The reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions, the NC Courage, are currently fifth in the table after nine games. A drop-off from the team’s form last season, but with seven players currently representing their national teams in France, the drop is expected.

The team started off the season strong, scoring 10 goals in its opening three matches, but since has scored just seven in the following six matches. This drop coincides relatively closely with players like current USWNT starting left-back Crystal Dunn leaving for international duty. Dunn, despite playing just 253 minutes this season, is currently the league’s second-highest goal scorer with four, just two behind Australian and Chicago Red Stars scoring phenom Sam Kerr.

The Courage are currently sitting on 13 points, but with only a one-point difference between them and seventh place, the team could be in for a battle for playoff position.

The next challenge for the Courage will be in the form of the league-leading Washington Spirit. Following that game, the Courage will have a couple of crucial matches against Houston and Seattle, who are two of the teams currently battling for playoff position, but a lot can change between now and August.

The team may be receiving a boost in defense prior to the game against Washington, with center half Abby Erceg likely to return to the team in the next week, having been knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage.

In the absence of players like Dunn, Erceg, Brazilian winger Debinha and others at the World Cup, several players have stepped up. One of these is midfielder Kristen Hamilton, who has three goals and one assist on the season, with all three goals coming in a stunning performance against the Orlando Pride.

Forward Lynn Williams has also been solid this season, starting all nine games so far, with three goals and two assists to her name.

One position that has struggled since the departure of the international players is the goalkeeper. With normal starter Stephanie Labbé away with Canada at the World Cup, Katelyn Rowland and Sam Leshnak have both started. Rowland started three matches, conceding an average of two goals per match. Leshnak then recorded a shutout against the Orlando Pride and conceded only one point the next match.

With the position the team is currently in, the boost provided by returning international players should be enough to propel the club toward the top of the table.