Cary, N.C. (April 6, 2018) – North Carolina FC will face a familiar foe and opposing manager when it hosts Indy Eleven on Saturday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. It will be College Night where college students will have access to exclusive tickets and merchandise deals.
Indy Eleven is guided by former NCFC head coach Martin Rennie, who coached NCFC from 2009-11 and guided the team to a pair of first-place league finishes and a second-place finish during his three seasons at the helm before accepting the head coaching job at Vancouver Whitecaps FC of the MLS.
The upcoming match will be the 15th all time between NCFC and Indy Eleven and the first since both teams joined the USL. In 2017 NASL play, NCFC went 1W-3L-1D against Indy Eleven, but took points in the two final matches of the season series. In its final regular-season match of the 2017 season, NCFC earned a 2-2 draw on the road against Indy Eleven to clinch the No. 3 seed the NASL playoffs. In Indy’s last visit to Cary, NCFC won 5-0 – its largest margin of victory in the 2017 season.
Rennie won’t be the only name NCFC fans recognize on Saturday. Former NCFC players Matt Watson and Brad Rusin are both in their first seasons with Indy Eleven. Watson played for the club from 2008-11 and in 2016, and ranks third in all-time appearances (134); Rusin played for NCFC from 2009-11. Additionally, Ben Speas has a tie to North Carolina soccer after leading the Tar Heels to a 2011 NCAA National Championship in his only season with UNC. Speas tallied the winning goal in the championship match at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park to help the Heels clinch the title.
While Indy will have plenty of options to look to, the club will be without Jack McInerney, who was suspended for one game following a review by the USL’s Independent Discipline Panel for a first-half challenge on FC Cincinnati’s Kenney Walker.
Last Time Out:
NCFC is coming off a renewed rivalry against the Richmond Kickers. Daniel Rios opened his account with the team after finishing off an assist from Steven Miller, but the team fell late, as Richmond completed a comeback attempt and claimed its first result in the rivalry since 2000 – a 2-1 victory.
Players To Watch:
No. 16 Graham Smith
Smith has established himself as a key player in NCFC’s midfield early in the season. After coming through an invite-only combine and a preseason trial, Smith has signed his first professional deal with NCFC this season. The midfielder’s high work rate has been on full display, as Smith has played every minute of the season so far. Look for the rookie to continue to help NCFC’s midfield unit run the park.
No. 9 Eugene Starikov
Another familiar name, Starikov has played against NCFC in the past. The former New York Cosmos man totaled 25 appearances and scored four goals for his former club last season. Starikov’s goals include one against NCFC. The strong forward will once again aim to test NCFC with his ability on the ball and in the air. This season, Starikov has started both matches for Indy and played 162 minutes, but is still searching for his first goal of the season.
Coming Up Next:
NCFC will have a big road match next weekend, as the club travels west to face the Charlotte Independence. The heated in-state rivalry has blossomed over the last few years with annual Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. While the clubs will play its first ever league match against each other, the rivalry goes much deeper, dating back to 1993 when Charlotte and Raleigh faced off in professional soccer between the Raleigh Flyers and Charlotte Eagles.
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Cary, N.C. (April 6, 2018) – North Carolina FC will face a familiar foe and opposing manager when it hosts Indy Eleven on Saturday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. It will be College Night where college students will have access to exclusive tickets and merchandise deals.
Indy Eleven is guided by former NCFC head coach Martin Rennie, who coached NCFC from 2009-11 and guided the team to a pair of first-place league finishes and a second-place finish during his three seasons at the helm before accepting the head coaching job at Vancouver Whitecaps FC of the MLS.
The upcoming match will be the 15th all time between NCFC and Indy Eleven and the first since both teams joined the USL. In 2017 NASL play, NCFC went 1W-3L-1D against Indy Eleven, but took points in the two final matches of the season series. In its final regular-season match of the 2017 season, NCFC earned a 2-2 draw on the road against Indy Eleven to clinch the No. 3 seed the NASL playoffs. In Indy’s last visit to Cary, NCFC won 5-0 – its largest margin of victory in the 2017 season.
Rennie won’t be the only name NCFC fans recognize on Saturday. Former NCFC players Matt Watson and Brad Rusin are both in their first seasons with Indy Eleven. Watson played for the club from 2008-11 and in 2016, and ranks third in all-time appearances (134); Rusin played for NCFC from 2009-11. Additionally, Ben Speas has a tie to North Carolina soccer after leading the Tar Heels to a 2011 NCAA National Championship in his only season with UNC. Speas tallied the winning goal in the championship match at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park to help the Heels clinch the title.
While Indy will have plenty of options to look to, the club will be without Jack McInerney, who was suspended for one game following a review by the USL’s Independent Discipline Panel for a first-half challenge on FC Cincinnati’s Kenney Walker.
Last Time Out:
NCFC is coming off a renewed rivalry against the Richmond Kickers. Daniel Rios opened his account with the team after finishing off an assist from Steven Miller, but the team fell late, as Richmond completed a comeback attempt and claimed its first result in the rivalry since 2000 – a 2-1 victory.
Players To Watch:
No. 16 Graham Smith
Smith has established himself as a key player in NCFC’s midfield early in the season. After coming through an invite-only combine and a preseason trial, Smith has signed his first professional deal with NCFC this season. The midfielder’s high work rate has been on full display, as Smith has played every minute of the season so far. Look for the rookie to continue to help NCFC’s midfield unit run the park.
No. 9 Eugene Starikov
Another familiar name, Starikov has played against NCFC in the past. The former New York Cosmos man totaled 25 appearances and scored four goals for his former club last season. Starikov’s goals include one against NCFC. The strong forward will once again aim to test NCFC with his ability on the ball and in the air. This season, Starikov has started both matches for Indy and played 162 minutes, but is still searching for his first goal of the season.
Coming Up Next:
NCFC will have a big road match next weekend, as the club travels west to face the Charlotte Independence. The heated in-state rivalry has blossomed over the last few years with annual Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. While the clubs will play its first ever league match against each other, the rivalry goes much deeper, dating back to 1993 when Charlotte and Raleigh faced off in professional soccer between the Raleigh Flyers and Charlotte Eagles.
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