Six Wahoos playing in NWSL Challenge Cup semifinals

The semifinals of the NWSL Challenge Cup take place Wednesday, July 22, as the nearly month-long event draws to a close. The games kick off at 12:30 ET on CBS All-Access as the Houston Dash face off against the Portland Thorns. Later tonight (10pm ET, to be exact), the Chicago Red Stars battle Sky Blue FC in the second semifinal game.

Six former Cavaliers are left in the event.

Forward Veronica Latsko will represent the Hoos for the Houston Dash in the first game of the semis. The Dash moved on from the quarterfinals thanks to a 3-2 advantage in penalty kicks over the Utah Royals. Latsko has played in all five games for the Dash and accumulated 171 minutes of playing time. She has one assist in the event.

Across from Latsko will be fellow Wahoo Becky Sauerbrunn, though the USWNT defender will be sidelined with a hip injury. Sauerbrunn has only played in one game in the event, but head coach Mark Parsons says her, “support, her experience and her standards off the field are going to help us for this tournament.” The Portland Thorns pulled off a huge upset as they knocked off the undefeated North Carolina Courage in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win.

Like the Thorns-Courage game, both teams in the second matchup moved on thanks to winning a penalty shootout. Morgan Gautrat (née Brian), Zoe Morse, Danielle Colaprico, and Makenzy Doniak are all part of the Chicago Red Stars. The Red Stars defeated the OL Reign 4-3 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. Gautrat has played in just three of Chicago’s game, and she will miss the semis with a leg injury. Colaprico has played in all five of the Red Stars’ games, and started the last four. She’s amassed 293 minutes in the midfield and is battling an ankle injury.

Chicago will face Sky Blue FC, which reached the semis thanks to a 4-3 win in PKs.

If you are interested in signing up for CBS All Access so you can watch the rest of the tournament, click here.

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