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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 4

Courage win on a late own goal but miss the playoffs

Plus, Wake County's $680 million school bond and a deepening Triangle drought.

The 5AM Fuquay‑Varina team1 story6 sources3 min read

SportsTop story

The Courage beat Denver 1-⁠0 on a late own goal but miss the playoffs by two points

The Courage's finale and season came with milestones

20
goals for Ashley Sanchez, tying the NWSL single-season record
10,803
fans at the finale against Denver
700
career saves for goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan
2
points separated the Courage from the playoffs

Sources: N.C. State University Technician Online, WRAL

If you caught Sunday's finale at First Horizon Stadium in Cary, you saw a wild one. The North Carolina Courage beat Denver Summit FC 1-0 when Denver's Kaleigh Kurtz scored an own goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

  • Crowd: 10,803, the second highest total in team history
  • Sold-out games this season: five
  • Kailen Sheridan: career 700th save, third keeper to reach it
  • Ashley Sanchez: 2026 NWSL Golden Boot winner

It wasn't enough. Seattle's 1-0 win over Orlando took the eighth and final playoff spot, and the result kept the Courage in ninth place, two points out.

“Disappointed with the outcome and disappointed that we didn't make the playoffs.”

Courage head coach Mak Lind

Sanchez had what looked like a record-breaking goal waved off for offside in the first half. She didn't score in the final four matches.

20goals for Ashley Sanchez, tying the NWSL single-season scoring record

Sanchez earned the 2026 Golden Boot as the league's leading goal scorer.

Sources: N.C. State University Technician Online, WRAL

Asked

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Asked

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News Notes

School bond

Wake County voters decided Tuesday on a $680 million loan for the school system, largely focused on renovations and replacements rather than new schools. A dedicated property tax of $4.10 for every $100,000 of property value would fund it. WRAL

$4.10dedicated tax for every $100,000 of property value

That tax would fund the $680 million school bond.

Source: WRAL

Drought

Wake and Durham counties are in a severe drought, according to the , and the Triangle's biggest reservoirs are at their lowest levels of 2026. Central North Carolina has been in drought since August. The News & Observer

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Asked

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Asked

What are you doing about the drought at home?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Fuquay‑Varina, NC

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Fuquay‑Varina eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Advertise it on our Jobs board.

The Wrap

Looking for food and culture on Saturday, Nov. 7? The Chinese-American Friendship Association of North Carolina is hosting the Taste of China Food and Culture Festival at Downtown Cary Park, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's the 6th annual, and it's free. Come hungry.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Wake early voting tops 334,000 ballots; battery ban starts Dec. 1

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition6 links · 5 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WRALwral.com
  3. N.C. State University Technician Onlinetechnicianonline.com
  4. WRALwral.com
  5. The News & Observernewsobserver.com
  6. Fuquay‑Varina events calendar5amfuquayvarinanc.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 3Wake early voting tops 334,000 ballots; battery ban starts Dec. 1
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5AM Fuquay‑Varinato me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Courage win on a late own goal but miss the playoffs

Plus, Wake County's $680 million school bond and a deepening Triangle drought.

The TLDR

  1. Courage beat Denver 1-0 but miss the playoffs by two points
  2. Wake voters weighed a $680 million school bond Tuesday
  3. Wake County is in a severe drought as reservoirs dip
Read this edition

Around Fuquay‑Varina

From The Wilson Times, N.C. State University Technician Online and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. The Wilson Times6 hours ago

    Burrow overcomes trick to take treat in Spooktacular

    Chase Burrow rebounded from qualifying transmission issues to win Southern National’s 125-lap I-95 Showdown, while the track honored late spotter Lloyd Garner.

  2. N.C. State University Technician Online7 hours ago

    Courage women’s soccer falls short of postseason despite closing with a 1-0 victory over the Denver Summit.

    The North Carolina Courage (13-3-13) closed out its season with a shut-out win at home against the Denver Summit (11-11-8), but a combination of results kept the team out for the second consecutive season. The way the Courage won happened in shocking fashion, as an own goal by Denver’s Kaleigh Kurtz during the last minute...

  3. Chapelboro8 hours ago

    Steve Maynor Wins Election to Full Term as Chatham County Sheriff

    Steve Maynor, who was appointed to the office of Chatham County Sheriff by the outgoing Mike Roberson in August, is projected to win a full term.

  4. WRAL11 hours ago

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    A young child has returned home after being rescued from a pond at Phillips Farms in Cary.

  5. Chapelboro12 hours ago

    The Evening News – Election Preview, Chatham County Utilities, Mixed Start to Basketball Season

    97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey presents the afternoon news. Included in this edition of the news, we hear more on today's midterm elections locally. We also hear how national trends may play out early in the evening from Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen. Pittsboro meets with Google Fiber representatives, while Chatham County learns more about new plans for an Enbridge natural gas pipeline, and more. In sports, the men's basketball team holds on for a close win against Western North Carolina, while the women's team takes a loss in to Oklahoma in Paris, and more.

  6. Chapelboro12 hours ago

    Chatham County Roundup: County Commissioner Karen Howard

    Chatham County Commissioner Karen Howard spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, November 3, discussing county news and events. She discussed the election and its implications for both Chatham County, and the state. She also recapped the most recent meeting of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, talked about the latest with the Enbridge Pipeline, and more.