SAN JOSE — The World Cup break has been good to Bay FC.
After taking about a month off for the FIFA men’s tournament played across North America, Bay FC has returned to the pitch with back-to-back wins.
A week after returning to action with a road win over Utah, Bay FC thrashed the North Carolina Courage 3-0 on Saturday at PayPal Park, getting two early goals from Karlie Lema and a second-half score from Racheal Kundananji to seal the deal.
It was Bay FC’s first home game since a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Stars on May 24.
Bay FC’s Karlie Lema (5) congratulates teammate Racheal Kundananji (9) after she scored a goal against the North Carolina Courage during the second half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. Bay FC defeated North Carolina 3-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Lema’s two-goal effort was Bay FC’s first multi-score game since Kundananji bagged a pair of goals in Bay FC’s win over Houston that concluded its inaugural regular season in 2024.
“In the locker room, we said we have a different type of energy today, and we knew we were going to go out there and kill it,” Lema said. “So once we got on the field and hit the post and then had different chances, we knew we were going to get a few in the back of the net.”
Goals were ripe for the plucking all afternoon. Lema hit the right post with a shot in the sixth minute and was off to the races from there. The Morgan Hill native got her first score off an extended dribbling sequence and then a rebounded shot in the 15th minute.
Then in the 17th, North Carolina’s back line continued to struggle as Alex Pfeiffer received a through ball with a ton of space on the right side, then hit Lema with a perfect centering pass for a tap-in right in front of the goal mouth.
Bay FC’s Alex Pfeiffer (17) is fouled by North Carolina Courage’s Feli Rauch (11) during the first half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Kundananji’s goal came in the 54th minute as a poor pass from the North Carolina back line found the way to her feet. And she made no mistake with it, taking a few quick touches and then clinically slotting home the third past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
On the other end of the field, goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz saved a few close calls to finish off her seventh career shutout, setting a new club record. She finished with five saves.
“Coming into the season, Emma (Coates) and the staff have been so great at setting a foundation,” Silkowitz said. “And with change comes a little bit of growing pains, and everyone kind of witnessed that and felt that.
“Everyone’s starting to see the picture, starting to come together. We’ve shown glimpses throughout the first half of the year, and as a team, on and off the field, we’ve been working really hard to continue building our relationships. And you’re seeing it unfold on the field, and it’s really exciting. And this is just a start for this team.”
Bay FC goalie Jordan Silkowitz (29) leaps to block a goal attempt by North Carolina Courage during the first half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
With its second straight victory, Bay FC has risen from 14th to 11th in the NWSL standings. Bay FC is two points back of eighth-place Orlando for the final NWSL playoff spot. The Pride face Utah Royals starting at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, and results from that match were not final when the Bay Area News Group went to print.
The midday match was attended by 12,081 fans according to Bay FC’s numbers, but there were wide swaths of open seats at PayPal Park. The match coincided with the World Cup third-place game between England and France, which could help explain the sparse turnout.
Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji (9) shoots and scores past North Carolina Courage’s Maycee Bell (25) during the second half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. Bay FC defeated North Carolina 3-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
England women’s coach makes appearance
England women’s national team coach Sarina Wiegman attended Bay FC’s Saturday matinee, reuniting with Coates, her former colleague at the Football Association who oversaw England’s U23 national team.
Coates is in her first season in charge of Bay FC and followed Bay Collective CEO Kay Cossington over from across the pond. Cossington was previously the women’s technical director at the FA.
Wiegman and Coates briefly reunited and chatted at Bay FC’s offices before the game. Wiegman will also stick around for Bay FC’s recovery day tomorrow and spend some more time around the team.
Bay FC’s Alex Pfeiffer (17) crashes into a television camera while chasing down an out of bounds ball while playing the North Carolina Courages during the second half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. Bay FC defeated North Carolina 3-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
“It’s part of an international manager’s job to come and connect with the clubs that the players play for,” Coates said. “Ultimately, we’ve got a couple of English players that are on their radar. It’s important for us to develop relationships with international managers. There’s already a prior existing relationship there.
“I learned a lot from Sarina. I’m incredibly thankful for the support that she’s given me in the past. I learned a lot working with her at tournaments and shadowing her and working with her with England. So I’m super thankful for what I’ve learned. It was nice that we were able to put on a good performance for her, and I’m looking forward to connecting with her again tomorrow when we start chatting around some other players.”
Bay FC’s Karlie Lema (5) scores a goal against the North Carolina Courages during the first half of their match at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
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