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Cary, NC (October 27, 2021) – North Carolina FC goalkeeper and recent signee Nicholas Holliday has been called to the U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team training camp, the club announced today. The camp will be held in Chula Vista, California from November 1-8. 

“It feels great to be called into the U-17 National Team camp,” Holliday said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to represent my country and now I’m one step closer. My family, of course, has been a big help, and NCFC has given me a chance to be a professional, which has helped me a lot with my development. I’m really grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited to get started.”

While this will be Holliday’s first National Team training camp, the 15-year-old has experience competing on the national stage. Holliday was selected for the US Soccer’s U14 Boys National Team East Regional Camp in 2019 and 2020, and also participated in US Youth National Team ID Centers in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In early September of this season, Holliday signed a professional contract with North Carolina FC, his signing marking another significant step as North Carolina FC continues to focus on developing young talent. The NCFC Academy Product has appeared in five matches for the team this season, clocking 450 minutes of playing time. At only 15 years old, Holliday made his professional debut against the Chattanooga Red Wolves, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to start a match in USL League One history. 

“I am thrilled for Nick to be invited to the upcoming U17 United States Men’s National Team Camp,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said. “Nick has grown tremendously this season in the daily professional environment at North Carolina FC and has absolutely earned the opportunity to be recognized as one of the top goalkeepers in his age group in the United States.  In each professional game that he has played this year, he has shown his quality and potential and I’m sure he’ll make the most of his opportunity at this camp with the U17’s.”

Click HERE for US Soccer's Full Announcement. 

NCFC will play their final match of the season this Saturday, October 30 at home against the Greenville Triumph. The match will kick-off at 7 p.m. ET and tickets can be purchased here. 

Cary, NC (October 27, 2021) – North Carolina FC goalkeeper and recent signee Nicholas Holliday has been called to the U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team training camp, the club announced today. The camp will be held in Chula Vista, California from November 1-8. 

“It feels great to be called into the U-17 National Team camp,” Holliday said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to represent my country and now I’m one step closer. My family, of course, has been a big help, and NCFC has given me a chance to be a professional, which has helped me a lot with my development. I’m really grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited to get started.”

While this will be Holliday’s first National Team training camp, the 15-year-old has experience competing on the national stage. Holliday was selected for the US Soccer’s U14 Boys National Team East Regional Camp in 2019 and 2020, and also participated in US Youth National Team ID Centers in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In early September of this season, Holliday signed a professional contract with North Carolina FC, his signing marking another significant step as North Carolina FC continues to focus on developing young talent. The NCFC Academy Product has appeared in five matches for the team this season, clocking 450 minutes of playing time. At only 15 years old, Holliday made his professional debut against the Chattanooga Red Wolves, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to start a match in USL League One history. 

“I am thrilled for Nick to be invited to the upcoming U17 United States Men’s National Team Camp,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said. “Nick has grown tremendously this season in the daily professional environment at North Carolina FC and has absolutely earned the opportunity to be recognized as one of the top goalkeepers in his age group in the United States.  In each professional game that he has played this year, he has shown his quality and potential and I’m sure he’ll make the most of his opportunity at this camp with the U17’s.”

Click HERE for US Soccer’s Full Announcement. 

NCFC will play their final match of the season this Saturday, October 30 at home against the Greenville Triumph. The match will kick-off at 7 p.m. ET and tickets can be purchased here. 

CARY, NC (October 27, 2021) – North Carolina FC veteran Robby Kristo announced today his retirement from outdoor professional soccer after a seven-year career that included time with the Columbus Crew of the MLS, Spezia Calcio, SSD Fidelis Andria, and AC Tuttocuoio in Italy, and VFL Osnabruck in Germany before ultimately culminating in three years spent with North Carolina FC. The Croatian international has inked a three-year deal with the St. Louis Ambush of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

“I want to send a huge thank you to all my current and former teammates, coaches, and especially the fans that have been on this journey with me,” Kristo said in a statement released via his social media. “My teammates throughout my career have become like brothers to me and I will always consider them family. To Mike McGinty, John Bradford, and Nic Platter – I want to personally thank you for giving me this opportunity and continuing to believe in me.”

Kristo signed with North Carolina FC in January 2019. During the 2019 US Open Cup, Kristo started two matches, playing 163 minutes and scoring two goals. During the subsequent 2019 season, the forward appeared in 26 matches for the club, making seven starts and clocking 868 minutes of playing time. He tied for the team lead with nine goals, and recorded two assists. That same year, Kristo boasted the highest goals-per-90-minutes average in the USL Championship among players to log more than 800 minutes with .95. Later, in 2020, the St. Louis University alum played 728 minutes in 15 matches, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

This season, Kristo has made 17 appearances, making nine starts, and clocked 893 minutes of playing time. He has scored four goals thus far, collecting back-to-back braces against the Richmond Kickers and Fort Lauderdale CF in July and August of this year.

“Robby has been an important part of our club since joining us in 2019, both on and off the field,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said. “He has contributed positively with his goals and leading our attacking line, but has also transitioned into a leadership role with our young group this year. I’m excited for Robby’s next steps and know that he’ll remain a positive connection and representative of NCFC for years to come, as he transitions into different and new stages of his career.”

For the 28-year-old, an opportunity to play with the St. Louis Ambush means a move back to his hometown and being closer to family as well as where he played college soccer at St. Louis University. While with the Billikens, Kristo scored 41 goals and logged 15 assists over the span of four years. Kristo was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy his senior year.

“I am excited to be starting the next part of my life back home in St. Louis and will forever be grateful for everyone that supported me, pushed me to be better and cheered me on along the way,” Kristo said of his signing with the Ambush.

Kristo will play his last match with North Carolina FC at Sahlen’s Stadium against the Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here.

CARY, NC (October 27, 2021) – North Carolina FC veteran Robby Kristo announced today his retirement from outdoor professional soccer after a seven-year career that included time with the Columbus Crew of the MLS, Spezia Calcio, SSD Fidelis Andria, and AC Tuttocuoio in Italy, and VFL Osnabruck in Germany before ultimately culminating in three years spent with North Carolina FC. The Croatian international has inked a three-year deal with the St. Louis Ambush of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

“I want to send a huge thank you to all my current and former teammates, coaches, and especially the fans that have been on this journey with me,” Kristo said in a statement released via his social media. “My teammates throughout my career have become like brothers to me and I will always consider them family. To Mike McGinty, John Bradford, and Nic Platter – I want to personally thank you for giving me this opportunity and continuing to believe in me.”

Kristo signed with North Carolina FC in January 2019. During the 2019 US Open Cup, Kristo started two matches, playing 163 minutes and scoring two goals. During the subsequent 2019 season, the forward appeared in 26 matches for the club, making seven starts and clocking 868 minutes of playing time. He tied for the team lead with nine goals, and recorded two assists. That same year, Kristo boasted the highest goals-per-90-minutes average in the USL Championship among players to log more than 800 minutes with .95. Later, in 2020, the St. Louis University alum played 728 minutes in 15 matches, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

This season, Kristo has made 17 appearances, making nine starts, and clocked 893 minutes of playing time. He has scored four goals thus far, collecting back-to-back braces against the Richmond Kickers and Fort Lauderdale CF in July and August of this year.

“Robby has been an important part of our club since joining us in 2019, both on and off the field,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said. “He has contributed positively with his goals and leading our attacking line, but has also transitioned into a leadership role with our young group this year. I’m excited for Robby’s next steps and know that he’ll remain a positive connection and representative of NCFC for years to come, as he transitions into different and new stages of his career.”

For the 28-year-old, an opportunity to play with the St. Louis Ambush means a move back to his hometown and being closer to family as well as where he played college soccer at St. Louis University. While with the Billikens, Kristo scored 41 goals and logged 15 assists over the span of four years. Kristo was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy his senior year.

“I am excited to be starting the next part of my life back home in St. Louis and will forever be grateful for everyone that supported me, pushed me to be better and cheered me on along the way,” Kristo said of his signing with the Ambush.

Kristo will play his last match with North Carolina FC at Sahlen’s Stadium against the Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available here.

Cary, NC (October 23, 2021) – North Carolina FC added their seventh win of the season Saturday night, besting South Georgia Tormenta FC, 1-0. A second half goal by NCFC midfielder Peter Pearson, his second of the season, was the difference maker in tonight’s match. 

NCFC created several early chances throughout the first half and dominated in possession, outshooting South Georgia, 9-2, and recording more than 60% of the possession by the end of the first 45 minutes. 

South Georgia’s first offensive chance came in the 27th minute as Tormenta striker Marco Micaletto drove into the box, challenged by the defensive pressure of Nelson Martinez. Micaletto ripped a shot on frame, only to be saved by NCFC keeper Jake McGuire. 

NCFC defender Nelson Martinez proved instrumental on both sides of the ball throughout the first half. making multiple game-changing defensive plays, while also adding an offensive threat. The defender nearly put his team on the scoreboard with a chance in the 37th minute, driving into the box to take a shot of his own, deflecting off a Tormenta defender, resulting in a corner for his NCFC side.  

In the final minutes of the first half, Tormenta midfielder Raheem Somersall received his second yellow of the game, resulting in his ejection from the match and Tormenta playing a man down for the remainder of the night. 

The lone goal of the match came three minutes into the second half, as Peter Pearson took a shot from distance, through a congested 18-yard box and into the back of the net. The goal was assisted by Selmir Miscic, his third of the season. Miscic nearly doubled NCFC’s lead in the 67th minute, with a powerful shot on frame from outside the 18, forcing Tormenta’s keeper to make one of the biggest saves of the night. 

“Even before the red card, I felt like we were the more aggressive team, putting our imprint on the game early,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said following the match. “I was pleased with the way we came out and the intensity we brought from the start. Obviously for this group, to get the result we did tonight, it speaks a lot to their character and how they want to represent the club. Overall, I’m very pleased to see out a shutout against a team that gave us a handful, even a man down, and am so proud of the way our group fought to get these three points tonight .”

Match Notes: 

• NCFC outshot Tormenta, 17-10, in tonight’s contest. 

• Tonight’s match featured a total of 33 fouls (NCFC – 17, TRM – 16), five yellow cards (NCFC – 4, TRM – 1) and one red (TRM)

• NCFC dominated in the air, winning 60% of the aerial duels 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will round out their season next weekend at home as they host Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET.  Tickets are available here.

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Britton Fischer, Nelson Martinez, Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores Blanco, Pecka (Josh Coan, 80’), Peter Pearson, Luis Arriaga, Selmir Miscic (Marvin Mariche, 90’), Cole Frame, Aziel Jackson (Thorn Simpson, 80’)

Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Jay Tee Kamara, Caden Tolentino, Drew Kerr, Robby Kristo

TRM (3-5-2): Pablo Jara, Curtis Thorn, Sergi Nus (Brittain Gottlieb, 82’), Luis Rodriguez, Stefan Mueller, Ricardo Gomez (Kobe Perez, 72’, Abuchi Obinwa (Vincenzo Candela, 60’), Raheem Somersall, Luca Mayr-Falten (Kristofer Strickler, 72’), Marco Micaletto, Azaad Liadi

Subs Not Used: Carlos Avilez, Clayton Adams, Rodney Michael

Score:

NCFC: 1

TRM: 0

Goals:

NCFC: 48’ Peter Pearson (Selmir Miscic)

TRM: —

Cautions:

NCFC: 55’ Malick Mbaye, 75’ Aziel Jackson, 84’ Peter Pearson

TRM: 31’ Raheem Somersall, 45’ Raheem Somersall, 83’ Vincenzo Candela

Ejections:

NCFC: —

TRM: 45’ Raheem Somersall

Cary, NC (October 23, 2021) – North Carolina FC added their seventh win of the season Saturday night, besting South Georgia Tormenta FC, 1-0. A second half goal by NCFC midfielder Peter Pearson, his second of the season, was the difference maker in tonight’s match. 

NCFC created several early chances throughout the first half and dominated in possession, outshooting South Georgia, 9-2, and recording more than 60% of the possession by the end of the first 45 minutes. 

South Georgia’s first offensive chance came in the 27th minute as Tormenta striker Marco Micaletto drove into the box, challenged by the defensive pressure of Nelson Martinez. Micaletto ripped a shot on frame, only to be saved by NCFC keeper Jake McGuire. 

NCFC defender Nelson Martinez proved instrumental on both sides of the ball throughout the first half. making multiple game-changing defensive plays, while also adding an offensive threat. The defender nearly put his team on the scoreboard with a chance in the 37th minute, driving into the box to take a shot of his own, deflecting off a Tormenta defender, resulting in a corner for his NCFC side.  

In the final minutes of the first half, Tormenta midfielder Raheem Somersall received his second yellow of the game, resulting in his ejection from the match and Tormenta playing a man down for the remainder of the night. 

The lone goal of the match came three minutes into the second half, as Peter Pearson took a shot from distance, through a congested 18-yard box and into the back of the net. The goal was assisted by Selmir Miscic, his third of the season. Miscic nearly doubled NCFC’s lead in the 67th minute, with a powerful shot on frame from outside the 18, forcing Tormenta’s keeper to make one of the biggest saves of the night. 

“Even before the red card, I felt like we were the more aggressive team, putting our imprint on the game early,” NCFC Head Coach John Bradford said following the match. “I was pleased with the way we came out and the intensity we brought from the start. Obviously for this group, to get the result we did tonight, it speaks a lot to their character and how they want to represent the club. Overall, I’m very pleased to see out a shutout against a team that gave us a handful, even a man down, and am so proud of the way our group fought to get these three points tonight .”

Match Notes: 

• NCFC outshot Tormenta, 17-10, in tonight’s contest. 

• Tonight’s match featured a total of 33 fouls (NCFC – 17, TRM – 16), five yellow cards (NCFC – 4, TRM – 1) and one red (TRM)

• NCFC dominated in the air, winning 60% of the aerial duels 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will round out their season next weekend at home as they host Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET.  Tickets are available here.

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Britton Fischer, Nelson Martinez, Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores Blanco, Pecka (Josh Coan, 80’), Peter Pearson, Luis Arriaga, Selmir Miscic (Marvin Mariche, 90’), Cole Frame, Aziel Jackson (Thorn Simpson, 80’)

Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Jay Tee Kamara, Caden Tolentino, Drew Kerr, Robby Kristo

TRM (3-5-2): Pablo Jara, Curtis Thorn, Sergi Nus (Brittain Gottlieb, 82’), Luis Rodriguez, Stefan Mueller, Ricardo Gomez (Kobe Perez, 72’, Abuchi Obinwa (Vincenzo Candela, 60’), Raheem Somersall, Luca Mayr-Falten (Kristofer Strickler, 72’), Marco Micaletto, Azaad Liadi

Subs Not Used: Carlos Avilez, Clayton Adams, Rodney Michael

Score:

NCFC: 1

TRM: 0

Goals:

NCFC: 48’ Peter Pearson (Selmir Miscic)

TRM: —

Cautions:

NCFC: 55’ Malick Mbaye, 75’ Aziel Jackson, 84’ Peter Pearson

TRM: 31’ Raheem Somersall, 45’ Raheem Somersall, 83’ Vincenzo Candela

Ejections:

NCFC: —

TRM: 45’ Raheem Somersall

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET

Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, NC

CARY, NC (October 21, 2021) — Following a brief stint on the road, North Carolina FC returns to their home stadium to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC in one of their final matches of the season. The match will take place on Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, as the squad aims to secure their seventh win of the season in front of their home crowd. Tickets are available here and the match will air live on ESPN+. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of league-leading Union Omaha in a high-scoring tilt on Saturday night, coming away from the week-long road trip with a win and a loss under their belt. Defender Malick Mbaye collected his first goal of the season in the contest, with Aziel Jackson tallying the assist. Emir Alidhozic netted an individual goal for the Owls and Evan Conway notched a hat trick to seal three points for the Omaha side.   

“It was a tough result against a tough opponent on the road,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “After a horrendous opening minute, I was proud of the fight that the group put in to work and find the equalizer. As has been an issue for us throughout the season, we weren’t able to keep things locked down defensively after we scored. All three first half goals were similar and we were not good enough denying service or with simple marking in the box.”

“I was happy for Malick Mbaye to get on the scoresheet with a great set piece finish,” Bradford continued. “We’re looking forward to competing together as a group over the next two weeks and competing at our home stadium.” 

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #6 Nelson Flores Blanco 

Named to USL League One’s Team of the Week for Week 28, Blanco has assumed an integral role in the North Carolina FC backline and midfield this year. In 25 appearances for the North Carolina side, the 22-year-old has notched three assists on the season, also logging three interceptions and ten recoveries against Tucson earlier this week. In Saturday’s match, Blanco will look to add to his tally of assists, creating chances for his teammates and perhaps adding his own name to the scoresheet, challenging Tormenta’s defense with his quick style of play, passing precision, and field vision. 

Tormenta FC – #9 Azaad Liadi 

In what will be a battle of young stars on Saturday night, Tormenta’s Liadi stands above the rest on the opponent’s side. The forward recently notched the first hat trick in club history against Fort Lauderdale CF and was subsequently named to the USL League One Team of the Week for Week 27. Liadi will look to control the attacking third for the Ibises, creating scoring chances for the South Georgia side in Saturday’s match. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will wrap up their season at home against the Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available here.

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET

Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, NC

CARY, NC (October 21, 2021) — Following a brief stint on the road, North Carolina FC returns to their home stadium to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC in one of their final matches of the season. The match will take place on Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, as the squad aims to secure their seventh win of the season in front of their home crowd. Tickets are available here and the match will air live on ESPN+. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of league-leading Union Omaha in a high-scoring tilt on Saturday night, coming away from the week-long road trip with a win and a loss under their belt. Defender Malick Mbaye collected his first goal of the season in the contest, with Aziel Jackson tallying the assist. Emir Alidhozic netted an individual goal for the Owls and Evan Conway notched a hat trick to seal three points for the Omaha side.   

“It was a tough result against a tough opponent on the road,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “After a horrendous opening minute, I was proud of the fight that the group put in to work and find the equalizer. As has been an issue for us throughout the season, we weren’t able to keep things locked down defensively after we scored. All three first half goals were similar and we were not good enough denying service or with simple marking in the box.”

“I was happy for Malick Mbaye to get on the scoresheet with a great set piece finish,” Bradford continued. “We’re looking forward to competing together as a group over the next two weeks and competing at our home stadium.” 

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #6 Nelson Flores Blanco 

Named to USL League One’s Team of the Week for Week 28, Blanco has assumed an integral role in the North Carolina FC backline and midfield this year. In 25 appearances for the North Carolina side, the 22-year-old has notched three assists on the season, also logging three interceptions and ten recoveries against Tucson earlier this week. In Saturday’s match, Blanco will look to add to his tally of assists, creating chances for his teammates and perhaps adding his own name to the scoresheet, challenging Tormenta’s defense with his quick style of play, passing precision, and field vision. 

Tormenta FC – #9 Azaad Liadi 

In what will be a battle of young stars on Saturday night, Tormenta’s Liadi stands above the rest on the opponent’s side. The forward recently notched the first hat trick in club history against Fort Lauderdale CF and was subsequently named to the USL League One Team of the Week for Week 27. Liadi will look to control the attacking third for the Ibises, creating scoring chances for the South Georgia side in Saturday’s match. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will wrap up their season at home against the Greenville Triumph on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available here.

PAPILLION, NE (October 16, 2021) – North Carolina FC fell short of league-leading Union Omaha in a high-scoring tilt on Saturday night, coming away from the week-long road trip with a win and a loss under their belt. Defender Malick Mbaye collected his first goal of the season in tonight’s contest, with Aziel Jackson tallying the assist. Emir Alidhozic netted an individual goal for the Owls and Evan Conway notched a hat trick to seal three points for the Omaha side.   

“Tonight was a tough result against a tough opponent on the road,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “After a horrendous opening minute, I was proud of the fight that the group put in to work and find the equalizer. As has been an issue for us throughout the season, we weren’t able to keep things locked down defensively after we scored. All three first half goals were similar and we were not good enough denying service or with simple marking in the box.”

“I was happy for Malick Mbaye to get on the scoresheet with a great set piece finish,” Bradford continued. “We’re looking forward to competing together as a group over the next two weeks and competing at our home stadium.”

Omaha opened the scoring in tonight’s match, as a ball from Tobias Otieno found Evan Conway in the North Carolina FC box for a tap-in goal that gave the Owls a 1-0 advantage. Conway’s goal was his fifth during the month of October, the striker playing an integral role in Omaha’s push for playoff position. Despite being heavily contested by the Chattanooga Red Wolves, Union Omaha became the first team to secure a USL League One playoff berth earlier this month. 

Malick Mbaye responded with an equalizer in the 15th minute, getting on the end of a corner kick from Aziel Jackson to net his first goal of the season and pull North Carolina FC level with their opponent, 1-1. The assist was the Minnesota United loanee’s third of the season. Unfortunately for the North Carolina side, however, Omaha regained the lead three minutes later, as Conway headed home his second goal of the night to put the Owls up 2-1. 

Emir Alihodzic doubled Omaha’s lead in the 25th minute of the match, the half expiring with the 3-1 scoreline. Conway went on to complete the hat trick in the 57th minute, his second in three matches played. Despite North Carolina FC’s best efforts to cut into Omaha’s lead, the young squad fell short as the final minutes ticked away and will look to recover the loss in their next match against South Georgia Tormenta FC on October 23. 

Match Notes: 

• Malick Mbaye scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s match.
• Aziel Jackson collected the assist on Mbaye’s goal, bringing his season assist total to three.
• North Carolina FC maintained 58% of possession throughout the game. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park next Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET to face South Georgia Tormenta FC. Tickets are available here!

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Britton Fischer, Max Flick (Peter Pearson — 42’), Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores Blanco, Pecka, Nelson Martinez, Daniel Steedman (Luis Arriaga — 77’), Thorn Simpson (Robert Kristo — 76’), Cole Frame (Selmir Miscic — 70’), Aziel Jackson (Josh Coan — 70’)
 
Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Jay Tee Kamara

OMA (4-4-2): Rashid Nuhu, Damia Viader (Jacob Crull — 83’), Abdul Illal Osumanu, Blake Malone, Tobias Otieno (Ferrety Sousa — 75’), Conor Doyle, John Scearce, Devin Boyce (Nick Firmino — 83’), Emir Alihodzic (Yoskar Galvan — 67’), Greg Hurst, Evan Conway (Austin Panchot — 75’)
 
Subs Not Used: Kevin Piedrahita, Daltyn Knutson

Score:
NCFC: 1
OMA: 4
 
Goals:
NCFC: Malick Mbaye — 15’
OMA: Evan Conway — 2’, 18’, 57’, Emir Alihodzic — 25’
 
Cautions:
NCFC: Nelson Flores Blanco — 45+3’, Cole Frame — 68’
OMA: —
 
Ejections:
NCFC: —
OMA: —

PAPILLION, NE (October 16, 2021) – North Carolina FC fell short of league-leading Union Omaha in a high-scoring tilt on Saturday night, coming away from the week-long road trip with a win and a loss under their belt. Defender Malick Mbaye collected his first goal of the season in tonight’s contest, with Aziel Jackson tallying the assist. Emir Alidhozic netted an individual goal for the Owls and Evan Conway notched a hat trick to seal three points for the Omaha side.   

“Tonight was a tough result against a tough opponent on the road,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “After a horrendous opening minute, I was proud of the fight that the group put in to work and find the equalizer. As has been an issue for us throughout the season, we weren’t able to keep things locked down defensively after we scored. All three first half goals were similar and we were not good enough denying service or with simple marking in the box.”

“I was happy for Malick Mbaye to get on the scoresheet with a great set piece finish,” Bradford continued. “We’re looking forward to competing together as a group over the next two weeks and competing at our home stadium.”

Omaha opened the scoring in tonight’s match, as a ball from Tobias Otieno found Evan Conway in the North Carolina FC box for a tap-in goal that gave the Owls a 1-0 advantage. Conway’s goal was his fifth during the month of October, the striker playing an integral role in Omaha’s push for playoff position. Despite being heavily contested by the Chattanooga Red Wolves, Union Omaha became the first team to secure a USL League One playoff berth earlier this month. 

Malick Mbaye responded with an equalizer in the 15th minute, getting on the end of a corner kick from Aziel Jackson to net his first goal of the season and pull North Carolina FC level with their opponent, 1-1. The assist was the Minnesota United loanee’s third of the season. Unfortunately for the North Carolina side, however, Omaha regained the lead three minutes later, as Conway headed home his second goal of the night to put the Owls up 2-1. 

Emir Alihodzic doubled Omaha’s lead in the 25th minute of the match, the half expiring with the 3-1 scoreline. Conway went on to complete the hat trick in the 57th minute, his second in three matches played. Despite North Carolina FC’s best efforts to cut into Omaha’s lead, the young squad fell short as the final minutes ticked away and will look to recover the loss in their next match against South Georgia Tormenta FC on October 23. 

Match Notes: 

• Malick Mbaye scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s match.
• Aziel Jackson collected the assist on Mbaye’s goal, bringing his season assist total to three.
• North Carolina FC maintained 58% of possession throughout the game. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park next Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET to face South Georgia Tormenta FC. Tickets are available here!

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Britton Fischer, Max Flick (Peter Pearson — 42’), Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores Blanco, Pecka, Nelson Martinez, Daniel Steedman (Luis Arriaga — 77’), Thorn Simpson (Robert Kristo — 76’), Cole Frame (Selmir Miscic — 70’), Aziel Jackson (Josh Coan — 70’)
 
Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Jay Tee Kamara

OMA (4-4-2): Rashid Nuhu, Damia Viader (Jacob Crull — 83’), Abdul Illal Osumanu, Blake Malone, Tobias Otieno (Ferrety Sousa — 75’), Conor Doyle, John Scearce, Devin Boyce (Nick Firmino — 83’), Emir Alihodzic (Yoskar Galvan — 67’), Greg Hurst, Evan Conway (Austin Panchot — 75’)
 
Subs Not Used: Kevin Piedrahita, Daltyn Knutson

Score:
NCFC: 1
OMA: 4
 
Goals:
NCFC: Malick Mbaye — 15’
OMA: Evan Conway — 2’, 18’, 57’, Emir Alihodzic — 25’
 
Cautions:
NCFC: Nelson Flores Blanco — 45+3’, Cole Frame — 68’
OMA: —
 
Ejections:
NCFC: —
OMA: —

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. Union Omaha

Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET

Werner Park

Papillion, NE

CARY, NC (October 14, 2021) — North Carolina FC will continue their road stint this weekend, looking to build off the momentum of their 2-0 win over FC Tucson on Wednesday night as the young squad faces Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET. This match marks the second meeting between the two teams this season and will certainly challenge the young NCFC side as they face the league-leading Owls. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC earned their sixth win of the season on the road against FC Tucson on Wednesday night, defeating their opponent 2-0 in a dominant performance that saw a clean sheet from goalkeeper Jake McGuire and individual goals from Peter Pearson and Selmir Miscic to seal the victory. 

“So proud of this group and the performance they put in tonight,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “This group’s belief has never wavered through hard times. To see the improvement in so many players and the collective improvement to be able to come on the road and see a shutout win against a quality team is a great sign. What a night for Peter to get his first professional goal and for Selmir to get back on the scoresheet. And defensively, credit to the entire group, but especially to the back four and Jake, to put their bodies on the line and do everything they could to preserve a clean sheet. Really proud of this group right now and we’ll certainly carry this over to Omaha.”

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #12 Peter Pearson

Opening his professional scoring account in North Carolina FC’s 2-0 win over FC Tucson, Pearson played an integral role in the NCFC’s road win on Wednesday night. The Virginia Beach native has appeared in 21 of 28 matches for North Carolina FC this season, clocking 1,340 minutes of playing time and becoming a valuable asset in the midfield. As the North Carolina side aims to finish their road trip on a high note, Pearson will look to combine his passing precision and tactical ability on the ball to create chances for both himself and his teammates on Saturday evening. 

Union Omaha – #3 Damia Viader

Earlier this afternoon, Viader was voted USL League One’s Player of the Month after concluding September with three goals and two assists in four appearances for the Owls. This season, the Barcelona native has collected six goals, five assists, and has created a league-leading 52 chances for his squad as Omaha contests the Chattanooga Red Wolves for a first-place finish in league standings. Though Viader is listed as a defender on the Union Omaha roster, his contribution to their attack has been invaluable this season, a pattern that the 23-year-old will look to continue as the Owls aim to pick up three points in front of their home crowd. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park next Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET to face South Georgia Tormenta FC. Tickets are available here!

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. Union Omaha

Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET

Werner Park

Papillion, NE

CARY, NC (October 14, 2021) — North Carolina FC will continue their road stint this weekend, looking to build off the momentum of their 2-0 win over FC Tucson on Wednesday night as the young squad faces Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET. This match marks the second meeting between the two teams this season and will certainly challenge the young NCFC side as they face the league-leading Owls. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC earned their sixth win of the season on the road against FC Tucson on Wednesday night, defeating their opponent 2-0 in a dominant performance that saw a clean sheet from goalkeeper Jake McGuire and individual goals from Peter Pearson and Selmir Miscic to seal the victory. 

“So proud of this group and the performance they put in tonight,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “This group’s belief has never wavered through hard times. To see the improvement in so many players and the collective improvement to be able to come on the road and see a shutout win against a quality team is a great sign. What a night for Peter to get his first professional goal and for Selmir to get back on the scoresheet. And defensively, credit to the entire group, but especially to the back four and Jake, to put their bodies on the line and do everything they could to preserve a clean sheet. Really proud of this group right now and we’ll certainly carry this over to Omaha.”

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #12 Peter Pearson

Opening his professional scoring account in North Carolina FC’s 2-0 win over FC Tucson, Pearson played an integral role in the NCFC’s road win on Wednesday night. The Virginia Beach native has appeared in 21 of 28 matches for North Carolina FC this season, clocking 1,340 minutes of playing time and becoming a valuable asset in the midfield. As the North Carolina side aims to finish their road trip on a high note, Pearson will look to combine his passing precision and tactical ability on the ball to create chances for both himself and his teammates on Saturday evening. 

Union Omaha – #3 Damia Viader

Earlier this afternoon, Viader was voted USL League One’s Player of the Month after concluding September with three goals and two assists in four appearances for the Owls. This season, the Barcelona native has collected six goals, five assists, and has created a league-leading 52 chances for his squad as Omaha contests the Chattanooga Red Wolves for a first-place finish in league standings. Though Viader is listed as a defender on the Union Omaha roster, his contribution to their attack has been invaluable this season, a pattern that the 23-year-old will look to continue as the Owls aim to pick up three points in front of their home crowd. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will return to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park next Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET to face South Georgia Tormenta FC. Tickets are available here!

TUCSON, AZ (October 13, 2021) – North Carolina FC earned their sixth win of the season on the road against FC Tucson on Wednesday night, defeating their opponent 2-0 in a dominant performance that saw a clean sheet from goalkeeper Jake McGuire and individual goals from Peter Pearson and Selmir Miscic to seal the victory. The young squad will look to carry the momentum from tonight’s victory into Saturday night’s matchup against league-leading Union Omaha. 

“So proud of this group and the performance they put in tonight,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “This group’s belief has never wavered through hard times. To see the improvement in so many players and the collective improvement to be able to come on the road and see a shutout win against a quality team is a great sign. What a night for Peter to get his first professional goal and for Selmir to get back on the scoresheet. And defensively, credit to the entire group, but especially to the back four and Jake, to put their bodies on the line and do everything they could to preserve a clean sheet. Really proud of this group right now and we’ll certainly carry this over to Omaha.”

After ending the first half deadlocked at 0-0, Peter Pearson finally broke the ice for John Bradford’s team, getting on the end of a corner kick and burying a header to collect his first professional goal and give North Carolina FC a 1-0 advantage in the 58th minute. The goal came on the heels of a first-half collision involving Pearson and FC Tucson’s Dakota Barnathan, which saw Barnathan receive a red card and subsequently be dismissed from the match as Tucson played a man down for the remainder of the contest. 

North Carolina FC added their second goal of the night three minutes later when a Tucson player conceded a penalty in their box, resulting in a penalty kick for the North Carolina side. It was Selmir Miscic who took the kick from the spot, converting the attempt to bag his fourth goal of the season and double the North Carolina side’s lead. Despite Tucson’s best efforts to cut into the NCFC lead, the opposing side fell short as time expired. 

Match Notes:

• Peter Pearson scored his first professional goal in tonight’s match.

• Jake McGuire added another clean sheet to his season tally.

• Selmir Miscic collected his fourth goal of the season. 

Next Match: North Carolina FC will continue their stint on the road to take on Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. ET at Werner Park in Papillion, NE. The match will stream live on ESPN+.  

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Max Flick, Nelson Flores, Malick Mbaye©, Britton Fischer, Nelson Flores Blanco, Peter Pearson (Pecka — 63’), Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Nelson Martinez — 76’), Josh Coan (Thorn Simpson — 84’), Selmir Miscic (Cole Frame — 76’), Aziel Jackson (Robert Kristo — 76’)

Subs Not Used: Malyk Hamilton, Nicholas Holliday

TUC (4-3-3): Wallis Lapsley, Dakota Barnathan, Kaelon Fox, Luca Mastrantonio, Noah Franke, Joao Delgado (Daniel Bedoya — 65’), Mohamed Kone (Manuel Ferriol — 82’), Charlie Dennis (Kevin Rodriguez — 66’), Deri Corfe (Alioune Diakhate — 66’), Gio Calixtro (Alex Knox — 34’), Shak Adams

Subs Not Used: Ryan Shellow, Brandon Sanchez

Score:

NCFC: 2

TUC: 0

Goals:

NCFC: —

TUC: —

Cautions:

NCFC: Nelson Flores Blanco — 4’, Peter Pearson — 44’, Robert Kristo — 79’

TUC: Luca Mastrantonio — 25’

Ejections:

NCFC: —

TUC: Dakota Barnathan — 27’

TUCSON, AZ (October 13, 2021) – North Carolina FC earned their sixth win of the season on the road against FC Tucson on Wednesday night, defeating their opponent 2-0 in a dominant performance that saw a clean sheet from goalkeeper Jake McGuire and individual goals from Peter Pearson and Selmir Miscic to seal the victory. The young squad will look to carry the momentum from tonight’s victory into Saturday night’s matchup against league-leading Union Omaha. 

“So proud of this group and the performance they put in tonight,” said Head Coach John Bradford following the match. “This group’s belief has never wavered through hard times. To see the improvement in so many players and the collective improvement to be able to come on the road and see a shutout win against a quality team is a great sign. What a night for Peter to get his first professional goal and for Selmir to get back on the scoresheet. And defensively, credit to the entire group, but especially to the back four and Jake, to put their bodies on the line and do everything they could to preserve a clean sheet. Really proud of this group right now and we’ll certainly carry this over to Omaha.”

After ending the first half deadlocked at 0-0, Peter Pearson finally broke the ice for John Bradford’s team, getting on the end of a corner kick and burying a header to collect his first professional goal and give North Carolina FC a 1-0 advantage in the 58th minute. The goal came on the heels of a first-half collision involving Pearson and FC Tucson’s Dakota Barnathan, which saw Barnathan receive a red card and subsequently be dismissed from the match as Tucson played a man down for the remainder of the contest. 

North Carolina FC added their second goal of the night three minutes later when a Tucson player conceded a penalty in their box, resulting in a penalty kick for the North Carolina side. It was Selmir Miscic who took the kick from the spot, converting the attempt to bag his fourth goal of the season and double the North Carolina side’s lead. Despite Tucson’s best efforts to cut into the NCFC lead, the opposing side fell short as time expired. 

Match Notes:

• Peter Pearson scored his first professional goal in tonight’s match.

• Jake McGuire added another clean sheet to his season tally.

• Selmir Miscic collected his fourth goal of the season. 

Next Match: North Carolina FC will continue their stint on the road to take on Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. ET at Werner Park in Papillion, NE. The match will stream live on ESPN+.  

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Max Flick, Nelson Flores, Malick Mbaye©, Britton Fischer, Nelson Flores Blanco, Peter Pearson (Pecka — 63’), Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Nelson Martinez — 76’), Josh Coan (Thorn Simpson — 84’), Selmir Miscic (Cole Frame — 76’), Aziel Jackson (Robert Kristo — 76’)

Subs Not Used: Malyk Hamilton, Nicholas Holliday

TUC (4-3-3): Wallis Lapsley, Dakota Barnathan, Kaelon Fox, Luca Mastrantonio, Noah Franke, Joao Delgado (Daniel Bedoya — 65’), Mohamed Kone (Manuel Ferriol — 82’), Charlie Dennis (Kevin Rodriguez — 66’), Deri Corfe (Alioune Diakhate — 66’), Gio Calixtro (Alex Knox — 34’), Shak Adams

Subs Not Used: Ryan Shellow, Brandon Sanchez

Score:

NCFC: 2

TUC: 0

Goals:

NCFC: —

TUC: —

Cautions:

NCFC: Nelson Flores Blanco — 4’, Peter Pearson — 44’, Robert Kristo — 79’

TUC: Luca Mastrantonio — 25’

Ejections:

NCFC: —

TUC: Dakota Barnathan — 27’

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. FC Tucson

Wednesday, October 13 at 10 p.m. ET 

Kino North Stadium

Tucson, AZ

CARY, NC (October 11, 2021) – Following the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, North Carolina FC will hit the road to take on FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at 10 p.m. ET. The young squad has shown continued improvement and unity as the season progresses, and will look to add their sixth win of the season in Wednesday’s contest. 

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #22 Aziel Jackson

Posting an impressive performance in North Carolina FC’s last match against Chattanooga, Jackson has tallied a goal and two assists in seven appearances this season. Since joining the North Carolina side, the Minnesota United loanee has been a vital contributor to the attack, catalyzing many of NCFC’s scoring opportunities with his tactical abilities, passing precision, and field vision. As the season winds to a close, Jackson and the rest of the NCFC squad will look to finish the year on a high note with a win over FC Tucson on Wednesday night. 

FC Tucson – #9 Deri Corfe

Corfe has appeared as a member of the FC Tucson starting lineup in 24 of their regular season contests thus far, clocking 1,663 minutes of playing time, scoring six goals, and adding an assist on the season. The Chester, England native has played an integral role in Tucson’s climb toward the middle of the table and will look to threaten the NCFC backline and create scoring chances in Wednesday’s competition, as Tucson hopes to bounce back from a 2-0 loss against North Texas SC last week with a vital three points. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of the Chattanooga Red Wolves in a high-scoring tilt that saw five goals scored amongst the two sides. Pecka and Aziel Jackson each picked up a goal during the match, and Jonathan Ricketts, Jorge Luna, and Mark Hernandez tallied the goals for Chattanooga. Though the result was not in favor of the home side, the match featured an impressive penalty save from Jake McGuire and a stellar performance from Aziel Jackson, who added a goal and an assist during the contest. 

Saturday’s contest marked the celebration of the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, in which the North Carolina FC side sported RailHawks uniforms and RailHawks merchandise was available for sale. At the conclusion of the match, several former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, received special recognition for their role in building professional soccer in the Triangle area. 

When asked how important it was to celebrate where the club started, Head Coach John Bradford said, “I think it’s massively important. From a community standpoint and a club standpoint, the club has evolved over the years, and the RailHawks are obviously a huge piece of that. I think what we were trying to stress to our players was just the understanding that there’s something bigger than them, and that the club stands for something: it stands for the fans, for the community. There’s been so much progress to the club, and it’s important for everyone to recognize the hard work and dedication that’s gone into that.”

Up Next: North Carolina FC will continue their stint on the road to take on Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. ET at Werner Park in Papillion, NE. The match will stream live on ESPN+. 

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. FC Tucson

Wednesday, October 13 at 10 p.m. ET 

Kino North Stadium

Tucson, AZ

CARY, NC (October 11, 2021) – Following the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, North Carolina FC will hit the road to take on FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at 10 p.m. ET. The young squad has shown continued improvement and unity as the season progresses, and will look to add their sixth win of the season in Wednesday’s contest. 

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #22 Aziel Jackson

Posting an impressive performance in North Carolina FC’s last match against Chattanooga, Jackson has tallied a goal and two assists in seven appearances this season. Since joining the North Carolina side, the Minnesota United loanee has been a vital contributor to the attack, catalyzing many of NCFC’s scoring opportunities with his tactical abilities, passing precision, and field vision. As the season winds to a close, Jackson and the rest of the NCFC squad will look to finish the year on a high note with a win over FC Tucson on Wednesday night. 

FC Tucson – #9 Deri Corfe

Corfe has appeared as a member of the FC Tucson starting lineup in 24 of their regular season contests thus far, clocking 1,663 minutes of playing time, scoring six goals, and adding an assist on the season. The Chester, England native has played an integral role in Tucson’s climb toward the middle of the table and will look to threaten the NCFC backline and create scoring chances in Wednesday’s competition, as Tucson hopes to bounce back from a 2-0 loss against North Texas SC last week with a vital three points. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of the Chattanooga Red Wolves in a high-scoring tilt that saw five goals scored amongst the two sides. Pecka and Aziel Jackson each picked up a goal during the match, and Jonathan Ricketts, Jorge Luna, and Mark Hernandez tallied the goals for Chattanooga. Though the result was not in favor of the home side, the match featured an impressive penalty save from Jake McGuire and a stellar performance from Aziel Jackson, who added a goal and an assist during the contest. 

Saturday’s contest marked the celebration of the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, in which the North Carolina FC side sported RailHawks uniforms and RailHawks merchandise was available for sale. At the conclusion of the match, several former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, received special recognition for their role in building professional soccer in the Triangle area. 

When asked how important it was to celebrate where the club started, Head Coach John Bradford said, “I think it’s massively important. From a community standpoint and a club standpoint, the club has evolved over the years, and the RailHawks are obviously a huge piece of that. I think what we were trying to stress to our players was just the understanding that there’s something bigger than them, and that the club stands for something: it stands for the fans, for the community. There’s been so much progress to the club, and it’s important for everyone to recognize the hard work and dedication that’s gone into that.”

Up Next: North Carolina FC will continue their stint on the road to take on Union Omaha on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. ET at Werner Park in Papillion, NE. The match will stream live on ESPN+. 

CARY, NC (October 9, 2021) — North Carolina FC fell short of the Chattanooga Red Wolves in a high-scoring tilt that saw five goals scored amongst the two sides. Pecka and Aziel Jackson each picked up a goal during the match, and Jonathan Ricketts, Jorge Luna, and Mark Hernandez tallied the goals for Chattanooga. Though the result was not in favor of the home side, the match featured an impressive penalty save from Jake McGuire and a stellar performance from Aziel Jackson, who added a goal and an assist on the night. 

North Carolina FC broke the ice in the 14th minute, capitalizing early in the match on a corner kick taken by Jackson. The kick found Pecka at the far post, and the captain buried a volley on his first touch to collect his first goal of the season and give North Carolina FC the 1-0 advantage over the visitors. Jonathan Ricketts brought the Red Wolves level late in the half, as Chattanooga also put away a goal catalyzed by a corner kick. As the half drew to a close, the score remained knotted at 1-1. 

Mere minutes into the second half, Luis Arriaga tapped a short pass to Aziel Jackson inside the Chattanooga box, setting the Minnesota United loanee up for a scoring chance at close range. Maintaining his composure in the final third, Jackson netted his first goal for the club to pull North Carolina FC ahead of the Red Wolves, 2-1. Later, in the 54th minute, Jorge Luna equalized for Chattanooga, deadlocking the score at two goals apiece.

Mark Hernandez would be the difference maker for the Red Wolves in tonight’s contest, entering the match as a substitute and bagging the game-winner on his first touch of the match. A North Carolina FC penalty in the box offered the visitors a chance to double their lead by way of a PK, but the opportunity was denied with a diving save by NCFC goalkeeper Jake McGuire. As the final minutes of the match ticked away, North Carolina FC worked desperately for a game-tying goal, but to no avail as time expired and the Red Wolves picked up three points on the road. The young North Carolina side will look to bounce back on the road against FC Tucson next Wednesday. 

Saturday night’s contest marked the celebration of the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, in which the North Carolina FC side sported RailHawks uniforms and RailHawks merchandise was available for sale. At the conclusion of the match, several former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, received special recognition for their role in building professional soccer in the Triangle area. 

When asked how important it was to celebrate where the club started, Head Coach John Bradford said, “I think it’s massively important. From a community standpoint and a club standpoint, the club has evolved over the years, and the RailHawks are obviously a huge piece of that. I think what we were trying to stress to our players was just the understanding that there’s something bigger than them, and that the club stands for something: it stands for the fans, for the community. There’s been so much progress to the club, and it’s important for everyone to recognize the hard work and dedication that’s gone into that.” 

Match Notes:

• Aziel Jackson scored a goal and added an assist in tonight’s match.
• Pecka scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s contest.
• North Carolina FC maintained a 53.1% success rate in duels. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, AZ at 10 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPN+. 

Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Nelson Martinez (Malyk Hamilton — 46’), Max Flick, Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores, Pecka (Selmir Miscic — 85’), Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Jay Tee Kamara — 79’), Thorn Simpson (Robert Kristo — 68’), Cole Frame, Aziel Jackson (Josh Coan — 79’)

Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Britton Fischer

CHA (4-5-1): Tim Trilk, Ronaldo Pineda, Daniel Navarro, Jorge Luna, Jonathan Ricketts, Jose Carrera, Jimmie Villalobo, Ualefi (Mark Hernandez — 55’), Ricardo Ruiz, Rey Ortiz (Rafael Mentzingen — 88’), David Texeira (Juan Galindrez — 72’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora 

Score:
NCFC: 2
CHA: 3

Goals:
NCFC: Pecka — 14’, Aziel Jackson — 48’
CHA: Jonathan Ricketts — 37’, Jorge Luna — 54’, Mark Hernandez — 57’

Cautions:
NCFC: Thorn Simpson — 32’, Daniel Steedman — 39’, Malick Mbaye — 61’
CHA: Ricardo Ruiz — 51’, Jorge Luna — 81’

Ejections:
NCFC: —
CHA: —

CARY, NC (October 9, 2021) — North Carolina FC fell short of the Chattanooga Red Wolves in a high-scoring tilt that saw five goals scored amongst the two sides. Pecka and Aziel Jackson each picked up a goal during the match, and Jonathan Ricketts, Jorge Luna, and Mark Hernandez tallied the goals for Chattanooga. Though the result was not in favor of the home side, the match featured an impressive penalty save from Jake McGuire and a stellar performance from Aziel Jackson, who added a goal and an assist on the night. 

North Carolina FC broke the ice in the 14th minute, capitalizing early in the match on a corner kick taken by Jackson. The kick found Pecka at the far post, and the captain buried a volley on his first touch to collect his first goal of the season and give North Carolina FC the 1-0 advantage over the visitors. Jonathan Ricketts brought the Red Wolves level late in the half, as Chattanooga also put away a goal catalyzed by a corner kick. As the half drew to a close, the score remained knotted at 1-1. 

Mere minutes into the second half, Luis Arriaga tapped a short pass to Aziel Jackson inside the Chattanooga box, setting the Minnesota United loanee up for a scoring chance at close range. Maintaining his composure in the final third, Jackson netted his first goal for the club to pull North Carolina FC ahead of the Red Wolves, 2-1. Later, in the 54th minute, Jorge Luna equalized for Chattanooga, deadlocking the score at two goals apiece.

Mark Hernandez would be the difference maker for the Red Wolves in tonight’s contest, entering the match as a substitute and bagging the game-winner on his first touch of the match. A North Carolina FC penalty in the box offered the visitors a chance to double their lead by way of a PK, but the opportunity was denied with a diving save by NCFC goalkeeper Jake McGuire. As the final minutes of the match ticked away, North Carolina FC worked desperately for a game-tying goal, but to no avail as time expired and the Red Wolves picked up three points on the road. The young North Carolina side will look to bounce back on the road against FC Tucson next Wednesday. 

Saturday night’s contest marked the celebration of the first inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, in which the North Carolina FC side sported RailHawks uniforms and RailHawks merchandise was available for sale. At the conclusion of the match, several former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, received special recognition for their role in building professional soccer in the Triangle area. 

When asked how important it was to celebrate where the club started, Head Coach John Bradford said, “I think it’s massively important. From a community standpoint and a club standpoint, the club has evolved over the years, and the RailHawks are obviously a huge piece of that. I think what we were trying to stress to our players was just the understanding that there’s something bigger than them, and that the club stands for something: it stands for the fans, for the community. There’s been so much progress to the club, and it’s important for everyone to recognize the hard work and dedication that’s gone into that.” 

Match Notes:

• Aziel Jackson scored a goal and added an assist in tonight’s match.
• Pecka scored his first goal of the season in tonight’s contest.
• North Carolina FC maintained a 53.1% success rate in duels. 

Up Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, AZ at 10 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPN+. 

Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Jake McGuire, Nelson Martinez (Malyk Hamilton — 46’), Max Flick, Malick Mbaye, Nelson Flores, Pecka (Selmir Miscic — 85’), Luis Arriaga, Daniel Steedman (Jay Tee Kamara — 79’), Thorn Simpson (Robert Kristo — 68’), Cole Frame, Aziel Jackson (Josh Coan — 79’)

Subs Not Used: Nicholas Holliday, Britton Fischer

CHA (4-5-1): Tim Trilk, Ronaldo Pineda, Daniel Navarro, Jorge Luna, Jonathan Ricketts, Jose Carrera, Jimmie Villalobo, Ualefi (Mark Hernandez — 55’), Ricardo Ruiz, Rey Ortiz (Rafael Mentzingen — 88’), David Texeira (Juan Galindrez — 72’)

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora 

Score:
NCFC: 2
CHA: 3

Goals:
NCFC: Pecka — 14’, Aziel Jackson — 48’
CHA: Jonathan Ricketts — 37’, Jorge Luna — 54’, Mark Hernandez — 57’

Cautions:
NCFC: Thorn Simpson — 32’, Daniel Steedman — 39’, Malick Mbaye — 61’
CHA: Ricardo Ruiz — 51’, Jorge Luna — 81’

Ejections:
NCFC: —
CHA: —

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves

Saturday, October 9 at 3 p.m. ET

Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, NC

CARY, NC (October 7, 2021) – North Carolina FC return to Sahlen’s Stadium to face the Chattanooga Red Wolves for the fourth and final time this season on Saturday, October 9 at 3 p.m. ET. to celebrate the inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, a nod to the club’s heritage. The young squad will look to add their sixth win of the season in Saturday’s match and will sport RailHawks uniforms. RailHawks merchandise will be available for sale, and former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, will receive special recognition during the match. Tickets are available here. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of Toronto FC II last Friday, dropping three points to the Canadian side. The contest featured the professional debut of NCFC Academy product Drew Kerr, who entered the match as a second-half substitute, as well as Josh Coan’s debut in the captain’s band. Talen Maples, Luca Petrasso, and Paul Rothrock each added individual goals to lift Toronto to the 3-0 result. 

Toronto’s Talen Maples opened the scoring during the match, giving the Canadian side the 1-0 advantage in the 63rd minute. Two minutes later, Luca Petrasso scored his first goal of the season to double Toronto’s lead, capitalizing on a cross from Kobe Franklin. Franklin’s assist was his second of the game, his first paving the way for Maples’ goal. Later, in the 73rd minute, Paul Rothrock collected Toronto’s third goal of the match to seal the 3-0 win. 

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #25 Britton Fischer

Fischer recently signed his first professional contract with North Carolina FC at only 17 years old, joining Nicholas Holliday and Cole Frame as the third NCFC Academy product to ink a deal with the squad. As of late, Fischer has become an integral part of the North Carolina FC backline, joining teammates Max Flick, Nelson Flores, and Nelson Martinez to protect the net. With the challenge of Chattanooga’s offense on the horizon, Fischer will look to utilize his aggression on the ball to win duels and distribute from the backline in Saturday’s throwback match. 

Chattanooga Red Wolves – #12 Ricky Ruiz

For the Red Wolves this season, Ruiz has clocked 2,157 minutes of playing time in 24 appearances, scoring four goals. Ruiz’s season goal tally is all the more impressive when you consider his position as a defender, and has played a key role in Chattanooga’s ascent toward the top of the table. As the season begins to wind down, Chattanooga will look to add three points in this weekend’s match in order to remain competitive for the first-place spot in league standings. Having dropped their last two contests, Ruiz and the rest of the Red Wolves’ defense will hope to buckle down and earn the victory against the North Carolina side. 

What’s Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona at 10 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPN+. 

Match Info:

North Carolina FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves

Saturday, October 9 at 3 p.m. ET

Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Cary, NC

CARY, NC (October 7, 2021) – North Carolina FC return to Sahlen’s Stadium to face the Chattanooga Red Wolves for the fourth and final time this season on Saturday, October 9 at 3 p.m. ET. to celebrate the inaugural RailHawks Throwback Night, a nod to the club’s heritage. The young squad will look to add their sixth win of the season in Saturday’s match and will sport RailHawks uniforms. RailHawks merchandise will be available for sale, and former players, including Nazmi Albadawi, will receive special recognition during the match. Tickets are available here. 

Last Time Out

North Carolina FC fell short of Toronto FC II last Friday, dropping three points to the Canadian side. The contest featured the professional debut of NCFC Academy product Drew Kerr, who entered the match as a second-half substitute, as well as Josh Coan’s debut in the captain’s band. Talen Maples, Luca Petrasso, and Paul Rothrock each added individual goals to lift Toronto to the 3-0 result. 

Toronto’s Talen Maples opened the scoring during the match, giving the Canadian side the 1-0 advantage in the 63rd minute. Two minutes later, Luca Petrasso scored his first goal of the season to double Toronto’s lead, capitalizing on a cross from Kobe Franklin. Franklin’s assist was his second of the game, his first paving the way for Maples’ goal. Later, in the 73rd minute, Paul Rothrock collected Toronto’s third goal of the match to seal the 3-0 win. 

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – #25 Britton Fischer

Fischer recently signed his first professional contract with North Carolina FC at only 17 years old, joining Nicholas Holliday and Cole Frame as the third NCFC Academy product to ink a deal with the squad. As of late, Fischer has become an integral part of the North Carolina FC backline, joining teammates Max Flick, Nelson Flores, and Nelson Martinez to protect the net. With the challenge of Chattanooga’s offense on the horizon, Fischer will look to utilize his aggression on the ball to win duels and distribute from the backline in Saturday’s throwback match. 

Chattanooga Red Wolves – #12 Ricky Ruiz

For the Red Wolves this season, Ruiz has clocked 2,157 minutes of playing time in 24 appearances, scoring four goals. Ruiz’s season goal tally is all the more impressive when you consider his position as a defender, and has played a key role in Chattanooga’s ascent toward the top of the table. As the season begins to wind down, Chattanooga will look to add three points in this weekend’s match in order to remain competitive for the first-place spot in league standings. Having dropped their last two contests, Ruiz and the rest of the Red Wolves’ defense will hope to buckle down and earn the victory against the North Carolina side. 

What’s Next: North Carolina FC will travel to face FC Tucson on Wednesday, October 13 at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona at 10 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPN+.