CARY, N.C. (June 7, 2019) – North Carolina FC U23 used a big performance by forward Preston Popp that included a game-winning goal four minutes into stoppage time to top Lionsbridge FC 2-1 Friday afternoon at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
With the result, NCFC improved to 4W-4L-0D and now sits atop the South Atlantic Division standings in USL League 2.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was clearly illustrated on the pitch Friday, with six current and former members of the NCFC Youth Academy included in head coach Tom Harris’ starting lineup. That number included Jeremy Kelly, a forward from the University of North Carolina, who made his first appearance of the season and previously played for the NCFC senior team in 2016.
The match was originally scheduled for 7 p.m., but kickoff was moved up to 3:30 due to the threat of severe weather. Despite the time change, Harris’ players came ready to play, reflected in a clean first half in which they controlled most of the possession.
In the 10th minute, NCFC U23 goalkeeper Will Pulisic did well to gather a low-to-the-ground effort from Lionsbridge’s Thibaut Jacquel. Outside of that save, the Duke product had little to worry about in the first half.
As the first half progressed, so did the NCFC U23 attack. The best scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes came in the 22nd minute following a Lionsbridge foul on the edge of the area. Playing in his first game of the USL League 2 season, NCFC U23 defender Mauricio Pineda put forth a threatening free kick but the UNC standout saw his effort glance off the crossbar.
NCFC’s offensive pressure carried into the second half, and the deadlock was broken in the 52nd minute, as second-half substitute Popp set up fellow forward Alex Rose for the game’s first goal, giving NCFC U23 a 1-0 lead.
Despite controlling much of the action during the second half of play, NCFC U23 saw Lionsbridge equalize in stoppage time on a goal by Eren Elbustu.
However, there was more stoppage-time drama to come thanks to Popp. The UNC Charlotte product started a NCFC U23 counterattack that eventually led to defender Parker Cross playing in a service that Popp headed in for the match-deciding goal.
With little time remaining, NCFC U23 remained strong defensively and secured the three points.
Next up for NCFC U23 is a short drive to Ting Park in Holly Springs Monday evening, as the squad faces Wake FC. Following that matchup, NCFC returns to Koka Booth Stadium to take on Virginia Beach United on June 18.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: Will Pulisic; David Mejia, Delasi Batse, Aidan Foster, James Kasak; Mauricio Pineda, Robert Screen © (Dom Jensen, 60’), Colton Pleasants (Alex Charles, 75’); Julian Ngoh (Preston Popp, 46’), Jeremy Kelly (Kalvin Kromer, 87’), Alex Rose (Parker Cross, 89’)
Subs not used: George Marks, Sergi Nus
Lionsbridge FC: Rich Dearle; Charlie Ferguson, Eduardo Santana (Sam Bacon, 89’), Gideon Betz, Luke Staats ©( Jamie Gunderson, 63’); Brennen Burton (Jonah Kagen, 43’), JP Scearce, Adrian Rebollar (Rene White, 58’), Emeka Eneli (Ivan Militar, 58’); Thibaut Jacquel (Eren Elbutsu, 73’), Luke Brown
Subs not used: Jacob Reimers
Score
NCFC U23: 2
Lionsbridge FC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U23: Alex Rose (Preston Popp, 52’), Preston Popp (Parker Cross, 90+4’)
Lionsbridge FC: Eren Elbutsu (Luke Brown, 90+1’)
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Mauricio Pineda 16’, Colton Pleasants 49’
Lionsbridge FC: Eduardo Santana 12’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
Lionsbridge FC: —
###
CARY, N.C. (June 7, 2019) – North Carolina FC U23 used a big performance by forward Preston Popp that included a game-winning goal four minutes into stoppage time to top Lionsbridge FC 2-1 Friday afternoon at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
With the result, NCFC improved to 4W-4L-0D and now sits atop the South Atlantic Division standings in USL League 2.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was clearly illustrated on the pitch Friday, with six current and former members of the NCFC Youth Academy included in head coach Tom Harris’ starting lineup. That number included Jeremy Kelly, a forward from the University of North Carolina, who made his first appearance of the season and previously played for the NCFC senior team in 2016.
The match was originally scheduled for 7 p.m., but kickoff was moved up to 3:30 due to the threat of severe weather. Despite the time change, Harris’ players came ready to play, reflected in a clean first half in which they controlled most of the possession.
In the 10th minute, NCFC U23 goalkeeper Will Pulisic did well to gather a low-to-the-ground effort from Lionsbridge’s Thibaut Jacquel. Outside of that save, the Duke product had little to worry about in the first half.
As the first half progressed, so did the NCFC U23 attack. The best scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes came in the 22nd minute following a Lionsbridge foul on the edge of the area. Playing in his first game of the USL League 2 season, NCFC U23 defender Mauricio Pineda put forth a threatening free kick but the UNC standout saw his effort glance off the crossbar.
NCFC’s offensive pressure carried into the second half, and the deadlock was broken in the 52nd minute, as second-half substitute Popp set up fellow forward Alex Rose for the game’s first goal, giving NCFC U23 a 1-0 lead.
Despite controlling much of the action during the second half of play, NCFC U23 saw Lionsbridge equalize in stoppage time on a goal by Eren Elbustu.
However, there was more stoppage-time drama to come thanks to Popp. The UNC Charlotte product started a NCFC U23 counterattack that eventually led to defender Parker Cross playing in a service that Popp headed in for the match-deciding goal.
With little time remaining, NCFC U23 remained strong defensively and secured the three points.
Next up for NCFC U23 is a short drive to Ting Park in Holly Springs Monday evening, as the squad faces Wake FC. Following that matchup, NCFC returns to Koka Booth Stadium to take on Virginia Beach United on June 18.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: Will Pulisic; David Mejia, Delasi Batse, Aidan Foster, James Kasak; Mauricio Pineda, Robert Screen © (Dom Jensen, 60’), Colton Pleasants (Alex Charles, 75’); Julian Ngoh (Preston Popp, 46’), Jeremy Kelly (Kalvin Kromer, 87’), Alex Rose (Parker Cross, 89’)
Subs not used: George Marks, Sergi Nus
Lionsbridge FC: Rich Dearle; Charlie Ferguson, Eduardo Santana (Sam Bacon, 89’), Gideon Betz, Luke Staats ©( Jamie Gunderson, 63’); Brennen Burton (Jonah Kagen, 43’), JP Scearce, Adrian Rebollar (Rene White, 58’), Emeka Eneli (Ivan Militar, 58’); Thibaut Jacquel (Eren Elbutsu, 73’), Luke Brown
Subs not used: Jacob Reimers
Score
NCFC U23: 2
Lionsbridge FC: 1
Goals:
NCFC U23: Alex Rose (Preston Popp, 52’), Preston Popp (Parker Cross, 90+4’)
Lionsbridge FC: Eren Elbutsu (Luke Brown, 90+1’)
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Mauricio Pineda 16’, Colton Pleasants 49’
Lionsbridge FC: Eduardo Santana 12’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
Lionsbridge FC: —
###
