Editor’s Note: The interview with Brian Shriver for this feature took place in December 2023, before any news regarding participation in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup had been reported.
This Friday (March 29), North Carolina FC will celebrate its storied history with a throwback night to the vintage Carolina RailHawks and NCFC during their USL Championship match with Hartford Athletic (tickets). The match will feature alumni appearances, merchandise, and homages to the former namesake.
It’s a weekend to honor and celebrate lifelong memories from the RailHawks and early NCFC days for players and supporters alike. Memories like victories against the LA Galaxy in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, for example.
Among those returning home this weekend is Brian Shriver, the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Open Cup. The former Tar Heel bagged eight goals across four Cup runs, twice as many as any other player has for the team. North Carolina FC caught up with Shriver to relive some of those memories that will be celebrated this weekend.
“It’s really special because I spent a lot of time during my career with the club, whether that was with the RailHawks or NCFC and even back to when I was in college, I played for the PDL team, so the club is very special to me, and I think just knowing that, it’s a cool thing to kind of have on my resume,” Shriver said.
2012 Open Cup
The Galaxy jumped out to a 1-0 lead in that first meeting, but Tiyi Shipalane tied things up in the 75th minute before Shriver got on the end of a cross from Shipalane to give the RailHawks a win over the reigning MLS champs in front of a sold-out stadium.
That moment sticks out above the rest for Shriver, adding that playing against those MLS teams, whether they brought the full roster or not, was always something special.
“Sometimes in the early stages of the Open Cup, they don’t they don’t bring a full squad and I think for us, that was always something that kind of gave you a little chip on your shoulder when you go against them and you want to show that you’re close to their level and can compete,” Shriver said.
After scoring, Shriver darted right to the fans to celebrate, something he said was a huge part of what made the club special to him.
“During that time, the fan base was phenomenal. I mean, we had big crowds at every home game, obviously when you draw an MLS club, you’re going to pack the stadium. For me, I always enjoyed celebrating with the fans and trying to build a relationship and then just in that moment you kind of lose yourself a little bit and just kind of try to enjoy it,” Shriver said.
The run came to a heartbreaking end in the next round, falling to Chivas USA, 2-1, on a penalty deep in stoppage time. Shriver recalls the RailHawks having the better run of play for much of the game, but the late penalty left the team wondering what could have been in that magical 2012 season.
Shriver’s five goals in the 2012 tournament earned him the competition’s Golden Boot. He kicked off that year’s campaign with a four-goal performance in a 6-0 home win over PSA Elite (USASA) in the second round.
2013 Open Cup
The Railhawks would again overtake the MLS powerhouse Galaxy the next year, striking twice in mere minutes. Austin da Luz broke the deadlock in the 59’ and Shriver would again find paydirt against the MLS side, scoring an insurance goal in the 61’ minute to seal the 2-0 win.
“That 2013 year, that was my best year overall as a professional just in terms of goals and individual performances. I think I was riding high on confidence. Especially going into that game. When you’re scoring goals and your team is doing well, you kind of feed off that,” Shriver said.
The Railhawks drew another rematch for the following round: Chivas USA.
This time, it was Carolina’s turn to break some hearts. Shipalane’s first-half goal was neutralized by a tying strike from the visitors in the second half, again setting up late drama. César Elizondo and Brian Ackley delivered the blows in extra time to avenge the defeat from a year before.
Shriver played professionally for roughly a decade, representing multiple clubs in various leagues, but he says the RailHawks teams from the early 2010’s were special.
“Those were, even for me still, probably the most fun years I had playing. The group of guys we had was great. Not only from an ability standpoint, but I think everybody clicked. We really understood how the other players on the field moved and how we wanted to play. There were also a lot of great times off the field and that helped bring us together on the field as well,” Shriver said.
A handful of the players from those years were back on the field last year for TST and Shriver said it was good to get together and reminisce about those seasons.
Upset wins like the RailHawks had during those runs in the early 2010’s are part of the mystique the Open Cup has built over the years. Those RailHawks teams are firmly cemented in the lore.
“When you look at it in terms of lower-division teams that have had success, I would say Railhawks and NCFC should be right up there as one of the clubs to make the most noise against MLS clubs. It’s really cool to have been a part of that,” Shriver said, adding that while scoring goals in those games is fun, getting the result is even sweeter.
Shriver, a Clearwater, Florida native, spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rowdies before returning to Cary in 2016.
The team entered the cup in the third round that year, drawing in-state rival Charlotte Independence at home.
In one of the wildest finishes imaginable, a scoreless game at full time ended with a 5-0 extra time result for the RailHawks. The Independence got a first-half red card and managed to hold on during regulation, but the dam eventually broke.
The in-state rivals faced off in the cup for three straight years from 2015-2017, with the Triangle’s team claiming victory twice.
“Anytime you have that kind of intrastate competition, it definitely brings out an added edge because their supporters are able to come and see a two-and-a-half-hour drive and it makes it a lot easier to kind of have a true rivalry,” Shriver said.
Shriver had a different perspective in the most recent meeting between NCFC and Charlotte: in the stands with some of his former teammates at WakeMed Soccer Park for NCFC’s thrilling win in penalties for the USL League One Championship last fall.
“That was awesome to just reconnect and watch the game together. I was really happy for them,” Shriver said.
In addition to his magic moments in the Open Cup, Shriver got it done for the club in league play. Shriver won the 2013 NASL Golden Boot with 15 goals and earned Best XI honors from the league. His 27 career goals with the team rank third all-time.
Although he is from Florida originally, much of Shriver’s soccer journey was spent in North Carolina. Whether it was playing youth tournaments hosted by CASL, representing UNC as a college player, playing for the local USL PDL team while still in college or scoring game winners against MLS teams in the Open Cup for the RailHawks, the Old North State holds a special place for Shriver.
“It was just really cool to kind of stay and be involved in this area for so long of my career, because a lot of the people that I met while I was in college, playing against them, are guys that ended up being future teammates: (Austin) da Luz, (Zach) Schilawski, guys like that I mean we played against each other for multiple years in college and then ended up being on the same team,” Shriver said.
Shriver said that while the area has always been a hotbed for soccer talent, even going back to his own experiences in the youth game coming to play in North Carolina, the recent growth over the years has been immense.
Relive all the great memories, and make new ones, this Friday when North Carolina FC hosts Hartford Athletic. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park. Purchase tickets here.
