CHICAGO – For the second-consecutive year, the Red Stars will travel to North Carolina to take on the Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Semifinal match. Kickoff will be set for 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, September 18. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNEWS.

Here are a few things to know before the match:

Attacking Threat
North Carolina hosts a sturdy duo up top in strikers Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald. Just behind Sam Kerr’s Golden Boot award, Williams finished the regular season with 14 goals and five assists. The striker also led the league with 95 shots. McDonald added seven goals, while she led the league with eight assists on the year.

Neutral Territory
Due to Hurricane Florence hitting the east coast, the Semifinal has been moved to neutral territory for both North Carolina and Chicago, moving it to the Championship destination, Portland. The change causes North Carolina to no longer have “home field advantage,” and gives both sides equal opportunity for the victory.

Rested Before the Semis
With the move, the game will be played three days after the first Semifinal match against Portland and Seattle. Pushing the game back causes North Carolina and Chicago to have 10 days between both teams last matches on Saturday, September 8^th.