CHATTANOOGA, TN (September 18, 2021) — North Carolina FC fell to the Chattanooga Red Wolves 3-1 Saturday night at CHI Memorial Stadium, despite a scoreless first half and largely defensive play from both sides. The match featured a standout performance in goal from recent signee Nicholas Holliday, including a diving save that denied Jonathan Ricketts the brace during the match. Daniel Steedman also made his starting debut with the club during tonight’s contest.
"It was great to see Daniel Steedman in his first start with our group," Head Coach John Bradford said. "He definitely brought positive energy and quality to our team tonight."
After ending the first half deadlocked at 0-0, the Red Wolves found the net in the opening minutes of the second half. Following a scramble in the North Carolina FC box, Mark Hernandez laid off a pass to Jonathan Ricketts. The defender, who had been named to the USL League One Team of the Week for two consecutive weeks prior to tonight’s contest, buried a shot on his first touch to put Chattanooga up 1-0. Juan Galindrez added the Red Wolves’ second goal of the night six minutes later, his ninth of the season.
Luis Arriaga cut Chattanooga’s lead in half in the 69th minute, scoring his first of the season to get North Carolina FC on the board. Unfortunately for the North Carolina side, their opponent’s response was immediate as a long ball from goalkeeper Tim Trilk found Hernandez upfield. The midfielder netted his fourth of the season to provide Chattanooga with a 3-1 cushion in the 70th minute.
"[We are] certainly disappointed with a loss, as we believed we could come into this challenging environment and come away with some points," John Bradford said. "I thought we competed well in the first half and played well on both sides of the ball. As the second half went on, we weren’t quite good enough in either end, whether it was defensive plays in our end or finishing our chances in the other end.
"We can’t and won’t accept not earning points in games, but we also do have to keep perspective and take positives from matches. To think about the game here in June and the amount of pressure we endured, I do think the group has improved and is more competitive."
Match Notes:
- Daniel Steedman made his first start for North Carolina FC this season.
- Luis Arriaga scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s match.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park to face North Texas SC for the second time this season on Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Nicholas Holliday, Nelson Flores, Britton Fischer (Shermaine Martina — 63’), Max Flick, Nelson Martinez, Peter Pearson, Daniel Steedman (Parker O’Ferral — 67’), Jay Tee Kamara (Luis Arriaga — 63’), Josh Coan, Aziel Jackson (Thorn Simpson — 72’), Cole Frame
Subs Not Used: Malick Mbaye, Jake McGuire, Selmir Miscic
CHA (4-5-1): Tim Trilk, Ronaldo Pineda (Jonathan Esparza — 83’), Jason Ramos, Jorge Luna, Jonathan Ricketts, Angel Espana (Juan Galindrez — 46’), Jimmie Villalobos (Jackson Dietrich — 83’), Ualefi, Jose Carrera-Garcia, Ricardo Ruiz, Mark Hernandez
Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Cristian Zarazoga, Rey Ortiz, Blake Frischknect
Score:
NCFC: 1
CHA: 3
Goals:
NCFC: Luis Arriaga — 69’
CHA: Jonathan Ricketts — 52’, Juan Galindrez — 58’, Mark Hernandez — 70’
Cautions:
NCFC: Daniel Steedman — 24’, Jay Tee Kamara — 61’
CHA: Ualefi — 9’, Angel Espana — 20’, Ronaldo Pineda — 79’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
CHA: —
CHATTANOOGA, TN (September 18, 2021) — North Carolina FC fell to the Chattanooga Red Wolves 3-1 Saturday night at CHI Memorial Stadium, despite a scoreless first half and largely defensive play from both sides. The match featured a standout performance in goal from recent signee Nicholas Holliday, including a diving save that denied Jonathan Ricketts the brace during the match. Daniel Steedman also made his starting debut with the club during tonight’s contest.
“It was great to see Daniel Steedman in his first start with our group,” Head Coach John Bradford said. “He definitely brought positive energy and quality to our team tonight.”
After ending the first half deadlocked at 0-0, the Red Wolves found the net in the opening minutes of the second half. Following a scramble in the North Carolina FC box, Mark Hernandez laid off a pass to Jonathan Ricketts. The defender, who had been named to the USL League One Team of the Week for two consecutive weeks prior to tonight’s contest, buried a shot on his first touch to put Chattanooga up 1-0. Juan Galindrez added the Red Wolves’ second goal of the night six minutes later, his ninth of the season.
Luis Arriaga cut Chattanooga’s lead in half in the 69th minute, scoring his first of the season to get North Carolina FC on the board. Unfortunately for the North Carolina side, their opponent’s response was immediate as a long ball from goalkeeper Tim Trilk found Hernandez upfield. The midfielder netted his fourth of the season to provide Chattanooga with a 3-1 cushion in the 70th minute.
“[We are] certainly disappointed with a loss, as we believed we could come into this challenging environment and come away with some points,” John Bradford said. “I thought we competed well in the first half and played well on both sides of the ball. As the second half went on, we weren’t quite good enough in either end, whether it was defensive plays in our end or finishing our chances in the other end.
“We can’t and won’t accept not earning points in games, but we also do have to keep perspective and take positives from matches. To think about the game here in June and the amount of pressure we endured, I do think the group has improved and is more competitive.”
Match Notes:
- Daniel Steedman made his first start for North Carolina FC this season.
- Luis Arriaga scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s match.
Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park to face North Texas SC for the second time this season on Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Nicholas Holliday, Nelson Flores, Britton Fischer (Shermaine Martina — 63’), Max Flick, Nelson Martinez, Peter Pearson, Daniel Steedman (Parker O’Ferral — 67’), Jay Tee Kamara (Luis Arriaga — 63’), Josh Coan, Aziel Jackson (Thorn Simpson — 72’), Cole Frame
Subs Not Used: Malick Mbaye, Jake McGuire, Selmir Miscic
CHA (4-5-1): Tim Trilk, Ronaldo Pineda (Jonathan Esparza — 83’), Jason Ramos, Jorge Luna, Jonathan Ricketts, Angel Espana (Juan Galindrez — 46’), Jimmie Villalobos (Jackson Dietrich — 83’), Ualefi, Jose Carrera-Garcia, Ricardo Ruiz, Mark Hernandez
Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Cristian Zarazoga, Rey Ortiz, Blake Frischknect
Score:
NCFC: 1
CHA: 3
Goals:
NCFC: Luis Arriaga — 69’
CHA: Jonathan Ricketts — 52’, Juan Galindrez — 58’, Mark Hernandez — 70’
Cautions:
NCFC: Daniel Steedman — 24’, Jay Tee Kamara — 61’
CHA: Ualefi — 9’, Angel Espana — 20’, Ronaldo Pineda — 79’
Ejections:
NCFC: —
CHA: —
