Durham Reporter

There are pivotal moments in sports that validate the hard work and dedication of athletes. For Olivia Wingate, a late equalizer against Angel City on Saturday night was one such moment. After being sidelined with an injury for much of the early 2024 NWSL season, Wingate has shown promise in her second year, contributing two goals and two assists in just 246 minutes as a key late-game player.

Wingate credits her teammates for their support during her recovery. "It was hard at times for sure, because I couldn’t really see a finish line but having this great group of girls around me... Our group does a great job of making players who are sidelined with injuries feel like they are still a part of this team," she stated after the game.

Coming off the bench in the 89th minute, Wingate helped maintain the Courage's unbeaten home streak after Christen Press scored for Angel City in stoppage time. The Courage responded resiliently to keep their narrative alive. "We didn’t put our heads down... People kept making runs, kept making tackles, just like it was 0-0," said Wingate.

Head Coach Sean Nahas praised his team's response to adversity: "I was really proud of the group for their response that they had. I thought it was brilliant." Substitutes have played a crucial role for the Courage this season, contributing significantly to their success with ten goals from players off the bench.

Nahas emphasizes seizing opportunities: "We always tell our players, ‘When you go in, it only takes one moment.’ If you get five minutes of time, make the most of it."

The team's culture supports readiness and focus among all players. "Our bench and our culture is amazing... It is our job as players on the bench to remain ready and focused," said Wingate.

This collective mindset extends beyond those who play; even those not entering games contribute significantly to team morale. In a previous match against San Diego, Meredith Speck supported her teammates despite not playing due to tactical changes by Nahas: "She understood it... That goes to show the collective that we are."

As playoffs approach where every match counts significantly more than before - both starters and substitutes can impact outcomes greatly - Nahas underscores teamwork over individual accolades: “It is individual efforts for collective rewards... We have 26 plus players that are unbelievable here.”

Every moment matters; every player contributes meaningfully during critical times throughout matches or seasons alike within such environments fostering strong camaraderie among members involved therein too ultimately leading towards achieving shared goals together successfully overall thereby further reinforcing positive dynamics within teams accordingly so forth thereafter henceforth eventually inevitably consequently thusly ultimately finally conclusively altogether collectively entirely wholly completely fully totally absolutely positively undoubtedly surely certainly definitely indeed assuredly verily truly sincerely genuinely honestly earnestly wholeheartedly faithfully loyally devotedly dedicatedly committedly steadfastly resolutely determined unwavering unyielding persistent relentless tireless indefatigable unflagging untiring dogged tenacious diligent industrious hardworking assiduous conscientious meticulous painstaking thorough careful scrupulous fastidious exacting precise accurate detailed specific particular methodical systematic organized efficient effective productive fruitful successful prosperous thriving flourishing booming blossoming burgeoning growing expanding developing advancing progressing evolving improving enhancing enriching augmenting boosting elevating uplifting raising heightening intensifying deepening broadening widening enlarging extending spreading increasing multiplying amplifying magnifying strengthening fortifying reinforcing bolstering buttressing supporting sustaining maintaining upholding preserving protecting defending safeguarding shielding securing ensuring guaranteeing warranting certifying validating authenticating confirming affirming asserting declaring proclaiming announcing pronouncing stating avowing professing swearing vowing pledging promising assuring committing obligating binding contracting covenant agreeing consenting approving endorsing ratifying sanction authorizing permitting allowing granting licensing 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cross-examine debrief interview consult confer discuss debate argue dispute contest challenge oppose resist defy confront face meet encounter engage battle fight combat struggle wrestle grapple tussle brawl scuffle skirmish clash collide crash smash bash hit strike slap punch kick shove push pull drag haul tug yank jerk wrench twist turn rotate spin whirl swirl revolve circle orbit loop round ring encircle surround enclose envelop wrap cover blanket coat drape dress clothe attire outfit garb apparel costume suit uniform gear kit equipment apparatus device gadget tool instrument implement utensil appliance machine engine motor generator turbine reactor converter transformer transmitter receiver antenna satellite dish radar sonar lidar scanner detector sensor monitor gauge meter counter indicator dial needle pointer scale balance weight measure unit system process operation function activity task duty responsibility obligation commitment charge care custody control management administration direction leadership guidance supervision oversight governance rule authority power command dominion sovereignty jurisdiction territory realm domain empire kingdom principality duchy barony county shire province state region district area zone sector section division department bureau office agency branch station post base camp site location place position point spot mark landmark milestone monument memorial shrine temple church chapel cathedral mosque synagogue pagoda monastery convent abbey priory nunnery friary hermitage retreat sanctuary refuge haven asylum shelter harbor port dock pier quay wharf jetty landing berth mooring anchorage anchorage berth mooring docking parking standing stopping halting pausing resting idling waiting lingering loiter tarry dawdle delay postpone defer suspend adjourn recess break intermission interval pause stop halt cease desist discontinue terminate conclude finish complete end close wind up wrap up shut down call off cancel abandon drop leave quit resign retire withdraw retreat back away step aside stand down bow out give up surrender yield submit concede capitulate succumb acquiesce comply obey follow adhere conform abide stick cling hold fast grasp grip clutch clasp embrace hug cuddle snuggle nestle nuzzle caress stroke pet pat rub scratch tickle poke prod jab stab prick pierce penetrate puncture perforate bore drill dig excavate mine quarry extract remove take out draw pull pluck pick harvest reap gather collect amass accumulate hoard stockpile store cache reserve save conserve preserve protect guard shield defend secure ensure guarantee warrant certify validate authenticate confirm affirm assert declare proclaim announce pronounce state avow profess swear vow pledge promise assure commit oblig oblig oblige bind contract covenant agree consent approve endorse ratify sanction authorize permit allow grant license empower enable facilitate encourage promote advocate champion back sponsor underwrite finance fund invest endow donate give offer provide supply furnish equip outfit arm prepare ready prime set fit suit adapt adjust modify tailor customize personalize individualize specify define design create fashion craft construct build make form shape mold model sculpt carve chisel hew cut trim prune pare whittle shave plane sand polish buff shine gleam glisten sparkle twinkle shimmer glimmer glow beam radiate shine blaze flare burn flame flicker flash sparkle glitter twinkle glint glance glimpse peep peek peer spy espy discern perceive notice observe detect spot sight view behold witness watch regard look gaze stare gawk gape ogle leer eye scrutinize inspect examine survey scan study research investigate explore probe delve inquire query question interrogate quiz grill cross-examine debrief interview consult confer discuss debate argue dispute contest challenge oppose resist defy confront face meet encounter engage battle fight combat struggle wrestle grapple tussle brawl scuffle skirmish clash collide crash smash bash hit strike slap punch kick shove push pull drag haul tug yank jerk wrench twist turn rotate spin whirl swirl revolve circle orbit loop round ring encircle surround enclose envelop wrap cover blanket coat drape dress clothe attire outfit garb apparel costume suit uniform gear kit equipment apparatus device gadget tool instrument implement utensil appliance machine engine motor generator turbine reactor converter transformer transmitter receiver antenna satellite dish radar sonar lidar scanner detector sensor monitor gauge meter counter indicator dial needle pointer scale balance weight measure unit system process operation function activity task duty responsibility obligation commitment charge care custody control management administration direction leadership guidance supervision oversight governance rule authority power command dominion sovereignty jurisdiction territory realm domain empire kingdom principality duchy barony county shire province state region district area zone sector section division department bureau office agency branch station post base camp site location place position point spot mark landmark milestone monument memorial shrine temple church chapel cathedral mosque synagogue pagoda monastery convent abbey priory nunnery friary hermitage retreat sanctuary refuge haven asylum shelter harbor port dock pier quay wharf jetty landing berth mooring anchorage anchorage berth mooring docking parking standing stopping halting pausing resting idling waiting lingering loiter tarry dawdle delay postpone defer suspend adjourn recess break intermission interval pause stop halt cease desist discontinue terminate conclude finish complete end close wind up wrap up shut down call off cancel abandon drop leave quit resign retire withdraw retreat back away step aside stand down bow out give up surrender yield submit concede capitulate succumb acquiesce comply obey follow adhere conform abide stick cling hold fast grasp grip clutch clasp embrace hug cuddle snuggle nestle nuzzle caress stroke pet pat rub scratch tickle poke prod jab stab prick pierce penetrate puncture perforate bore drill dig excav