Barbara Banda (2 goals, 1 assist) leads Pride over Courage

Barbra Banda scored two goals and helped create two others as the Orlando Pride turned a productive first half into a 4-1 victory over the visiting North Carolina Courage on Wednesday.

Banda, Ally Watt and Julie Doyle all scored goals in the first half as the Pride (4-0-3, 15 points) remained one of three unbeaten teams in the NWSL. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was not credited with a save for the Pride.

The Courage (4-3-0, 12 points) received an own goal off a deflection from Haley Hopkins' centering pass, while Casey Murphy made five saves.

Banda took the ball from midfield and found Watt for a goal in the 19th minute, then scored in the 40th minute off a feed from Watt. Banda's shot in the second minute of first-half stoppage time was saved by Murphy, with Doyle scoring off the rebound for a 3-0 lead.

Hopkins' centering pass in the 52nd minute deflected off Pride defender Emily Sams and into the goal to cut the Courage deficit to 3-1. Banda scored her second of the game in the 77th minute on a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area.

Banda, who has three goals and two assists in three games for Orlando, departed in the 82nd minute after taking a blow to her right knee.

--Field Level Media