Lindsey Horan’s brace secures home semifinal for Portland

Week 24 saw the playoff field set and the regular season come to a close. Here’s a look back at the final week of the NWSL regular season.

Friday night’s victory for the Portland Thorns locked in the playoff field for next weekend. With the win over Seattle, the Thorns will now play host to their rivals to the north in a rematch of this weekend’s matchup. The No. 1 seed North Carolina Courage finished out a historic season with a win over Houston on Saturday. They’ll play host to the Chicago Red Stars next weekend.

Lindsey Horan comes up big with brace in 3-1 win

It’s no surprise this game was a big one. Even without the playoff implications from this match, the fact Portland and Seattle were playing at Providence Park in front of a sold-out crowd on the final weekend of the regular season was enough to get excited about. Then throw in the fact the winner would host the loser in next weekend’s semifinal match and you would get one hell of a match.

Jess Fishlock put the visitors ahead early with a screamer from the top of the box just four minutes in. But Portland would not be shown up on their own turf. Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan evened up the match in the 30th minute on a ball that bounced out to her in the middle of the box. Just after halftime, Tobin Heath would steal the ball and take it to the net to put the home team up by one. Then it was time for Horan to take home the brace in the most Horan way possible, a header off a corner kick.

The Thorns will now host Seattle at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 15. The game will be broadcast on Lifetime.

Carli Lloyd’s goal gives Sky Blue the victory

It’s no secret the Sky Blue have had their struggles this season. From travel issues, to poor training and living conditions, to not having won a game all season. While the first two issues didn’t change on Saturday, the New Jersey-based team were able to pick up their first victory of the season.

When a struggling Orlando team came to town, many believed this might be Sky Blue’s chance at a lone victory on the year. A strong shutout performance from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and a 74th-minute goal from captain Carli Lloyd on her bobblehead day was enough for Sky Blue to pick up their first victory of the year.

Utah close out inaugural season with a victory

It was the same old story for Chicago in the first half, as a lone goal from Sam Kerr gave them a 1-0 lead going into halftime. But two second half goals for the Royals saw them protect home field one last time and grab all three points.

Amy Rodriguez scored in the 55th minute and then Katie Stengel put home her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 64th minute for the 2-1 victory. Chicago will now head to North Carolina next week to face the No. 1-seeded Courage in the semifinals.

North Carolina Courage set records in final game of the regular season

For the first time in league history, a team has reached the 17-win threshold. The North Carolina Courage picked up the record win with a 5-0 shellacking of Houston in front of 9,505. With the win, the Courage also set the record for most points, with 57, and fewest losses, with just one. They also set records for most goals scored, fewest goals allowed, lowest goals against average and largest goal differential.

The Courage scored three in the first half and two in the second to secure the win. Lynn Williams had a brace, Jessica McDonald had a goal and two assists, and Crystal Dunn and Kristen Hamilton added a goal each. North Carolina will now play host to the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinals for the second year in a row.

Coming up

The semifinals will take place next weekend in Portland, Oregon and Cary, North Carolina. The Thorns will play host to Seattle on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on Lifetime. On Sunday, North Carolina will play host to Chicago at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.