North Carolina Courage by 2
Alright, I'm sure you fine folks have a soft spot for spreadsheets, but let's talk some soccer. We're looking at a matchup between North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars.
Net-nanny for the Courage is Casey Murphy. Solid showing this season with a 7.13 rating and 11 saves, certainly not someone you want to go one-on-one with if you can avoid it. Red Stars have Alyssa Naeher between their posts, nipping at Murphy's heels with a 7.07 rating and 10 saves.
Let's bring some names onto the field, shall we? North Carolina's got some strong footwork in the likes of Ryan Williams and Malia Berkely. Williams has an impressive 86.1% accurate pass rate and while Berkely doesn't have any flashy numbers, she's consistent with a pass accuracy at 87.5%. Ashley Sanchez, Haley Hopkins, and Cortnee Vine round up the team's top players, each with a goal under their belts this season.
Swinging focus to the Windy City, we've got Natalia Kuikka leading the pack for the Red Stars, sporting a fine 7.38 rating. They've also got Cari Roccaro and Tatumn Milazzo running the field, with solid ratings of 7.13 and 7.05 respectively. Ludmila and Bea Franklin bring the firepower with a goal each.
Now, past matchups shouldn't be ignored. If history is any indication, North Carolina Courage has a tactical advantage, having handily bested the Red Stars in two of their last three games.
With regards to season records – it's a close call. North Carolina Courage has a slight edge with a 10-2-9 record compared to Chicago's 9-2-10.
Considering recent results, North Carolina's had a mixed bag, while Chicago Red Stars seem to be finding their footing with two victories in the last two games despite the setbacks before.
Looking at the data, the tea leaves, the star alignments, and that goat yonder, it's time to get to the prediction.
Albert’s Prediction: North Carolina Courage by 2