Cary, NC (June 28, 2019) – North Carolina U23 won its second consecutive match and moved into first place in USL League Two’s South Atlantic Division with a 2-1 victory over Tri-Cities Otters Friday night at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
With the result, NCFC U23 improved to 6W-5L-0D (18 points) with three regular-season matches remaining.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was the center of attention Friday, with eight current or former members of the NCFC Youth Academy included in the starting lineup and an additional four featured on the bench. Two of those players are forward Miles Peay and midfielder Jeremy Kelly, who both scored in Friday’s win.
It didn’t take long for NCFC U23 to get going against the Tri-Cities defense, as Peay opened up the scoring in the 9th minute. In on goal, NCFC U23 forward Witt Conger saw his shot saved by the opposing goalkeeper, Carlos Rubio, but Peay, of UNC Asheville, collected the rebound and calmly finished from close range.
Tri-Cities equalized in the 23rd minute despite an impressive save from NCFC U23 goalkeeper Will Pulisic on forward Troy Brady. After Pulisic got a piece of Brady’s shot, Stuart Hendry quickly got to the ball and headed home for the visitors.
Once the two teams were on even terms, both defenses rose to the occasion, despite good build-up play at times from both sides.
NCFC U23’s attack began to build steadily as the second half progressed, however, and Kelly, a second-half substitute, provided the game-winning goal in the 84th minute via a superb free kick. Positioned well beyond the 18-yard box, Kelly’s pacey effort bounced once before evading Rubio and finding the back of the net.
From that point on, the NCFC U23 defense remained strong and Tri-Cities never truly threatened in the game’s final stages, as the home team secured all three points.
Moving forward, NCFC U23 returns to Koka Booth Stadium for its final home match of the regular season, a rivalry game against Wake FC on Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: Will Pulisic; Adam Armour (James Kasak, 69’) Aidan Foster, Tyler Dressman, Dalasi Batse; Robert Screen ©, Gabe Mercer (Jeremy Kelly, 56’), Colton Pleasants (Sergi Nus, 69’); Witt Conger (Alex Rose, 56’), Miles Peay (Preston Popp, 62’), David Mejia (Camden Holbrook, 82’)
Subs not used: Trace Alphin
Tri-Cities Otters: Carlos Rubio; James Scasserra (Drew Fulmer, 87’), Diego Thielen, George Stanley, Merveil Bilomba; Oscar Perez © (Matheus Tonon, 67’), Stuart Hendry, Luke Howson (Blake Barribeau, 46’), Taylor Gray; Troy Brady (Joshua Salinas, 77’), Pol Vassart (Marvin Made, 80’)
Subs not used: Tim Trilk, Nathan Ashburn
Score
NCFC U23: 2
Tri-Cities Otters: 1
Goals:
NCFC U23: Miles Peay (unassisted, 9’), Jeremy Kelly (unassisted, 84’)
Tri-Cities Otters: Stuart Hendry (unassisted, 23’)
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Colton Pleasants 66’
Tri-Cities Otters: Matthew Tonon 80’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
Tri-Cities Otters: –
###
Cary, NC (June 28, 2019) – North Carolina U23 won its second consecutive match and moved into first place in USL League Two’s South Atlantic Division with a 2-1 victory over Tri-Cities Otters Friday night at Koka Booth Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
With the result, NCFC U23 improved to 6W-5L-0D (18 points) with three regular-season matches remaining.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was the center of attention Friday, with eight current or former members of the NCFC Youth Academy included in the starting lineup and an additional four featured on the bench. Two of those players are forward Miles Peay and midfielder Jeremy Kelly, who both scored in Friday’s win.
It didn’t take long for NCFC U23 to get going against the Tri-Cities defense, as Peay opened up the scoring in the 9th minute. In on goal, NCFC U23 forward Witt Conger saw his shot saved by the opposing goalkeeper, Carlos Rubio, but Peay, of UNC Asheville, collected the rebound and calmly finished from close range.
Tri-Cities equalized in the 23rd minute despite an impressive save from NCFC U23 goalkeeper Will Pulisic on forward Troy Brady. After Pulisic got a piece of Brady’s shot, Stuart Hendry quickly got to the ball and headed home for the visitors.
Once the two teams were on even terms, both defenses rose to the occasion, despite good build-up play at times from both sides.
NCFC U23’s attack began to build steadily as the second half progressed, however, and Kelly, a second-half substitute, provided the game-winning goal in the 84th minute via a superb free kick. Positioned well beyond the 18-yard box, Kelly’s pacey effort bounced once before evading Rubio and finding the back of the net.
From that point on, the NCFC U23 defense remained strong and Tri-Cities never truly threatened in the game’s final stages, as the home team secured all three points.
Moving forward, NCFC U23 returns to Koka Booth Stadium for its final home match of the regular season, a rivalry game against Wake FC on Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: Will Pulisic; Adam Armour (James Kasak, 69’) Aidan Foster, Tyler Dressman, Dalasi Batse; Robert Screen ©, Gabe Mercer (Jeremy Kelly, 56’), Colton Pleasants (Sergi Nus, 69’); Witt Conger (Alex Rose, 56’), Miles Peay (Preston Popp, 62’), David Mejia (Camden Holbrook, 82’)
Subs not used: Trace Alphin
Tri-Cities Otters: Carlos Rubio; James Scasserra (Drew Fulmer, 87’), Diego Thielen, George Stanley, Merveil Bilomba; Oscar Perez © (Matheus Tonon, 67’), Stuart Hendry, Luke Howson (Blake Barribeau, 46’), Taylor Gray; Troy Brady (Joshua Salinas, 77’), Pol Vassart (Marvin Made, 80’)
Subs not used: Tim Trilk, Nathan Ashburn
Score
NCFC U23: 2
Tri-Cities Otters: 1
Goals:
NCFC U23: Miles Peay (unassisted, 9’), Jeremy Kelly (unassisted, 84’)
Tri-Cities Otters: Stuart Hendry (unassisted, 23’)
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Colton Pleasants 66’
Tri-Cities Otters: Matthew Tonon 80’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
Tri-Cities Otters: –
###
