SAN DIEGO (AP) Hege Riise scored in the 75th minute to lift Carolina into a 1-1 tie with the San Diego Spirit on Sunday night, clinching first place in the WUSA for the Courage.

The tie completed a worst-to-first turnaround for the Courage (12-5-4), who will play host to a semifinal playoff game next Saturday against Atlanta.

Riise's tying goal from 13 yards came on passes from Birgit Prinz and Danielle Fotopoulos.

Shannon Boxx scored from 5 yards out at the 10-minute mark for San Diego (5-12-4), which finished in seventh place in the eight-team league. On the goal, Shannon MacMillan set a franchise record with her eighth assist of the season.

A loss would have left the Courage tied with Philadelphia for first place and the Freedom would have prevailed on a tiebreaker.

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