McCall Zerboni will lead Gotham FC against the North Carolina Courage. (Photo courtesy of Gotham FC)

Gotham FC will look to remain unbeaten in the NWSL Challenge Cup play when the it meets the North Carolina Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, Paramount+).

The squad was among the only four teams to win in its opening match of the competition, along with OL Reign, Kansas City Current, and San Diego Wave FC. In North Carolina’s Challenge Cup opener, the team played to a 1-1 draw with the Orlando Pride.

On April 22, in the first meeting of the 2023 NWSL regular season between the teams, Gotham FC defeated the Courage, 1-0, on a goal by Lynn Williams in the 80th minute after a two-hour weather delay at the half.

On April 19, Gotham FC opened the Challenge Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit at Red Bull Arena. Williams scored in the 56th minute, and goalkeeper Mandy Haught kept a clean sheet in her first appearance in 2023. Defender Ellie Jean was named the Gotham FC player of the match. Midfielder McCall Zerboni led the team with five clearances and three interceptions.

When Williams scored the game-winner against the Courage on April 22, it was her 42nd consecutive goal in all NWSL competitions from inside the box, not including penalties.

Gotham’s three-match week concludes with a regular season game in Chicago against the Red Stars on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. The team returns home for a Mother’s Day matchup against the Orlando Pride at Red Bull Arena. on Sunday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.