CARY, N.C. (May 11, 2018)– North Carolina FC U-23 battled to a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Lionsbridge FC on Friday night in its PDL season opener. NCFC U-23 will aim to build off the early season result as its PDL season is officially underway.
A host of North Carolina soccer talent was on show during the match. Five players from the NCFC Youth Academy and four additional CASL/TFCA (now NCFC Youth) products made the lineup for NCFC.
The home side wasted no time getting the action underway with a goal from Clayton Sparks in the 12th minute. The former TFCA product and Jacksonville, N.C., native took advantage of a loose ball in the Lionsbridge box for the easy finish.
NCFC held its own for most of the half, but Lionsbridge FC equalized in the 36th minute with a goal from Jalon Brown off an assist from James Ellis.
After playing out the rest of the match without a goal from either side, the game was nearly decided in extra time, but Baboucar Njie’s shot bounced off the crossbar – just inches away from securing three points for NCFC U-23.
Up Next:
NCFC U-23 will travel to face Triangle rival Tobacco Road FC on Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Durham County Stadium as the team continues its season.
Notes:
North Carolina Football Club’s youth-to-pro pipeline was prominently displayed in the season opener as five NCFC Youth Academy products (Caleb Duvernay, Jamil Gracia, George Marks, Jose Morales, Nick Retzlaff) and four TFCA/CASL (now NCFC Youth) products (Pa Alieu Ann, Chase Rhode, Dean Rutherford and Clayton Sparks) all featured in the lineup.
Sparks, who previously played for the team in 2016, scored the first goal of the season for NCFC U-23.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23: Colton Dutches; Jamil Gracia, Caleb Duvernay, Chase Rhode ©, Miles Stray; Nick Retzlaff, Shariff Secca (Pa Alieu Ann, 86’), Ryeong Choi (Jose Morales, 82’), Keegan Kelly (Baboucar Nije, 85’); Clayton Sparks, Dean Rutherford (David Cuperman, 68’)
Subs not used: George Marks, Jesus Ibarra
LBFC: Kyle McGovern; Richie Duffie (Travis Cooke, 59’), Tom Devitt, Josh Spencer, Austin Graham (James Lee, 72’); Brennan Burton (Fortia Munts, 58’), James Ellis, Simon Fitch, Ivan Militar (Cleef Desir 68’); Jalon Brown ©, Max Poelker (Aladdin Elfares, 79’)
Subs not used: Joeseph Rice, Hazuki Hashizume
Score:
NCFC U-23: 1
LBFC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U-23: Clayton Sparks (unassisted 12’)
LBFC: Jalon Brown (James Ellis, 36’)
Cautions:
NCFC U-23: Keegan Kelly (54’)
LBFC: Tom Devitt (29’)
Ejections:
NCFC U-23: —
LBFC: —
###
CARY, N.C. (May 11, 2018)– North Carolina FC U-23 battled to a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Lionsbridge FC on Friday night in its PDL season opener. NCFC U-23 will aim to build off the early season result as its PDL season is officially underway.
A host of North Carolina soccer talent was on show during the match. Five players from the NCFC Youth Academy and four additional CASL/TFCA (now NCFC Youth) products made the lineup for NCFC.
The home side wasted no time getting the action underway with a goal from Clayton Sparks in the 12th minute. The former TFCA product and Jacksonville, N.C., native took advantage of a loose ball in the Lionsbridge box for the easy finish.
NCFC held its own for most of the half, but Lionsbridge FC equalized in the 36th minute with a goal from Jalon Brown off an assist from James Ellis.
After playing out the rest of the match without a goal from either side, the game was nearly decided in extra time, but Baboucar Njie’s shot bounced off the crossbar – just inches away from securing three points for NCFC U-23.
Up Next:
NCFC U-23 will travel to face Triangle rival Tobacco Road FC on Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Durham County Stadium as the team continues its season.
Notes:
North Carolina Football Club’s youth-to-pro pipeline was prominently displayed in the season opener as five NCFC Youth Academy products (Caleb Duvernay, Jamil Gracia, George Marks, Jose Morales, Nick Retzlaff) and four TFCA/CASL (now NCFC Youth) products (Pa Alieu Ann, Chase Rhode, Dean Rutherford and Clayton Sparks) all featured in the lineup.
Sparks, who previously played for the team in 2016, scored the first goal of the season for NCFC U-23.
Box Score:
Lineups:
NCFC U-23: Colton Dutches; Jamil Gracia, Caleb Duvernay, Chase Rhode ©, Miles Stray; Nick Retzlaff, Shariff Secca (Pa Alieu Ann, 86’), Ryeong Choi (Jose Morales, 82’), Keegan Kelly (Baboucar Nije, 85’); Clayton Sparks, Dean Rutherford (David Cuperman, 68’)
Subs not used: George Marks, Jesus Ibarra
LBFC: Kyle McGovern; Richie Duffie (Travis Cooke, 59’), Tom Devitt, Josh Spencer, Austin Graham (James Lee, 72’); Brennan Burton (Fortia Munts, 58’), James Ellis, Simon Fitch, Ivan Militar (Cleef Desir 68’); Jalon Brown ©, Max Poelker (Aladdin Elfares, 79’)
Subs not used: Joeseph Rice, Hazuki Hashizume
Score:
NCFC U-23: 1
LBFC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U-23: Clayton Sparks (unassisted 12’)
LBFC: Jalon Brown (James Ellis, 36’)
Cautions:
NCFC U-23: Keegan Kelly (54’)
LBFC: Tom Devitt (29’)
Ejections:
NCFC U-23: —
LBFC: —
###
