CARY, N.C. (May 18, 2017) – North Carolina FC U23 earned its first victory of the 2017 PDL season with a 3-1 win over Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Thursday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. Josh Coan, Damien Thomas and Arty Couzine all scored for NCFC U23.
“Our team was very determined to win tonight, and I respect and appreciate that a lot for only being together a couple of weeks,” said head coach Dewan Bader. “There was a point in the game where Wilmington had the better of the play to be fair, and we buckled down and defended well. That goes a long way. I’m happy with the performance and happy that our team seems to be coming together through chemistry and work rate this early.”
The first 80 minutes of the match only featured one goal, but the offenses came alive down the stretch for three goals in the final 10 minutes of play.
NCFC U23 jumped in front in the 33rd minute with a penalty kick goal from Coan. Dean Rutherford won the penalty after being dragged down in the box.
With time winding down, NCFC U23 doubled its lead in the 84th minute, as Thomas muscled away a defender for possession of the ball and added a strong finish for the goal.
Just two minutes later, Wilmington struck off a quick restart from a free kick. Cameron Findley chipped the ball to David Lozano who scored from inside the box.
Despite allowing the late goal, NCFC U23 responded immediately with its third goal of the night, scoring in the 87th minute. Cameron Steele found Couzine inside the box, who’s shot from close range flew past the keeper and into the net.
Notes:
- NCFC U23’s lineup featured eight former Capital Area RailHawks Academy members, including Caleb Duvernay, Ryan Spaulding, Vinnie Durand, Jamil Gracia, Dom Jensen, Nick Retzlaff, Cody Brinkman and Josh Coan.
- Jeremy Kelly, a member of the 2016 Carolina RailHawks and former Capital Area RailHawks Academy member, started and played the full 90 minutes for Wilmington.
- Josh Coan scored his first goal of the season off a penalty kick in the 33rdminute.
- Damien Thomas added an unassisted goal in the 84th minute for his first goal of the year.
- Arty Couzine scored his first goal of the season with a goal in the 87th minute off an assist from Cameron Steele.
Box Score:
NCFCU23: Vinne Durand (Ignacio Blanco, 45’), Caleb Duvernay, Matt Arnone, Jamil Garcia, Fernando Castellanos (Alex Comsia, 45’), Cody Brinkman, (Ian Bennett, 72’) Nick Retzlaff, Dom Jensen (Arty Kouzine, 45’), Ryan Spaulding (Damien Thomas, 71’), Josh Coan (Cameron Steele, 45’), Dean Rutherford
Subs not used: Steffan Pilinix,
WILM: Drew Romig, Sam Wancowicz, Ben Davidson, Matt Morgan, Nathanael Rennhack, Cameron Findley, David Lozano, Will Heaney (Daniel Escobar, 67’) Tanner Roberts, Jeremy Kelly, Phil Goodrum
Subs not used: Sam Williams, Rafael Fagundo, Wrenn Pallas, Steven Pate, Joel Bylander, Cody Frennea
Score:
NCFCU23: 3
WILM: 1
Goals:
NCFCU23: Josh Coan (PK 33’), Damien Thomas (unassisted, 84’), Arty Couzine (Cameron Steele, 87’)
WILM: David Loanzo (Cameron Findley 86’)
Cautions:
NCFC: —
WILM: —
Ejections:
NCFCU23: —
WILM: —
CARY, N.C. (May 18, 2017) – North Carolina FC U23 earned its first victory of the 2017 PDL season with a 3-1 win over Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Thursday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. Josh Coan, Damien Thomas and Arty Couzine all scored for NCFC U23.
“Our team was very determined to win tonight, and I respect and appreciate that a lot for only being together a couple of weeks,” said head coach Dewan Bader. “There was a point in the game where Wilmington had the better of the play to be fair, and we buckled down and defended well. That goes a long way. I’m happy with the performance and happy that our team seems to be coming together through chemistry and work rate this early.”
The first 80 minutes of the match only featured one goal, but the offenses came alive down the stretch for three goals in the final 10 minutes of play.
NCFC U23 jumped in front in the 33rd minute with a penalty kick goal from Coan. Dean Rutherford won the penalty after being dragged down in the box.
With time winding down, NCFC U23 doubled its lead in the 84th minute, as Thomas muscled away a defender for possession of the ball and added a strong finish for the goal.
Just two minutes later, Wilmington struck off a quick restart from a free kick. Cameron Findley chipped the ball to David Lozano who scored from inside the box.
Despite allowing the late goal, NCFC U23 responded immediately with its third goal of the night, scoring in the 87th minute. Cameron Steele found Couzine inside the box, who’s shot from close range flew past the keeper and into the net.
Notes:
- NCFC U23’s lineup featured eight former Capital Area RailHawks Academy members, including Caleb Duvernay, Ryan Spaulding, Vinnie Durand, Jamil Gracia, Dom Jensen, Nick Retzlaff, Cody Brinkman and Josh Coan.
- Jeremy Kelly, a member of the 2016 Carolina RailHawks and former Capital Area RailHawks Academy member, started and played the full 90 minutes for Wilmington.
- Josh Coan scored his first goal of the season off a penalty kick in the 33rdminute.
- Damien Thomas added an unassisted goal in the 84th minute for his first goal of the year.
- Arty Couzine scored his first goal of the season with a goal in the 87th minute off an assist from Cameron Steele.
Box Score:
NCFCU23: Vinne Durand (Ignacio Blanco, 45’), Caleb Duvernay, Matt Arnone, Jamil Garcia, Fernando Castellanos (Alex Comsia, 45’), Cody Brinkman, (Ian Bennett, 72’) Nick Retzlaff, Dom Jensen (Arty Kouzine, 45’), Ryan Spaulding (Damien Thomas, 71’), Josh Coan (Cameron Steele, 45’), Dean Rutherford
Subs not used: Steffan Pilinix,
WILM: Drew Romig, Sam Wancowicz, Ben Davidson, Matt Morgan, Nathanael Rennhack, Cameron Findley, David Lozano, Will Heaney (Daniel Escobar, 67’) Tanner Roberts, Jeremy Kelly, Phil Goodrum
Subs not used: Sam Williams, Rafael Fagundo, Wrenn Pallas, Steven Pate, Joel Bylander, Cody Frennea
Score:
NCFCU23: 3
WILM: 1
Goals:
NCFCU23: Josh Coan (PK 33’), Damien Thomas (unassisted, 84’), Arty Couzine (Cameron Steele, 87’)
WILM: David Loanzo (Cameron Findley 86’)
Cautions:
NCFC: —
WILM: —
Ejections:
NCFCU23: —
WILM: —
