Cary, NC (May 28, 2019) – North Carolina FC U23 defeated NC Fusion U23 in USL League Two action on Tuesday night. Julian Ngoh and James Kasak tallied in the second half to give the home side its third straight victory. With the win, NCFC U23 leapfrogs over two teams to take the lead in the Eastern Conference South Atlantic Division standings with nine points.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was ever present in the game as eight players in the starting lineup are current or former members of the NCFC Youth Academy. George Marks, who was on the NCFC senior roster in 2018, was again instrumental between the pipes as he captained the team and made several saves to earn the clean sheet.
The teams traded chances early on in the game. In the fourth minute NCFC U23’s Juan Hernandez took a good look at goal only to see his shot saved by NC Fusion goalkeeper Josh Perryman. Just a minute later it was NC Fusion’s turn, but Leandro Avila’s shot sailed wide.
In the 15th minute Camden Holbrook sent a rocket towards goal, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play before being deflected into corner.
Just before halftime, Ngoh took the ball down the right side and sent a low cross into the box towards Holbrook, but the forward, who plays college soccer at Appalachian State, missed the connection effectively sending the teams to the locker rooms scoreless at the half.
It only took one minute into the second half for NCFC U23 to get on the board. Hernandez came down the far side of the pitch and sent the ball into the box looking for an oncoming Ngoh. The rising senior from William & Mary easily finished his chance slotting the ball past Perryman for the 1-0 lead.
Down a goal, NC Fusion upped the tempo looking for an equalizer, but back-to-back saves by Marks in the 50th and 54th minutes denied the visitors.
One minute after entering the game, in the 59th minute, Kasak almost added the insurance goal as he hit a dangerous shot that was deflected into corner.
The Virginia Tech forward’s persistence paid off in the 66th when he received a ball from Colton Pleasants. Kasak proceeded to dribble it into the box past a couple of defenders and Perryman, easily slotting it into the back of the net and giving the home side the 2-0 lead.
The teams exchanged barbs throughout the rest of the game and NCFC U23 almost got another one in the 73rd minute after Pleasants found an open Miles Peay but Perryman was quick to deny the young midfielder and deflect into corner.
Marks came up big again in stoppage time easily saving a chance by the Fusion and fixing the result at 2-0.
Next, NCFC U23 travels to Virginia and Tennessee for matches against Lionsbridge FC on June 1 and Tri-Cities Otters on June 4. The team returns home to host Lionsbridge FC on Friday June 7 at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: George Marks; Adam Armour, Aidan Foster (Tyler Dressman, 72’), Delasi Batse, Parker Cross; Sergi Nus (Colton Pleasants, 46’), Gabe Mercer (James Orozco, 87’), Robert Screen; Camden Holbroook (James Kasak, 58’), Juan Hernandez (Sheldon China, 66’), Julian Ngoh (Miles Peay, 58’)
Subs not used: Will Pulisic
North Carolina Fusion FC: Josh Perryman; Sam Henneberg (Alex Hernandez, 80’), Faisal Almubaslat, John Lucchesi, Nick Spielman; Joao Silva, Marcel Fahrenholz, Nick Phipps; Casey Penland, Love Fredriksson (Kelan Swales, 46’), Leandro Avila (Emmanuel Opau, 74’)
Subs not used: Austin Shuping, JP Meibohm, Austin Hill, Rintaro Takagi
Score
NCFC U23: 2
NC Fusion U23: 0
Goals:
NCFC U23: Julian Ngoh (Juan Hernandez, 46’), James Kasak (Colton Pleasants, 66’)
NC Fusion U23: —
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Aidan Foster 46’, Sheldon China, 88’
NC Fusion U23: Leandro Avila 45+1’, Nick Spielman 85’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
NC Fusion U23: —
Cary, NC (May 28, 2019) – North Carolina FC U23 defeated NC Fusion U23 in USL League Two action on Tuesday night. Julian Ngoh and James Kasak tallied in the second half to give the home side its third straight victory. With the win, NCFC U23 leapfrogs over two teams to take the lead in the Eastern Conference South Atlantic Division standings with nine points.
The youth-to-pro pipeline was ever present in the game as eight players in the starting lineup are current or former members of the NCFC Youth Academy. George Marks, who was on the NCFC senior roster in 2018, was again instrumental between the pipes as he captained the team and made several saves to earn the clean sheet.
The teams traded chances early on in the game. In the fourth minute NCFC U23’s Juan Hernandez took a good look at goal only to see his shot saved by NC Fusion goalkeeper Josh Perryman. Just a minute later it was NC Fusion’s turn, but Leandro Avila’s shot sailed wide.
In the 15th minute Camden Holbrook sent a rocket towards goal, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play before being deflected into corner.
Just before halftime, Ngoh took the ball down the right side and sent a low cross into the box towards Holbrook, but the forward, who plays college soccer at Appalachian State, missed the connection effectively sending the teams to the locker rooms scoreless at the half.
It only took one minute into the second half for NCFC U23 to get on the board. Hernandez came down the far side of the pitch and sent the ball into the box looking for an oncoming Ngoh. The rising senior from William & Mary easily finished his chance slotting the ball past Perryman for the 1-0 lead.
Down a goal, NC Fusion upped the tempo looking for an equalizer, but back-to-back saves by Marks in the 50th and 54th minutes denied the visitors.
One minute after entering the game, in the 59th minute, Kasak almost added the insurance goal as he hit a dangerous shot that was deflected into corner.
The Virginia Tech forward’s persistence paid off in the 66th when he received a ball from Colton Pleasants. Kasak proceeded to dribble it into the box past a couple of defenders and Perryman, easily slotting it into the back of the net and giving the home side the 2-0 lead.
The teams exchanged barbs throughout the rest of the game and NCFC U23 almost got another one in the 73rd minute after Pleasants found an open Miles Peay but Perryman was quick to deny the young midfielder and deflect into corner.
Marks came up big again in stoppage time easily saving a chance by the Fusion and fixing the result at 2-0.
Next, NCFC U23 travels to Virginia and Tennessee for matches against Lionsbridge FC on June 1 and Tri-Cities Otters on June 4. The team returns home to host Lionsbridge FC on Friday June 7 at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park.
BOX SCORE
NCFC U23: George Marks; Adam Armour, Aidan Foster (Tyler Dressman, 72’), Delasi Batse, Parker Cross; Sergi Nus (Colton Pleasants, 46’), Gabe Mercer (James Orozco, 87’), Robert Screen; Camden Holbroook (James Kasak, 58’), Juan Hernandez (Sheldon China, 66’), Julian Ngoh (Miles Peay, 58’)
Subs not used: Will Pulisic
North Carolina Fusion FC: Josh Perryman; Sam Henneberg (Alex Hernandez, 80’), Faisal Almubaslat, John Lucchesi, Nick Spielman; Joao Silva, Marcel Fahrenholz, Nick Phipps; Casey Penland, Love Fredriksson (Kelan Swales, 46’), Leandro Avila (Emmanuel Opau, 74’)
Subs not used: Austin Shuping, JP Meibohm, Austin Hill, Rintaro Takagi
Score
NCFC U23: 2
NC Fusion U23: 0
Goals:
NCFC U23: Julian Ngoh (Juan Hernandez, 46’), James Kasak (Colton Pleasants, 66’)
NC Fusion U23: —
Cautions:
NCFC U23: Aidan Foster 46’, Sheldon China, 88’
NC Fusion U23: Leandro Avila 45+1’, Nick Spielman 85’
Ejections:
NCFC U23: —
NC Fusion U23: —
