North Carolina FC vs. Lexington SC
Date: June 18, 2023 at 3:00 PM / WakeMed Soccer Park / Cary, North Carolina
Broadcast: ESPN+
Social Media: @NorthCarolinaFC
CARY, N.C. (June 16, 2023)- North Carolina FC finally returns home after a month long road stretch this Sunday, June 18, at 3:00 PM ET against Lexington SC at WakeMed Soccer Park. North Carolina is looking to bounce back after a defeating 0-3 loss to the Flamingos of Forward Madison FC. Despite the loss, North Carolina still sits atop the USL League One table tied with Charlotte Independence with 22 total points.
This past weekend North Carolina had the majority of possession in the first half against the Flamingos, however after Forward Madison managed to rally, they scored a late first half goal in stoppage time to create a lead.
During the second half, North Carolina lost composure, giving up two more goals despite hard play on defense the entire game. Forward Madison’s goalie denied the North Carolina offense any chance of scoring. After a grueling month long away stretch, North Carolina FC is looking forward to going back home in hopes of a win to get them back on track and keep their first place standing in the USL League One.
Scouting Lexington SC
Lexington SC sits in ninth place in the USL League One table with just three wins on the season and 13 points. However, the record shouldn’t fool anyone. Lexington played North Carolina in just the second match of the season, where Rafael Mentzingen had a late second half goal to propel North Carolina FC to their first win of the season. Lexington SC looks to give their season a push by knocking off the first place team.
Players to Watch
Mikey Maldonado- Midfielder, North Carolina FC
Look for North Carolina’s midfielder Mikey Maldonado to not only man the middle, but be an anchor for the team as they are looking to bounce back after a rollercoaster month of a road trip. Maldondo is the only field player for North Carolina to play every minute of the season. Coming back home after a rough loss, he will look to be our leader and communicate, pass, and set teammates up for success on both ends of the field at any given time. He was persistent in the idea of going back home and getting his team locked back in to keep their top spot in the league table.
Amal Knight- Goalkeeper, Lexington SC
The Jamaican goalkeeper is one of the key players for Lexington SC. He will look to ignite a fire in Lexington SC this weekend and get their season on the right path. Not only did he play well in the first meeting against North Carolina earlier this year, but he was also just named to the USL League One’s ‘Team of the Week’ after a monster game where he recorded a career-high 9 saves, crushing his previous career-high of 6 set less than a month before.
Next Match: North Carolina FC will face in state rivals Charlotte Independence at home on Friday, June 30, at 7:00 PM ET. The match will stream live on ESPN+.
