12 - 5359.12]:  We now see that in the Caitlin Sheridan dog-so moment there.
[5359.12 - 5361.12]:  The intensity is there, but not like that.
[5361.12 - 5363.12]:  I don't think that's what Landon meant.
[5367.12 - 5370.12]:  Well, it is a precarious situation
[5370.12 - 5373.12]:  that San Diego finds themselves in right now.
[5374.12 - 5376.12]:  Again, Van Eggman has to come out.
[5376.12 - 5379.12]:  She's sort of a sacrificial lamb here
[5379.12 - 5384.12]:  because Caitlin Sheridan, the keeper, gets the red card.
[5390.12 - 5393.12]:  And we've seen a little bit of everything in this game.
[5393.12 - 5398.12]:  We've seen four goals, obviously the finale of Alex Morgan's career.
[5398.12 - 5405.12]:  Now we've seen a red card against Caitlin Sheridan, the keeper, for San Diego.
[5408.12 - 5413.12]:  It looks like Landon Donovan, they're going to set up in a 4-2-3 in this press.
[5413.12 - 5418.12]:  You see Lindquist going to play next to Danny Colaprico,
[5418.12 - 5420.12]:  not in our typical outside back position.
[5420.12 - 5424.12]:  She gives you the defensive presence, but also the ability to go forward.
[5425.12 - 5430.12]:  She does oftentimes from outside back now just from a more central spot.
[5430.12 - 5433.12]:  And it's going to be those five right there that you see from San Diego
[5433.12 - 5434.12]:  on the right side of your screen.
[5434.12 - 5436.12]:  If they win the ball, can they go as a unit
[5436.12 - 5439.12]:  and make it difficult for North Carolina
[5439.12 - 5442.12]:  when they get in this stretched out formation,
[5442.12 - 5445.12]:  try to pick them off on a counterattack?
[5446.12 - 5448.12]:  But you've got to get the ball from them first.
[5449.12 - 5453.12]:  Well, it surely hinders a comeback to be down to 10 players.
[5453.12 - 5455.12]:  Now for San Diego.
[5460.12 - 5461.12]:  O'Sullivan.
[5466.12 - 5468.12]:  Williams in the corner.
[5471.12 - 5474.12]:  St. George, she's been really good at her start tonight.
[5475.12 - 5477.12]:  Lifted from row header towards goal.
[5478.12 - 5480.12]:  And no one on the end of that for Lucy.
[5482.12 - 5486.12]:  This North Carolina team is so adamant at attacking down the right side.
[5486.12 - 5490.12]:  And one of the reasons is because of what they can build through Ryan Williams
[5490.12 - 5491.12]:  in the last game.
[5491.12 - 5495.12]:  Maura, she led in touches in final third entries
[5495.12 - 5497.12]:  and passes into the final third.
[5497.12 - 5498.12]:  Top three in crosses.
[5498.12 - 5500.12]:  She won duels, won interceptions.
[5500.12 - 5502.12]:  That's everything.
[5502.12 - 5505.12]:  Top in all of those categories against Kansas City
[5505.12 - 5507.12]:  was their outside back Ryan Williams.
[5507.12 - 5512.12]:  And it's one of the reasons that Shawn Nahas can utilize her in the channel
[5512.12 - 5516.12]:  and be aggressive with how they play because not only can she cover space,
[5516.12 - 5518.12]:  but when she gets into the attacking third,
[5518.12 - 5523.12]:  she oftentimes picks the right pass, allows players to get in and around her
[5523.12 - 5525.12]:  through supporting roles.
[5526.12 - 5529.12]:  She's one of those players that you're not going to watch a game
[5529.12 - 5532.12]:  and say, oh, that's one of the best outside backs in the league.
[5532.12 - 5536.12]:  But if you know this game, you're going to understand everything
[5536.12 - 5539.12]:  that Ryan Williams does for this squad.
[5539.12 - 5542.12]:  An unsung hero, I think, for North Carolina.
[5542.12 - 5544.12]:  They have a lot of players like that on this roster.
[5544.12 - 5545.12]:  A lot.
[5545.12 - 5548.12]:  And I think they've just built a really good team.
[5548.12 - 5549.12]:  Yes.
[5549.12 - 5554.12]:  Denise O'Sullivan is available, I think, is one of the best things about her
[5554.12 - 5557.12]:  as she picks up a little bit of a knock there.
[5557.12 - 5561.12]:  You know what you're going to get every single time she's out on the field
[5561.12 - 5563.12]:  and you just hope that this is nothing serious
[5563.12 - 5565.12]:  as she looks to be in a lot of pain.
[5566.12 - 5571.12]:  Grabbing at her ankle, O'Sullivan, the captain for North Carolina,
[5571.12 - 5574.12]:  the captain for the Irish national team as well.
[5577.12 - 5581.12]:  And the training staff sprinting out as Shawn Nahas looks on.
[5586.12 - 5594.12]:  And there didn't seem to be any contact when O'Sullivan fell down.
[5594.12 - 5601.12]:  She was close to Maria Sanchez, but it's never something that you want to see.
[5601.12 - 5606.12]:  As she picks up the ball here, there's no contact.
[5606.12 - 5612.12]:  It's just you can't really tell what happened,
[5612.12 - 5614.12]:  but she seems to be in a lot of pain.
[5614.12 - 5618.12]:  And it was just right when I was going to say how important she is to this team.
[5618.12 - 5619.12]:  She's always available.
[5619.12 - 5620.12]:  She's in the right spot.
[5620.12 - 5625.12]:  She checks her shoulder, understands the relationships of the players around her.
[5625.12 - 5628.12]:  This team knows that they can count on her,
[5628.12 - 5631.12]:  and that's why you see everybody huddled around her,
[5631.12 - 5634.12]:  hoping that she's okay.
[5635.12 - 5639.12]:  Well, you saw the motion from the trainer to Nahas
[5639.12 - 5642.12]:  and the rest of the staff that O'Sullivan can't continue.
[5643.12 - 5648.12]:  Aline Gomes looks like she might be the option.
[5649.12 - 5654.12]:  Granepinto also talking to the bench,
[5654.12 - 5660.12]:  but a lot of concern from this North Carolina team looking at their captain.
[5673.12 - 5677.12]:  Well, Friday night, it's a prime doubleheader with Orlando taking on Kansas City
[5677.12 - 5681.12]:  at 8 Eastern and Portland facing Chicago at 10.
[5681.12 - 5686.12]:  And Saturday on ION coverage of the racing Louisville-Angel City Clash begins at 7,
[5686.12 - 5691.12]:  followed by the San Diego squad battling Utah at 10.
[5697.12 - 5699.12]:  O'Sullivan's up.
[5703.12 - 5705.12]:  That's positive, at least.
[5708.12 - 5712.12]:  And you would imagine they wouldn't want to push it with her.
[5712.12 - 5713.12]:  No.
[5716.12 - 5718.12]:  Glad to see there's some motion.
[5731.12 - 5733.12]:  Well, Nahas and his side.
[5734.12 - 5738.12]:  I've been hoping for another road victory this season.
[5743.12 - 5746.12]:  I know O'Sullivan would be a huge part of that if she's able to stay on.
[5746.12 - 5749.12]:  Originally, it seemed like there was no way.
[5751.12 - 5754.12]:  Did she just realize that they might take her off?
[5754.12 - 5758.12]:  I don't know, I wouldn't want to take somebody off that looked at me like that.
[5758.12 - 5765.12]:  And Nahas wasn't talking about O'Sullivan, he said.
[5765.12 - 5771.12]:  I was shocked when I found out that her second best 11 in 2023 was the only recognition
[5771.12 - 5774.12]:  in that category that she's received.
[5775.12 - 5780.12]:  But she's just been a relentless player, a staple with North Carolina,
[5780.12 - 5782.12]:  and clearly has a lot of fire.
[5782.12 - 5786.12]:  Yeah, I think it goes to what a lot of people were talking about this week too,
[5786.12 - 5790.12]:  with the Ballon d'Or list coming out, and Naomi Girma wasn't on it, right?
[5790.12 - 5797.12]:  When you don't know football, you're going to vote for the people who score the goals
[5797.12 - 5798.12]:  and have the most stats.
[5798.12 - 5802.12]:  Well, Denise O'Sullivan is never going to score the most goals or have the most stats,
[5802.12 - 5803.12]:  but you know what she's going to do?
[5803.12 - 5807.12]:  Probably complete 95% of the passes that she has.
[5807.12 - 5809.12]:  She's going to get on the ball often.
[5809.12 - 5813.12]:  She's going to deny attacks, and she's going to lead a team.
[5813.12 - 5819.12]:  Those are X-factors, attributes that often don't show up on a stats page,
[5819.12 - 5824.12]:  but that's what she brings, and she's trying to play this one off here.
[5824.12 - 5827.12]:  She does look like she's walking with a little bit of a limp.
[5828.12 - 5832.12]:  But she's back on, was calling for it.
[5834.12 - 5838.12]:  Girma, O'Sullivan.
[5843.12 - 5848.12]:  Kurtz.
[5848.12 - 5851.12]:  Berkeley.
[5860.12 - 5864.12]:  Off of Wingate.
[5864.12 - 5867.12]:  It's battling her way back from injury.
[5867.12 - 5872.12]:  She's now been coming in off the bench for North Carolina.
[5873.12 - 5879.12]:  Here come two subs, Brianna Pinto and Gomes.
[5879.12 - 5883.12]:  Eleni Gomes was signed July 30th.
[5883.12 - 5888.12]:  The Brazilian made her debut against Kansas City.
[5888.12 - 5894.12]:  St. George, who scored and caused the red card
[5894.12 - 5896.12]:  that got Caitlin Sheridan removed from this game
[5896.12 - 5899.12]:  and that forced San Diego to play down to 10 players.
[5899.12 - 5900.12]:  Here's the goal.
[5900.12 - 5902.12]:  This is the third assist from Malia Berkeley.
[5902.12 - 5905.12]:  The first time a player has had three assists in the first half,
[5905.12 - 5907.12]:  and Bianca St. George says,
[5907.12 - 5909.12]:  thank you very much for this assist.
[5909.12 - 5910.12]:  I'll put it in the back of the net.
[5910.12 - 5912.12]:  A big-time goal for her,
[5912.12 - 5917.12]:  and a player that hasn't started a ton of games.
[5917.12 - 5919.12]:  Just her seventh start on the year,
[5919.12 - 5922.12]:  and she made it count, made Shawn Nahas have to think a little bit more
[5922.12 - 5926.12]:  when he's starting to put together his starting 11.
[5927.12 - 5929.12]:  Tyler Lucy also comes out,
[5929.12 - 5931.12]:  and again Pinto's the change.
[5933.12 - 5938.12]:  Gomes bounces off her and out of play.
[5940.12 - 5947.12]:  Well Pinto scored game winner last week against Kansas City
[5947.12 - 5949.12]:  two minutes in a stoppage time.
[5949.12 - 5953.12]:  It was a beautiful strike,
[5953.12 - 5958.12]:  and it also came after a 90-minute rain delay.
[5958.12 - 5962.12]:  92 I heard Josh Easter in the broadcast.
[5962.12 - 5964.12]:  It was long,
[5964.12 - 5967.12]:  and it was weird because the game ended.
[5967.12 - 5969.12]:  It started with beautiful skies,
[5969.12 - 5971.12]:  hot and humid, and it ended that same way,
[5971.12 - 5975.12]:  but it just took a little while to get there with a downpour,
[5975.12 - 5981.12]:  and it shows the relentlessness of this North Carolina team.
[5981.12 - 5983.12]:  They go down in that game,
[5983.12 - 5985.12]:  come back quickly through Courtney Vine,
[5985.12 - 5990.12]:  their new Australian signing over the summer transfer window,
[5990.12 - 5995.12]:  and then it was Pinto's little dip and roll inside the box.
[5995.12 - 5999.12]:  Both goals going to the far post netting from the left side to the right.
[5999.12 - 6002.12]:  They looked eerily similar in the way that they finished them,
[6002.12 - 6006.12]:  but Pinto's carried a little extra weight getting the three points at home
[6006.12 - 6011.12]:  and continuing that streak for North Carolina at Wake Med Soccer Park.
[6012.12 - 6016.12]:  Pinto two goals and two assists on the year.
[6019.12 - 6024.12]:  For North Carolina, this is the first time since June of 2023
[6024.12 - 6028.12]:  that the Courage have scored multiple goals on the road.
[6031.12 - 6036.12]:  And this hasn't been a high-scoring North Carolina team all season.
[6036.12 - 6039.12]:  They came out in the first game,
[6039.12 - 6041.12]:  scored five goals against Houston,
[6041.12 - 6043.12]:  and I think everybody's eyes got big thinking,
[6043.12 - 6045.12]:  okay, not only will they out possess you,
[6045.12 - 6049.12]:  but now they're going to score five goals on you every single game.
[6049.12 - 6051.12]:  Well, that died off pretty quickly,
[6051.12 - 6055.12]:  and they went through a run where they only won one game
[6055.12 - 6057.12]:  in seven during the middle of the season,
[6057.12 - 6060.12]:  and it wasn't going that great, but now they've found their form.
[6060.12 - 6062.12]:  They find players that are scoring goals.
[6062.12 - 6067.12]:  They bring in Gomes who gives a little bit different look to the attack,
[6067.12 - 6069.12]:  and you've got to think, they still have Caroline,
[6069.12 - 6074.12]:  and if you can get Caroline healthy fit in playing
[6074.12 - 6077.12]:  in the last seven games of the year,
[6077.12 - 6080.12]:  I would not want to play this North Carolina team
[6080.12 - 6081.12]:  because they can do this.
[6081.12 - 6086.12]:  They will keep the ball from you and make you so exhausted from the chase,
[6086.12 - 6091.12]:  and then in one little moment where there's no pressure on the ball, boom.
[6091.12 - 6093.12]:  They put in Caroline in behind the back line,
[6093.12 - 6098.12]:  and she's off to scoring goals like she did in 2023.
[6098.12 - 6101.12]:  Sanchez off her right foot, it skips to Beale,
[6101.12 - 6103.12]:  was able to dive on it,
[6103.12 - 6106.12]:  and I think we all came to this game,
[6106.12 - 6109.12]:  and everybody's watching, tuning in for the final minutes
[6109.12 - 6112.12]:  of Alex Morgan's career, and deservedly so,
[6112.12 - 6115.12]:  but then these teams putting on a show too,
[6115.12 - 6120.12]:  and I think CBS Sports recognized the importance of this moment,
[6121.12 - 6123.12]:  and then together with Prime Video and ESPN,
[6123.12 - 6125.12]:  everyone just comes together and recognizes
[6125.12 - 6128.12]:  the spot that women's sports is at right now.
[6128.12 - 6130.12]:  Just on the up, it's monumental.
[6130.12 - 6133.12]:  This doesn't happen, that all these broadcast partners
[6133.12 - 6135.12]:  come together to do this,
[6135.12 - 6139.12]:  and it doesn't surprise me that it happens for a player like Alex Morgan,
[6139.12 - 6142.12]:  who transcends the sport,
[6142.12 - 6145.12]:  and this is how it should be working together.
[6145.12 - 6149.12]:  I think Commissioner Berman said they wanted to do it for the fans
[6149.12 - 6152.12]:  when she talked to Jenny on the field,
[6152.12 - 6155.12]:  and I think that epitomizes what this league is about.
[6155.12 - 6158.12]:  These teams put on shows for the fans.
[6158.12 - 6161.12]:  They appreciate everybody that comes out,
[6161.12 - 6164.12]:  but also the ability for us to use the media deals
[6164.12 - 6168.12]:  that we have acquired in the last year, really,
[6168.12 - 6172.12]:  to show off this league in important moments like this.
[6172.12 - 6176.12]:  Yeah, so again, just thank you to CBS for leading the way
[6177.12 - 6181.12]:  and investing it in women's sports, all these networks.
[6183.12 - 6186.12]:  This league has come such a long way,
[6186.12 - 6188.12]:  even just in the last couple of years.
[6188.12 - 6189.12]:  I think. Yes.
[6189.12 - 6191.12]:  Become more accessible,
[6191.12 - 6194.12]:  and we're just seeing all these different stars pop up,
[6197.12 - 6201.12]:  and it's great that Alex Morgan got to, you know,
[6201.12 - 6204.12]:  have the goodbye that she truly deserves,
[6204.12 - 6206.12]:  and we get that here in 2024.
[6213.12 - 6216.12]:  This is still the halftime score, though, 3-1.
[6218.12 - 6221.12]:  Kaitlyn Sheridan, a red card in the 60th minute.
[6221.12 - 6224.12]:  Now, Kaitlyn Sheridan has had a red card in every year
[6225.12 - 6227.12]:  that she's been with the Wave,
[6228.12 - 6231.12]:  but this is the longest that San Diego's ever gone,
[6231.12 - 6233.12]:  the goalkeeper getting a red.
[6242.12 - 6243.12]:  And it's interesting, too,
[6243.12 - 6246.12]:  because you start to think about San Diego needing points
[6246.12 - 6248.12]:  to push for the playoffs
[6248.12 - 6251.12]:  and just push for morale through the end of the year here
[6251.12 - 6252.12]:  for them.
[6252.12 - 6254.12]:  Next, they have Utah,
[6254.12 - 6256.12]:  and they're going to be without Kaitlyn Sheridan.
[6258.12 - 6259.12]:  Williams.
[6262.12 - 6264.12]:  McNabb tackles it away.
[6267.12 - 6268.12]:  Well, again, Beals been the starter,
[6268.12 - 6270.12]:  because Kaitlyn Sheridan obviously is a staple
[6270.12 - 6271.12]:  with the Canadian national team,
[6271.12 - 6275.12]:  and so it does mean that Beals had her opportunities.
[6278.12 - 6281.12]:  But she will get the start, most likely, next week.
[6284.12 - 6287.12]:  And Utah's a team that's looking a lot better.
[6287.12 - 6288.12]:  They're in 13th right now,
[6288.12 - 6292.12]:  but narrowly lose to Kansas City yesterday.
[6293.12 - 6296.12]:  This will be a game that they will feel
[6296.12 - 6302.12]:  like it's three points at home they can try to secure.
[6302.12 - 6304.12]:  Outswinger from Berkeley.
[6307.12 - 6310.12]:  High up from Sanchez and hits the top of the netting.
[6314.12 - 6327.12]:  Well, again, just some offensive woes for San Diego.
[6329.12 - 6331.12]:  And the difficult part is now playing with 10 players.
[6331.12 - 6334.12]:  You can't really work on the things that Landon Donovan
[6334.12 - 6337.12]:  has been asking of you and the way that you build
[6337.12 - 6340.12]:  with two wider center backs, two holding midfielders,
[6340.12 - 6342.12]:  essentially, and then pushing your outside backs
[6343.12 - 6345.12]:  a little bit higher because you're down a player.
[6345.12 - 6348.12]:  So now it's just constant adjustment on the field
[6348.12 - 6351.12]:  to find a space, get into it,
[6351.12 - 6355.12]:  try to make this North Carolina team defend.
[6357.12 - 6359.12]:  And when you're exhausted, you're down two goals.
[6359.12 - 6363.12]:  You know it's a tough feat to get them back,
[6363.12 - 6365.12]:  but this is where you have to dig and grind
[6365.12 - 6369.12]:  and press like this to just make teams uncomfortable.
[6369.12 - 6371.12]:  I like that from Westfall.
[6371.12 - 6373.12]:  You need that kind of spark in these moments
[6373.12 - 6375.12]:  to get your team going.
[6377.12 - 6380.12]:  Barstennis gets stepped on by Rao.
[6384.12 - 6385.12]:  This is good.
[6385.12 - 6387.12]:  In the first half, I think Barstennis lost the ball
[6387.12 - 6390.12]:  too many times in dribbling situations.
[6390.12 - 6393.12]:  You're going to give her that freedom to be able to do that
[6393.12 - 6396.12]:  because that is where she can also excel.
[6396.12 - 6398.12]:  But if you're going to be one to dribble,
[6398.12 - 6400.12]:  you have to draw fouls.
[6400.12 - 6402.12]:  And because set pieces, I said in the first half
[6402.12 - 6404.12]:  are the great equalizer.
[6404.12 - 6407.12]:  Can you figure out a way now with some of your targets
[6407.12 - 6411.12]:  in Wesley, in Girma, to be able to send this into a spot
[6411.12 - 6413.12]:  where you can challenge?
[6413.12 - 6415.12]:  Doesn't look like Girma is going to get in the box.
[6420.12 - 6424.12]:  Colaprico and Sanchez standing over the ball.
[6426.12 - 6428.12]:  It's Sanchez curls it up.
[6428.12 - 6431.12]:  Kenner McNabb, she just misses it.
[6432.12 - 6434.12]:  Well, that would have been very Krista McNabb wouldn't have been
[6434.12 - 6437.12]:  because last week she scores an own goal
[6437.12 - 6439.12]:  because the ball gets deflected off of her.
[6439.12 - 6442.12]:  And then she goes back and scores the game-tiding goal
[6442.12 - 6444.12]:  against Washington spirit.
[6444.12 - 6446.12]:  And here Maria Sanchez with her cultured left foot
[6446.12 - 6450.12]:  just sends this into the space where McNabb is running onto.
[6450.12 - 6452.12]:  And she's going to be disappointed
[6452.12 - 6455.12]:  because it was probably hairs away
[6455.12 - 6457.12]:  from the correct contact.
[6457.12 - 6459.12]:  Getting past Casey Murphy.
[6459.12 - 6461.12]:  And that would have been two games in a row
[6461.12 - 6463.12]:  where she would have scored.
[6465.12 - 6467.12]:  Windgate against Girma.
[6469.12 - 6471.12]:  Moves it to her left.
[6471.12 - 6473.12]:  Girma says absolutely not.
[6474.12 - 6477.12]:  Sweeps the ball and the player away.
[6477.12 - 6480.12]:  That is why she has been NWSL defender of the year
[6480.12 - 6482.12]:  for two straight years.
[6488.12 - 6490.12]:  And she's wonderful.
[6490.12 - 6492.12]:  I think a lot of that has to do with
[6492.12 - 6494.12]:  yes, Naomi Girma came in.
[6494.12 - 6496.12]:  A very good player.
[6496.12 - 6499.12]:  But what she got to learn under Casey Stoney,
[6499.12 - 6501.12]:  one of the best center backs to ever play the international game
[6501.12 - 6505.12]:  for two years, I think really honed in a lot of her skills.
[6507.12 - 6509.12]:  Now she's challenged by Williams.
[6513.12 - 6514.12]:  Windgate.
[6515.12 - 6516.12]:  Surveys.
[6516.12 - 6519.12]:  Williams had her pinto just off.
[6523.12 - 6525.12]:  And the little things about Naomi Girma's game
[6525.12 - 6527.12]:  that have gotten better is her first step
[6527.12 - 6530.12]:  when she tempts a player in how she dropped steps
[6530.12 - 6533.12]:  and then here after that drop step she just says
[6533.12 - 6536.12]:  all right I'll take that ball that's enough swiveling.
[6536.12 - 6538.12]:  I don't need to do it anymore.
[6540.12 - 6543.12]:  I remember calling her games when she was at Stanford
[6543.12 - 6545.12]:  and she was just a freshman.
[6545.12 - 6547.12]:  One of my teammates from Santa Clara was her coach
[6547.12 - 6550.12]:  and I texted her and said my goodness,
[6550.12 - 6555.12]:  this center back you have is going to be ridiculous.
[6555.12 - 6558.12]:  And Marguerite Ozosa who's now the head coach at UCLA
[6558.12 - 6561.12]:  was like oh you have no idea Jordan.
[6561.12 - 6564.12]:  And now I'm so happy everybody gets to see that
[6564.12 - 6567.12]:  on the world stage that we just have that here in NWSL.
[6567.12 - 6571.12]:  And maybe one day she'll be on that ball and door list.
[6572.12 - 6573.12]:  What do you think, Maura?
[6573.12 - 6575.12]:  Well I think she's okay with it because she does have
[6575.12 - 6577.12]:  an Olympic gold medal now.
[6577.12 - 6578.12]:  Yeah, right?
[6579.12 - 6581.12]:  Look, if I know one thing about Girma
[6581.12 - 6584.12]:  it's that she's not very selfish.
[6584.12 - 6585.12]:  She's not.
[6585.12 - 6587.12]:  I loved her question to Alex Morgan.
[6587.12 - 6590.12]:  The whole team showing up for the press conference.
[6590.12 - 6592.12]:  Alex Morgan's final press conference
[6592.12 - 6597.12]:  and it was such a nice moment to share.
[6598.12 - 6600.12]:  And Girma just got up there and asked
[6600.12 - 6602.12]:  and that's how I think we learned that Miller deal
[6602.12 - 6606.12]:  was Charlie's favorite from that final question.
[6606.12 - 6608.12]:  As a rookie, Maya Jones comes in.
[6608.12 - 6610.12]:  Sanchez is out.
[6621.12 - 6624.12]:  But she also, Girma also asked what Morgan's favorite moment
[6624.12 - 6627.12]:  in soccer, her soccer career was.
[6627.12 - 6630.12]:  She talked about having five moms on the national team
[6630.12 - 6631.12]:  at one time.
[6632.12 - 6637.12]:  And out of all of the moments that Alex Morgan can talk about
[6637.12 - 6640.12]:  I think it tells you about where she's out right now
[6640.12 - 6646.12]:  and how important she holds family and how hard this is.
[6647.12 - 6649.12]:  Because it's always going to end, right?
[6649.12 - 6651.12]:  You don't want to think about ending until it ends
[6651.12 - 6656.12]:  but how excited she is to continue to build her family,
[6656.12 - 6662.12]:  to continue to have those opportunities to be with her daughter.
[6662.12 - 6664.12]:  They're going to look different.
[6665.12 - 6670.12]:  But I love that that was one of the moments that she recognized
[6670.12 - 6673.12]:  on that World Cup team with all the moms.
[6674.12 - 6679.12]:  Well, you could tell that watching other players play at such a high level
[6679.12 - 6683.12]:  and be moms gave her the strength to do just that as well.
[6684.12 - 6686.12]:  Jones!
[6688.12 - 6690.12]:  Weather Hall, boxes are out.
[6693.12 - 6694.12]:  Getting the shin guard loose.
[6694.12 - 6697.12]:  I don't know who lost it but I think it's Sanchez's shin guard.
[6697.12 - 6700.12]:  She wears them pretty low and getting a little tackle
[6700.12 - 6702.12]:  and that pops right out.
[6702.12 - 6704.12]:  I would say that we knew coming into this morning
[6704.12 - 6706.12]:  it was going to be an emotional game.
[6706.12 - 6712.12]:  And North Carolina respected the game of soccer
[6712.12 - 6715.12]:  and came out and met the moment.
[6715.12 - 6719.12]:  They scored in the fourth minute, set the tone
[6719.12 - 6722.12]:  and San Diego has been chasing ever since.
[6723.12 - 6725.12]:  One of the things I was most impressed with
[6725.12 - 6728.12]:  and we talk about North Carolina not scoring a lot
[6728.12 - 6730.12]:  is in the first half they get three goals.
[6730.12 - 6732.12]:  They get two off of corner kicks.
[6732.12 - 6736.12]:  I got a little insight from Jenny Chu from Sean Nahas
[6736.12 - 6740.12]:  and he said this morning I recognize we could score on set pieces,
[6740.12 - 6743.12]:  on corner kicks against the San Diego team
[6743.12 - 6746.12]:  and he told his team this morning in their meeting
[6746.12 - 6749.12]:  this is how we're going to go after them on set pieces.
[6749.12 - 6752.12]:  Well, it didn't pay off once, it paid off twice.
[6752.12 - 6757.12]:  And in the first half they didn't even create one expected goal
[6757.12 - 6759.12]:  and yet they had three in the back of the net.
[6759.12 - 6763.12]:  That's the type of proficiency you need to have in front of net
[6763.12 - 6767.12]:  in order to not just be a top five team in this league
[6767.12 - 6771.12]:  but to win a championship because that's what you're building towards
[6771.12 - 6775.12]:  the whole season and North Carolina is going to leave this game feeling like
[6775.12 - 6779.12]:  we're starting to peak in areas that we need to.
[6780.12 - 6784.12]:  Well, now with Rao scoring it's 13 different goal scores
[6784.12 - 6788.12]:  on the season for North Carolina, a very balanced attack.
[6788.12 - 6791.12]:  They have a lot of players that can show up on different days
[6791.12 - 6794.12]:  and find the back of the net and then they've added new players
[6794.12 - 6798.12]:  like Macy Bell who is going to debut with North Carolina.
[6801.12 - 6806.12]:  Bell traded from Gotham, the secondary transfer window.
[6806.12 - 6809.12]:  Ashley Sanchez comes out Meredith Speck
[6809.12 - 6813.12]:  who has been a long time member of this North Carolina squad
[6813.12 - 6815.12]:  is going to come in, Rao comes out.
[6816.12 - 6820.12]:  And Speck gives you a little bit more defensive presence
[6820.12 - 6825.12]:  centrally, slightly less creative than Ashley Sanchez
[6825.12 - 6828.12]:  who I don't think we saw the best of in this game
[6828.12 - 6831.12]:  but has fitted really nicely in North Carolina.
[6831.12 - 6833.12]:  I think she's thriving there.
[6833.12 - 6836.12]:  But when you look at the best teams in this league
[6836.12 - 6839.12]:  it's not just who they have in their starting 11.
[6839.12 - 6842.12]:  Who they have coming off the best teams in this league.
[6842.12 - 6844.12]:  When they're starting 11.
[6844.12 - 6847.12]:  Who they have coming off the bench challenging those players
[6847.12 - 6851.12]:  for starting 11 and now as you start to bring in players
[6851.12 - 6856.12]:  like Wingate and Pinto who have been able to create
[6856.12 - 6859.12]:  and score for this team already this year
[6859.12 - 6863.12]:  but now Macy Bell, Courtney Vine, Caroline,
[6863.12 - 6867.12]:  the depth of this North Carolina team when fully healthy
[6867.12 - 6869.12]:  is going to be something really special.
[6869.12 - 6874.12]:  Nerumi, we haven't even talked about Manaka being away
[6874.12 - 6879.12]:  on international duty for the under 20s.
[6879.12 - 6881.12]:  This is a deep North Carolina team
[6881.12 - 6884.12]:  with a lot of different ways to hurt you.
[6884.12 - 6887.12]:  Good mix of youth and experience too.
[6887.12 - 6891.12]:  Someone like Manaka is obviously the U20 World Cup is 19 years old
[6891.12 - 6894.12]:  and then you have someone like Macy Bell who's a rookie
[6894.12 - 6898.12]:  and then Meredith Speck who was on the best 11 in July
[6898.12 - 6903.12]:  has been in the NWSL for nine years.
[6903.12 - 6909.12]:  Like we said before, it's just a well constructed North Carolina team.
[6909.12 - 6911.12]:  And that takes a little bit of time.
[6911.12 - 6913.12]:  When we talked to Sean Nahas this week he said,
[6913.12 - 6917.12]:  I think you asked him how do you incorporate these new players
[6917.12 - 6919.12]:  and he said it's hard.
[6919.12 - 6923.12]:  We show them video but he said there's been 30 players
[6923.12 - 6927.12]:  in and out over his time as a head coach at North Carolina.
[6927.12 - 6931.12]:  That's a lot of players to teach your system to.
[6931.12 - 6934.12]:  But one of the things I really liked about what he said
[6934.12 - 6938.12]:  is he said the first video session I had with Courtney Vine,
[6938.12 - 6941.12]:  I sat her down and I showed her Lynn Williams
[6941.12 - 6945.12]:  in the championship game in 2019 tracking back
[6945.12 - 6949.12]:  to do the defensive work.
[6949.12 - 6951.12]:  Bill makes a stop there.
[6951.12 - 6955.12]:  And that was what he is wanting to build.
[6955.12 - 6958.12]:  You know who you are but you're also building
[6958.12 - 6961.12]:  into this new iteration of North Carolina.
[6961.12 - 6966.12]:  Nine minutes of stoppage time presented by Nationwide.
[6966.12 - 6971.12]:  Yeah, I love that moment.
[6971.12 - 6979.12]:  Ali into the 18 now for San Diego shoots off of Kurtz.
[6979.12 - 6984.12]:  Barsenas.
[6984.12 - 6986.12]:  Always nifty footwork on the ball.
[6986.12 - 6988.12]:  1v1 against Williams.
[6988.12 - 6993.12]:  Has her moving saved by Murphy just barely off the rebound.
[6993.12 - 6999.12]:  That's a wicked spin on that from the initial stop from Murphy.
[6999.12 - 7002.12]:  But that's where Barsenas can hurt you.
[7002.12 - 7004.12]:  One of the reasons why Lynn and Donovan
[7004.12 - 7008.12]:  wants her to be a little bit more forward thinking.
[7008.12 - 7010.12]:  She gets tricky going side to side.
[7010.12 - 7013.12]:  Well, you got to eventually make the final move.
[7013.12 - 7016.12]:  There it does end with a shot.
[7016.12 - 7026.12]:  This is a young player has so much ahead of her.
[7026.12 - 7031.12]:  Well, Donovan said that she's grown even in just the last three weeks.
[7031.12 - 7032.12]:  Yeah, she's spun.
[7032.12 - 7036.12]:  She wants to learn everything she can.
[7036.12 - 7040.12]:  She walked in today with an old school Alex Morgan jersey on.
[7040.12 - 7047.12]:  She had a really cute photo of her as a young kid wearing an Alex Morgan jersey.
[7047.12 - 7052.12]:  Yeah, and if you're young and a sponge like she is wanting to learn more about the game,
[7052.12 - 7055.12]:  I'm sure this is a sad day for her too.
[7055.12 - 7065.12]:  But how grateful she must be to have played for over a year with the Alex Morgan as a teammate.
[7065.12 - 7076.12]:  McNabb was looking for a streak in Ali times running out for San Diego.
[7076.12 - 7090.12]:  They have scored two goals in stoppage time this season.
[7090.12 - 7107.12]:  Well, Macy Bell does have a goal in her NWSL career with Gotham.
[7107.12 - 7115.12]:  They're off the spec.
[7115.12 - 7124.12]:  Westfall Ali.
[7124.12 - 7131.12]:  Wesley right now has the lone tally for San Diego.
[7131.12 - 7133.12]:  And it was a good look from Wesley.
[7133.12 - 7137.12]:  She's trying to break a couple of lines, get it into the feet of Amira Ali.
[7137.12 - 7143.12]:  And you've seen even just a stoppage time has started to tick away a little bit more directness
[7143.12 - 7146.12]:  from San Diego when they do get the ball.
[7146.12 - 7151.12]:  It's not just about the first ball is can they then go and counter press and be a little bit more active?
[7151.12 - 7155.12]:  Wingates on the move, puts it across.
[7155.12 - 7158.12]:  Yes, North Carolina adds another.
[7158.12 - 7164.12]:  It's Meredith spec.
[7164.12 - 7166.12]:  This is really close.
[7166.12 - 7169.12]:  The ball went in the back of the net, but they're going to look at this to see if it's offside.
[7169.12 - 7175.12]:  But just as I talked about the second actions, this is where the potential offside is.
[7175.12 - 7177.12]:  It's right on the first run from Olivia Wingate.
[7177.12 - 7179.12]:  And I think that's going to be called back because of that.
[7179.12 - 7183.12]:  She's trying to tip toe the line, bend to run it at the proper time.
[7183.12 - 7185.12]:  The pass is good to Meredith spec.
[7185.12 - 7188.12]:  She understands that that's where the ball should go.
[7188.12 - 7190.12]:  It's that spec who is offside.
[7190.12 - 7194.12]:  It was Wingate in that initial run.
[7194.12 - 7201.12]:  Good job by the AR to hold the flag down and let the play proceed because it was pretty close.
[7201.12 - 7205.12]:  And Naomi grandma saying if it's offside, it's offside all the way out the half field.
[7205.12 - 7210.12]:  And that's where they should get it back.
[7210.12 - 7216.12]:  That's where it looked offside to me.
[7216.12 - 7222.12]:  But on the field as the VAR is looking over this.
[7222.12 - 7225.12]:  Looks on the second pass of the ball from Wingate.
[7225.12 - 7227.12]:  Looks like it's almost at the six.
[7227.12 - 7229.12]:  The ball is the offside line there.
[7229.12 - 7233.12]:  Look to me like Meredith spec is behind the ball.
[7233.12 - 7236.12]:  It's hard to tell the angle of where the camera is.
[7236.12 - 7240.12]:  Makes it difficult to be able to see right across the line.
[7240.12 - 7243.12]:  So they're going to recommend a review.
[7243.12 - 7244.12]:  I think that's right.
[7244.12 - 7245.12]:  Red Jensen's going to look this over.
[7245.12 - 7246.12]:  It's really tight.
[7246.12 - 7247.12]:  It's really close.
[7247.12 - 7251.12]:  I thought that it looked more obvious offside from Wingate at that half field.
[7251.12 - 7253.12]:  But here's where you're looking.
[7253.12 - 7261.12]:  I think this shows you that she's clearly onside spec is already spec is at the touchdown line.
[7261.12 - 7267.12]:  And Wingate is beyond it.
[7267.12 - 7270.12]:  The only time those lines will come in handy in a soccer game.
[7270.12 - 7271.12]:  That's true.
[7271.12 - 7273.12]:  We don't need to actually draw a line.
[7273.12 - 7276.12]:  It's right there.
[7276.12 - 7278.12]:  But I think this is a good recommendation.
[7278.12 - 7284.12]:  I think you should go look because at the end of the day,
[7284.12 - 7290.12]:  the referee on the field is the one that has to be in control of the final decision.
[7290.12 - 7304.12]:  So after the review, confirmed as a goal, Meredith spec likely the nail in the coffin for San Diego.
[7304.12 - 7306.12]:  Well, here's a good look at it from up above.
[7306.12 - 7311.12]:  And it's it's the run from Wingate from half field that then opens up all this space.
[7311.12 - 7318.12]:  It's a 2v2 and Wingate and spec find a combination right at the last moment.
[7318.12 - 7323.12]:  And they celebrate the fourth goal.
[7323.12 - 7331.12]:  And what has been the best road performance in a long time for this North Carolina courage team.
[7331.12 - 7339.12]:  Second goal of the season for Meredith spec.
[7339.12 - 7342.12]:  Spec missed the first couple of months of the season.
[7342.12 - 7345.12]:  Didn't return until April twenty ninth.
[7345.12 - 7353.12]:  She was out doing it to an A.C. out there that she sustained last year.
[7353.12 - 7358.12]:  Kurtz.
[7358.12 - 7374.12]:  This is a most goals for North Carolina on the road since their five nil win at Chicago in June of twenty twenty three.
[7374.12 - 7387.12]:  Westfall.
[7387.12 - 7390.12]:  Pokes forward to Ali just whiffs on it.
[7390.12 - 7396.12]:  I think North Carolina when they look back at this game, they're going to be disappointed at how they gave up a goal on a corner kick.
[7396.12 - 7400.12]:  But there's going to be so much more focus on what went right.
[7400.12 - 7407.12]:  San Diego hadn't given up a goal from a corner kick all season long and they were able to do that two times.
[7407.12 - 7411.12]:  They're adding a different tool to their tool bag offensively.
[7411.12 - 7414.12]:  Then North Carolina, how do they typically score on you?
[7414.12 - 7418.12]:  It's a quick build up or a good build up into a final play possession.
[7418.12 - 7425.12]:  Well, both of their run to play goals came through really quick drives.
[7425.12 - 7427.12]:  One pass and they find the back of the net.
[7427.12 - 7435.12]:  I think we're seeing a little bit of variety in the way that they can attack and find success in the final third.
[7435.12 - 7450.12]:  And as you said, peaking at the right time, this will follow a very big victory against Kansas City last week.
[7450.12 - 7452.12]:  Where they came from behind, right?
[7452.12 - 7458.12]:  So that's another additional thing that you think of with the mindset of a team.
[7458.12 - 7466.12]:  And if you're San Diego, you're already this game, you'll celebrate Alex Morgan afterwards, but you're thinking about what's coming up next.
[7466.12 - 7468.12]:  I mentioned they play at Utah.
[7468.12 - 7471.12]:  Then they go to Chicago, who sits in eighth.
[7471.12 - 7479.12]:  Then they play Portland and then they're away at North Carolina.
[7479.12 - 7490.12]:  So they're going to have this rematch in four games and they're going to have an opportunity to go full strength at North Carolina in their home and see if they can ruin the party there.
[7490.12 - 7492.12]:  But those are winnable games.
[7492.12 - 7501.12]:  Utah in 13th, Chicago in eighth, but haven't been on a very good run of form as of late.
[7501.12 - 7508.12]:  Portland is in sixth and they're searching right now, too, for a little bit of identity.
[7508.12 - 7509.12]:  So it's almost for San Diego.
[7509.12 - 7512.12]:  How quickly can you forget this and move on to what's next?
[7512.12 - 7519.12]:  Because points are going to be vital through the final seven games of the year.
[7519.12 - 7523.12]:  Jones looks up to Murphy.
[7539.12 - 7551.12]:  Most goals at home that San Diego has ever given up.
[7551.12 - 7556.12]:  Waning moments of this second half.
[7556.12 - 7558.12]:  There's a final whistle.
[7558.12 - 7562.12]:  A dominant win for North Carolina for one.
[7562.12 - 7572.12]:  Sean Nahas and his side storm in to Snapdragon Stadium and pick up three points.
[7572.12 - 7574.12]:  Alex Morgan.
[7574.12 - 7585.12]:  It's been a wonderful day, just honoring a legendary player, played her final minutes ever.
[7585.12 - 7593.12]:  But a tough day for San Diego on the field.
[7593.12 - 7599.12]:  Emotional day for everyone there at Snapdragon, but mostly for Alex Morgan.
[7599.12 - 7603.12]:  To be able to feel all the feels for one more time.
[7603.12 - 7611.12]:  Putting on your jersey, stepping out there, competing, participating with your teammates.
[7611.12 - 7615.12]:  Something that is just, there's nothing like it, Maura.
[7615.12 - 7623.12]:  There's nothing like being on a team and she got to do it one more time.
[7623.12 - 7628.12]:  Well, you just see all the love from the North Carolina players as well.
[7628.12 - 7631.12]:  So appreciative of Alex Morgan.
[7631.12 - 7635.12]:  She's building her own team, her own family is expanding right now.
[7635.12 - 7645.12]:  We love to see it.
[7645.12 - 7648.12]:  She's one of the best goal scorers that ever did it.
[7648.12 - 7656.12]:  When you think of Mia Ham, Messi, Ronaldo, Alex Morgan's right there.
[7656.12 - 7664.12]:  She has the same goals per game percentage as all three of those greats in the women's game.
[7665.12 - 7668.12]:  In the men's game, Christine Sinclair is right there too.
[7668.12 - 7671.12]:  The only one that beats her is Abby Wambach.
[7671.12 - 7676.12]:  But that is how great she is.
[7676.12 - 7684.12]:  And everybody's going to want to have their second with the best there is.
[7684.12 - 7693.12]:  John Nahas saying thank you to Alex Morgan.
[7693.12 - 7698.12]:  123 goals with the US Women's National Team 60 here in the NWSL.
[7698.12 - 7704.12]:  She leaves this league fourth all time.
[7704.12 - 7708.12]:  Golden boot winner in 2022.
[7715.12 - 7718.12]:  And these are videos that these kids will look back at forever.
[7718.12 - 7720.12]:  Show their friends at school.
[7720.12 - 7722.12]:  Look what I got to do.
[7722.12 - 7725.12]:  All the jerseys.
[7725.12 - 7727.12]:  That is so cool.
[7727.12 - 7730.12]:  From every different era.
[7730.12 - 7743.12]:  And here comes Charlie.
[7743.12 - 7747.12]:  Just some love for her superstar mom.
[7747.12 - 7750.12]:  Cheezing for the cameras.
[7750.12 - 7752.12]:  Charlie is used to it by now.
[7752.12 - 7757.12]:  This has been so special for them to be able to share these moments on the field after every single game.
[7757.12 - 7759.12]:  I talked about it earlier.
[7759.12 - 7761.12]:  Win, lose, draw, it doesn't matter.
[7761.12 - 7764.12]:  Alex is out on the field with Charlie afterwards.
[7774.12 - 7776.12]:  Okay.
[7776.12 - 7781.12]:  I'm going to try to keep this short without crying.
[7797.12 - 7799.12]:  Oh.
[7799.12 - 7802.12]:  What a ride it's been.
[7803.12 - 7812.12]:  I want to thank my teammates who have constantly challenged me every day and made me better.
[7812.12 - 7821.12]:  I want to thank my family who have relentlessly supported me, sacrifice so much for me.
[7821.12 - 7828.12]:  I love you guys and all 95 of you who are here tonight.
[7829.12 - 7832.12]:  And the fans.
[7844.12 - 7848.12]:  You push me to be my best self every day.
[7848.12 - 7856.12]:  You push me to be the best soccer player, to be the best mom, to be the best person I can be.
[7857.12 - 7865.12]:  Just showing up every day, supporting me, encouraging me, challenging me, criticizing me at times.
[7867.12 - 7869.12]:  I just thank you so much.
[7869.12 - 7877.12]:  I know people have come here with three days notice from Alaska, Massachusetts.
[7877.12 - 7879.12]:  Can't even say that.
[7879.12 - 7886.12]:  So, Florida, honestly, all around the country and just thank you.
[7898.12 - 7908.12]:  There has been so many incredible moments in my career, but this one, this last moment I share on the field with you.
[7908.12 - 7910.12]:  I will cherish forever.
[7910.12 - 7913.12]:  So, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
[7913.12 - 7915.12]:  Thank you.
[7938.12 - 7955.12]:  Well, it's the end of an era.
[7955.12 - 7959.12]:  Alex Morgan officially retires.
[7960.12 - 7963.12]:  Kaitlyn Sheridan doing what she does best.
[7963.12 - 7971.12]:  She always makes the player of the game have a little extra during their interview.
[7971.12 - 7975.12]:  But it's champagne showers for Alex Morgan.
[7979.12 - 7982.12]:  Hopefully she can get those eyes clean now.
[7982.12 - 7984.12]:  It's got that sparkling cider maybe.
[7984.12 - 7990.12]:  She did a good job not crying during most of it, but that might be the ticket there.
[7990.12 - 7993.12]:  It's an honor.
[7993.12 - 8001.12]:  And I think it's for us to be able to be here, but to watch Alex Morgan play.
[8001.12 - 8003.12]:  We got to see the start.
[8003.12 - 8005.12]:  We got to see the finish.
[8005.12 - 8011.12]:  And people look back at the greats in all different sports, and they're always going to talk about them.
[8011.12 - 8018.12]:  And we've lived in a soccer era where we've got to watch one of the best goal scorers ever do it.
[8018.12 - 8025.12]:  And she said thank you to everybody, but we thank her for giving us so many goals to talk about.
[8025.12 - 8030.12]:  So many great teams to huddle in front of the TV around.
[8030.12 - 8033.12]:  So, thank you, Alex Morgan.
[8033.12 - 8043.12]:  And you can just see Charlie looking on her whole family's here.
[8043.12 - 8049.12]:  And just one final thank you at Snapdragon Stadium.
[8049.12 - 8053.12]:  The greatest of all time.
[8053.12 - 8058.12]:  A legend in San Diego in soccer and sports.
[8063.12 - 8088.12]:  I think there's going to be some tears ricocheting tonight.
[8088.12 - 8097.12]:  Thank you for letting me be me.
[8097.12 - 8110.12]:  When you're in it, you sometimes forget how special those moments are to be surrounded by people you trust that you're working hard with every single day for a common goal.
[8110.12 - 8112.12]:  It can be getting away from you.
[8112.12 - 8113.12]:  It can be fleeting.
[8113.12 - 8117.12]:  I think it's a good reminder that things can change quickly.
[8117.12 - 8123.12]:  You know, four days ago, Alex Morgan didn't know that nobody knew this was Alex Morgan's last game.
[8123.12 - 8130.12]:  So I hope it's a reminder to all the players as being someone on the other side of it to enjoy those moments.
[8130.12 - 8134.12]:  The good, the bad, the hard, the joyful.
[8134.12 - 8136.12]:  Being on a team is special.
[8136.12 - 8142.12]:  Playing in front of people who support you every single week is special.
[8142.12 - 8158.12]:  And San Diego is really lucky that they got to see Alex Morgan start this team but also leave on her accord here at home at Snapdragon.
[8158.12 - 8166.12]:  Well, we wish Alex a happy and healthy pregnancy as well.
[8166.12 - 8167.12]:  I'm sure.
[8167.12 - 8170.12]:  And good luck to Charlie being a big sister.
[8170.12 - 8172.12]:  It's a big responsibility.
[8172.12 - 8173.12]:  Charlie is going to nail it.
[8173.12 - 8185.12]:  Yeah, I think so, too.
[8185.12 - 8210.12]:  We can see the motions pouring out from her San Diego teammates to just speaks to the impact that Morgan has had.
[8210.12 - 8216.12]:  One final round of applause for Alex Morgan.
[8216.12 - 8219.12]:  We'll come back after a break to break this one down.
[8219.12 - 8241.12]:  But thank you, Alex Morgan, for a wonderful career.
[8241.12 - 8244.12]:  Alex Morgan, always a class act.
[8244.12 - 8251.12]:  And you can see how much this means the next generation getting a chance to share a moment.
[8251.12 - 8253.12]:  Oh, that's awesome.
[8253.12 - 8255.12]:  One of the best ever do it.
[8255.12 - 8257.12]:  That's really awesome.
[8257.12 - 8263.12]:  Take a look at the play of the game brought to you by the powerful backing of American Express.
[8263.12 - 8271.12]:  And it starts with the iconic number 13, the pink pre-wrap and all the fans in attendance here at Snapdragon.
[8271.12 - 8272.12]:  And all the smiles.
[8272.12 - 8278.12]:  Alex Morgan just enjoyed every single last second of that.
[8278.12 - 8280.12]:  And she deserves it.
[8280.12 - 8285.12]:  What a legendary career.
[8285.12 - 8290.12]:  And she moves on to her next journey.
[8290.12 - 8297.12]:  Of course, as we said before, celebrates and then gets to spend some time with her growing family.
[8297.12 - 8309.12]:  And we'd love that for Alex Morgan as she continues to just make an impact even as she's walking off the pitch for the final time.
[8309.12 - 8312.12]:  She knows how important these little interactions are.
[8312.12 - 8313.12]:  It's hard.
[8313.12 - 8322.12]:  This field right now is littered with everybody throwing jerseys, wanting to get her autograph.
[8322.12 - 8331.12]:  But the fact that she started signing autographs shows who she is because she knows how long she's going to be there.
[8331.12 - 8341.12]:  But she knows that things like that, hugs, will make lives, will inspire a new generation to one day be in that San Diego wave kit.
[8341.12 - 8344.12]:  Playing at Snapdragon Stadium.
[8344.12 - 8356.12]:  Maybe not wearing number 13, but she really is a once in a generation player, once in a generation talent and a once in a generation person.
[8356.12 - 8359.12]:  It's been incredible to watch.
[8359.12 - 8361.12]:  I think I can speak for both of us, Jordan.
[8361.12 - 8370.12]:  It's been an honor to call this moment, to get to share this moment with Alex Morgan.
[8371.12 - 8379.12]:  And it's a long walk, but I know she's soaking it all in.
[8379.12 - 8381.12]:  She probably wants it to be longer.
[8381.12 - 8385.12]:  You don't want these moments to end.
[8385.12 - 8394.12]:  This is not the end of her journey, though, in women's sports, and she made that very clear in her press conference heading into this game.
[8394.12 - 8398.12]:  She's found her calling, and it's just going to look a little bit different.
[8398.12 - 8409.12]:  Yeah, continue to invest in women's sports domestically through her media company.
[8409.12 - 8413.12]:  The impact is impact was massive on the field and it's continue.
[8413.12 - 8424.12]:  It's going to continue to be massive outside of the field as well.
[8424.12 - 8432.12]:  For many years to come.
[8432.12 - 8438.12]:  Everybody look at that jersey that girl made on the poster.
[8438.12 - 8442.12]:  Oh, yeah, that's nice.
[8442.12 - 8449.12]:  Photos, autographs, and so many smiles.
[8449.12 - 8459.12]:  Some tears, too.
[8459.12 - 8463.12]:  Is that her little buddy?
[8463.12 - 8466.12]:  Remember the little boy that was screaming Alex Morgan.
[8466.12 - 8470.12]:  It's not him, but that's that kid's pretty cute, too.
[8470.12 - 8473.12]:  Yeah, it was Luca. He made a video for Alex.
[8473.12 - 8481.12]:  Oh, yeah, right. He did make a video.
[8481.12 - 8484.12]:  Man, it's just it's hard not to smile when you see this.
[8484.12 - 8497.12]:  It's hard not to just be proud of Alex Morgan from afar and be thankful that this is who represents this league and has represented this league so well.
[8497.12 - 8505.12]:  And it's a lot of weight she had to carry for a long time.
[8505.12 - 8513.12]:  There has to be a sense of relief that one, I don't think as of late, she's had to do it all by herself.
[8513.12 - 8517.12]:  She's been there's been a lot of players who have helped.
[8517.12 - 8526.12]:  But when you're the star that she is and you shine so bright, you're going to have a lot more attention on you.
[8527.12 - 8539.12]:  She always carried herself with pride, with shoulders back, with thoughts of including everybody that she can,
[8539.12 - 8554.12]:  making people feel the love that she has for them, but also understand where players in this league were at when they needed better players on the national team were at when they wanted change.
[8555.12 - 8564.12]:  And now finally, she can let that go, knowing that she has accomplished everything on and off the field that she wanted to as a soccer player.
[8564.12 - 8567.12]:  Not a lot of people get to say that.
[8567.12 - 8574.12]:  And she mentioned in her press conference just the fact that she got to grow up with some other icons,
[8574.12 - 8580.12]:  Kelly O'Hara, Megan Rapinoe, and how they all kind of came up with the U.S. women's national team together.
[8580.12 - 8583.12]:  She said sometimes I had to stand on the shoulders of my teammates.
[8593.12 - 8601.12]:  These are important moments because to a lot of these kids, Alex Morgan is somebody that is untouchable, right?
[8601.12 - 8607.12]:  She's a figure that you see on TV that is unlike you in all ways.
[8607.12 - 8616.12]:  But when you get these close interactions one on one with a professional, you can say, oh, it's just a person.
[8616.12 - 8625.12]:  It's someone that just like me had a dream when they were younger to be on the national team, to be a professional.
[8626.12 - 8629.12]:  And if she can do it, I can do it.
[8629.12 - 8641.12]:  These little moments of recognition to all of these young girls are going to be little sparks to their fires and whatever they do in their lives.
[8641.12 - 8644.12]:  But this will be a moment that they'll remember forever.
[8644.12 - 8652.12]:  I think a lot of these kids, if they're not already signed up for U soccer, they're going to be signing up tomorrow
[8652.12 - 8655.12]:  after getting the share in this moment with Alex Morgan.
[8655.12 - 8663.12]:  And there will never be another Alex Morgan, but there's going to be so many players and young kids inspired by her.
[8668.12 - 8670.12]:  What a night in San Diego.
[8670.12 - 8674.12]:  Alex Morgan says so long, a wonderful career.
[8674.12 - 8680.12]:  We thank her so much for all that she has done and she officially retires.
[8680.12 - 8686.12]:  Well, for Jordan, Angeli and our entire crew, I'm Maura Sheridan saying so long from Snapdragon Stadium.
[8686.12 - 8690.12]:  This has been a presentation of CBS Sports Network, a 24 hour home run.