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GuillenNabs USL Team of the Week Honors

TAMPA, Fla. (August 14, 2018)– North Carolina FC’s Aaron Guillen has been selected to the USL Team of the Week for Week 22 of the USL season after a standout performance in the team’s 2-0 victory at Tampa Bay.

Guillen helped NCFC extend its unbeaten run to six matches and move within two points of a playoff position. The defender recorded four interceptions, won three tackles and went six of six in duels to help NCFC earn the shutout.

This marks the seventh time an NCFC player has been selected to the USL Team of the Week.

NCFC will be back in action on Wednesday, Aug. 15 against the Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium as the team continues to fight towards a playoff position.

NCFC USL Team of the Week Selections:
Week 5: Futty Danso
Week 7: Kyle Bekker
Week 14: Steven Miller
Week 15: Daniel Rios
Week 16: Austin da Luz
Week 19: Daniel Rios
Week 22: Aaron Guillen

USL Team of the Week
GK – Jake McGuire, Bethlehem Steel FC: McGuire recorded nine saves across two games, including a four-save shutout against Charlotte last Wednesday night that helped Steel FC to a 3-0 road victory.

D – Aaron Guillen, North Carolina FC: Guillen recorded four interceptions, won three tackles and went six of six in duels to help North Carolina earn a 2-0 victory on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

D – Liam Doyle, Nashville SC: Doyle won six out of six duels and recorded 11 clearances to help Nashville record a shutout victory against Ottawa Fury FC on Friday night.

D – Paddy Barrett, FC Cincinnati: Barrett recorded five tackles, seven clearances and went 13 of 21 in duels as FCC took a 1-0 victory against Penn FC on Sunday evening.

M – Jeremy Hall, Sacramento Republic FC:Hall scored the game-winning goal as Republic FC defeated Rio Grande Valley FC and completed 44 of 50 passes, won four tackles and recorded two interceptions.

M – Charlie Adams, Real Monarchs SLC: Adams had a pair of goals across two contests, including the Monarchs’ midweek victory against Reno 1868 FC, completed 42 of 49 passes and won 12 of 17 duels over the week.

M – Henry Wingo, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Wingo scored a pair of goals to lead S2 to a 3-2 victory against San Antonio FC at Cheney Stadium that snapped SAFC’s four-game winning streak.

M – Jose Barril, OKC Energy FC: Barril provided the assist on all three Energy FC goals in its 3-2 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday night at Taft Stadium, part of a two-win week for the side.

F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Lancaster had a hat trick and one assist as Louisville recorded a 6-4 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on Friday night at MSU Soccer Park.

F – Michael Seaton, Orange County SC: Seaton had two goals and one assist as Orange County SC took a 4-3 victory on the road against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night to move into sole possession of second place in the West.

F – Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC: Asante scored a second-half hat trick for Rising FC as it comeback bid came up just short in a 4-3 defeat to Orange County SC on Saturday night.

Bench: Alex Mangels (POR), Michael Gamble (TUL), Alex Dixon (OKC), Kadeem Dacres (STL), Frank Lopez (LA), Ilija Ilic (LOU), Neco Brett (PGH)

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GuillenNabs USL Team of the Week Honors

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North Carolina FC Keeps Momentum Going with 2-0 Victory over Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (August 11, 2018)– North Carolina FC earned a huge three points in the playoff race with a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.

The win moves NCFC up to 10th in the USL Eastern Conference and just two points out of a playoff position. The team is undefeated in its last six matches with three wins in its last four games.

A quiet start to the match saw both teams settle in slowly. Neither side had a clear-cut attacking chance until Alex Tambakis was called into action in the 26th minute. The goalkeeper made an excellent diving save to deny Junior Flemings, whose speed set him up for a solo effort just inside the box.

Flemings, Tampa’s most dangerous attacking option in the first half, had another great look at goal as time winded down in the half. The attacker once again found space and let loose a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box. Tambakis was up to the task and pushed away the shot.

Following the break, NCFC’s defense worked hard to deny Tampa. The visitors managed to hold off the Rowdies before flipping the momentum and taking over the game.

In the 65th minute, Marcel Kandziora found himself unmarked in the box. The German deftly directed a cross from Steven Miller into the far corner of the net. The goal was the second of the season for Kandziora and the third assist for Miller.

Just 13 minutes later, NCFC assumed full control of the match as Daniel Rios doubled NCFC’s lead off an assist from Kyle Bekker. Two of the USL’s stat leaders in their respective categories, Bekker recorded his 10th assist of the year and Rios tucked home his 12th goal of the season. Bekker found space on the right side and threaded a pass across the face of goal into the path of Rios, who converted the easy finish from about five yards out.

NCFC rode out the final period of the match with ease, clinching its second shutout in a row to solidify its position in the playoff race.

Up Next:
The next step in NCFC’s travels is Indianapolis, where it will take on Indy Eleven at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. ET.; it’s NCFC’s first midweek match since the Fourth of July, at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Both former members of the NASL, NCFC and Indy have played each other multiple times each season since 2014. NCFC found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 result at home against Indy in April.

Notes:
The victory is NCFC’s third road win and fifth shutout of the season.

NCFC now has 30 points and sits in 10th place in the USL Eastern Conference, just two points away from a playoff spot.

Marcel Kandziora recorded his second goal of the season and Steven Miller added his third assist of 2018.

With his 12th goal of the season, Daniel Rios moves into a three-way tie for second in the USL in goals scored.

Bekker added his 10th assist of the season to tie the franchise record for most assists in a single season, previously set by Nazmi Albadawi in 2016. His 10 assists currently rank tied for first in the USL.

Box Score:

NCFC (4-5-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Michael Harrington, Connor Tobin, D.J. Taylor; Marcel Kandziora (Wuilito Fernandes, 77’), Austin da Luz, Graham Smith (Peabo Doue, 56’), Kyle Bekker, Steven Miller; Daniel Rios(Donovan Ewolo, 86’)

Subs not used: Austin Guerrero, Tiyi Shipalane, Dre Fortune, Marios Lomis

TB (4-3-3): Cody Mizell; Zachary Portillos © (Max Lachowecki, 65’), Tarek Morad, Abdoulaye Diakite, Hunter Gorskie; Martin Vingaard, Dominic Oduro, Kwadwo Poku (Michael Nanchoff, 55’); Junior Flemmings, Leon Taylor (Stefano Bonomo, 70’), Afrim Taku

Subs not used: Akira Fitzgerald, Tamika Mkandawire, Alex Morrell, Georgi Hristov

Score:
NCFC: 2
TB: 0

Goals:
NCFC: Marcel Kandziora (Steven Miller, 65’), Daniel Rios (Kyle Bekker, 78’)
TB: —

Cautions:
NCFC: Connor Tobin 6’, Austin da Luz 51’
TB: Abdoulaye Diakite 13’

Ejections:
NCFC: —
TB: —

Attendance: 4,876

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North Carolina FC Begins Road Stretch with Visit to Tampa Bay Rowdies

MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA FC VS. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES
AL LANG STADIUM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 – 7:30 PM ET

DIGITAL: ESPN+
LIVE UPDATES: @NORTHCAROLINAFC, #TBRvNC

CARY, N.C. (August 10, 2018) – North Carolina FC impressively collected seven points during a three-game homestand, and now turns its attention to an equally crucial three-game road swing that begins with a match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

NCFC (7W-8L-6D, 27 points), winners of two of its past three matches, carries a five-match unbeaten streak into its second game of the season against Tampa (7W-9L-6D, 27 points), the first between the two clubs since the USL’s opening day on March 17.

In addition to being even on points, both NCFC and the Rowdies share another similarity: Both teams played to scoreless draws against the Charleston Battery in their most recent matches.

Last time out, NCFC’s strong defense helped the team earn a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the Battery in a Southern Derby showdown, its second draw against Charleston in a month’s time.

Likewise, Tampa earned a point Wednesday in a scoreless contest against Charleston. Coach Neill Collins’ side will be glad to remain at its home ground, though, having avoided defeat in 10 of its 12 games at Al Lang Stadium in 2018.

In its five latest matches, Tampa is 1W-2L-2D, but NCFC coach Colin Clarke’s group will nonetheless encounter a Rowdies team capable of playing at a high level.

In Stefano Bonomo and Georgi Hristov, Tampa has two attacking options with six goals apiece, and the Rowdies’ still rank fifth in goals scored in the Eastern Conference despite the mid-June departure of danger man Marcel Schaefer, a 2017 All-USL selection who left to become sporting director at VfL Wolfsburg (Germany).

Last Time Out:
The way Clarke saw it, both “defenses were pretty much on top the whole way through” in NCFC’s 0-0 draw against Charleston this past Saturday, but the NCFC gaffer did think his side had “the better of the chances.”

Indeed, Charleston failed to generate any clear-cut opportunities apart from a powerful but inaccurate strike by Ataulla Guerra, the league’s leading scorer, in the 26th minute, and NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis had little to worry about as he earned his fifth shutout of 2018.

On the other end of the pitch, NCFC came tantalizingly close to taking a lead when midfielder Steven Miller was unlucky to see his deflected effort hit the crossbar in the 55th minute. In the game’s dying minutes, substitute Marios Lomis nearly made an immediate impact, but his header from a Kyle Bekker service in the 93rd minute went wide, and the match ended with both teams forced to accept one point apiece.

Players to Watch:
North Carolina FC – #10 Kyle Bekker
In his first season with NCFC, Bekker has made an immediate impact. The Canadian midfielder has a propensity for setting up his teammates in attacking positions, and has also proved that he is unafraid to have a go at goal himself. The team’s only outfield player to appear in each match this season, Bekker has the second-most assists in the USL (9) and has scored two goals himself. In NCFC’s previous match against Tampa, Bekker was a nuisance to the Tampa defense, as he nearly marked his club debut with a goal but his 12th-minute strike hit the right post. With better luck, a similarly impressive performance from Bekker could lead to a goal for himself or one of his teammates.

Tampa Bay Rowdies – #10 Georgi Hristov
Hristov is no stranger to anyone who has followed NCFC throughout the years. In his sixth season with Tampa, Hristov in 2013 was the NASL Golden Ball winner, as he scored 12 goals and recorded eight assists. In July, the Bulgarian forward further etched his name into Rowdies history when he set the club record with his 58th goal for Tampa. Hristov scored against NCFC in March, and the NCFC defense will have a keen eye on the 33-year-old striker.

Coming Up Next:
The next step in NCFC’s travels is Indianapolis, where it will take on Indy Eleven at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. ET.; it’s NCFC’s first midweek match since the Fourth of July, at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Both former members of the NASL, NCFC and Indy have played each other multiple times each season since 2014. NCFC found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 result at home against Indy in April.

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Graham Smith Blazes Path into Starting Role with North Carolina FC

Look, Graham Smith gets it.

He understands that if you only pay attention to goals and assists and attacking flair, he’s not going to jump out at you. Fine. It is what it is.

But to hear North Carolina FC’s rookie midfielder tell it, “Somebody’s gotta do the dirty work out there.”

Like goals and assists, “the dirty work” – although often less quantifiable – leads to points in the table. That was the case when NCFC visited Bethlehem Steel last month.

Looking to preserve a 1-1 draw in the dying minutes of a match away from home, NCFC found itself pinned back deep in its own end, desperately defending its goal as a collective, 11-man unit.

All of that hard work could have been undone, however, when Bethlehem’s James Chambers stepped into a powerful shot from 12 yards out.

It was going to be the match-winning goal, surely. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, through no fault of his own, was going the wrong way. Chambers’ shot was destined for the left side of the net as the 96th minute approached.

Late-match drama can be brutal at times, and this looked to be one of those occasions.

Insert Smith, the first-year professional who has quietly emerged as one of NCFC’s most consistent and dependable players in 2018.

In what was a match-saving move, the selfless Smith alertly dropped to the ground, put his body on the line and blocked the shot with his ribs. Temporary pain? For sure. But it’s the cost he’ll blindly pay to avoid a loss that would have been even more agonizing.

Ask those at the club about Smith – head coach Colin Clarke, for example – and they’ll gush about his work rate and describe a guy willing to do the little things to make the team better.

According to Clarke, you can best measure a player’s work rate by looking at what he does without the ball, not just with it at his feet.

On that brutally hot July afternoon, what Smith did away from the ball earned NCFC a crucial point that could come in handy down the road, a play teammate Steven Miller said “epitomizes” Smith’s game.

“Somebody’s got to be the behind-the-scenes guy that keeps the team together,” Smith said.

There was nothing low-key about this moment for Smith. In this moment, the behind-the-scenes guy was front and center.

Smith’s journey to NCFC

Clarke describes Smith, a 24-year-old New Hope, Pa., native, as someone who will “do anything that he needs to do to become a professional soccer player,” a conclusion he arrived at after watching the 5-8, 155-pound midfielder compete at NCFC’s invite-only player combine this past December.

Smith’s journey to the club strengthens that notion and tells the story of a player desperate for a chance.

In fall 2016, Smith played his final collegiate season at the University of South Florida, where he transferred to in 2014 following two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. Having already earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting but still on scholarship, Smith figured he would stick around during the 2017 spring semester to work on his MBA.

But the desire to play professionally was still there, even if catching on with a team proved elusive.

Smith earned trials with multiple clubs but was repeatedly told a variation of a similar message: Thanks, but no thanks.

“Getting trials out of college was difficult. I was still pursuing it, but not a lot was coming about,” he said. “I heard a lot of, ‘We think you’re good enough, but we just don’t have a roster spot,’ or, ‘We’re full at that position.’”

Still eager to play, Smith was approached by a coach he knew from his time at South Florida about going down to Trinidad & Tobago to join Central FC, a club that typically brings in a several new players in advance of the Caribbean Club Championship, a competition to determine which team from the region earns a spot in the Concacaf Champions League.

Not knowing what to expect but thinking that it “sounded like a cool life experience,” Smith headed south in May 2017 to join Central FC, and played for a month with the club. It was time well spent for Smith, who met some new people and broadened his horizons.

He knew that wasn’t a long-term gig, though, and returned to the U.S. later during the summer. Still unable to join a club in the U.S., Smith began working with a soccer training company.

At last, Smith was presented with an opportunity by his agent as 2017 approached its end: an invite to NCFC’s player combine in December.

As Smith puts it, trials and tryouts can be tricky “because you don’t know what the team already has” or what their positions of need are. Performing well in these auditions is often just one part of the equation.

But at least he had the chance over a three-day span to prove his worth to a new set of coaches and observers. Maybe this time somebody would appreciate his hustle, technical ability and organization in the midfield.

Determined to stand out, Smith did just that. His work ethic spoke for itself and captured the attention of Clarke, who was impressed with Smith from the get-go. Smith also tried to be vocal on the field as well, willing to show his commitment to being a leader.

Clarke and his staff liked what they saw, and Smith thought he performed well but knew better than to get his hopes up.

“You never really know what a coach is thinking,” Smith said, but he thought  he “left a good impression.”

Smith was right and soon thereafter received an invitation to join NCFC in the preseason as a trialist in February. After continuing to play well, Smith earned a contract offer from the club. At last, the player who was told no multiple times and went all the way to Trinidad & Tobago to practice his trade had the opportunity to sign with a club in the U.S.

“I took it and haven’t looked back since,” he said.

What’s followed has been a dream start to Smith’s professional career. Relied on immediately, he started in NCFC’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in March, the first of 20 times he’s been part of Clarke’s starting XI. Each appearance for Smith has come as a start, and he’s played the full 90 minutes in 17 matches.

Defensively sound and a key distributor, Smith has made himself known in the middle of the park for NCFC. His 1,098 passes completed are the second-most on the team, and he leads the group of NCFC players to have completed 1,000 or more passes with a passing accuracy of 87.5 percent.

Watch Smith play on defense and he’ll stand out for both his aggressiveness – he leads NCFC in both tackles (53) and tackles won (33) – and ability to stay in position, rarely getting caught off-guard.

The numbers back up what is evident to both his teammates and coaches: Smith has been vital to NCFC in 2018.

“If you asked me six months ago if this was going to be the scenario,” Smith said, “I probably wouldn’t have believed you.”

‘But you can still work hard’

Ask Miller, Smith’s teammate, for a scouting report on the first-year pro, and he’ll reply with sarcasm.

“Graham Smith? Very average player, doesn’t work very hard, doesn’t like to train,” Miller said with a wry smile across his face before changing course and noting that Smith is “obviously the opposite of all that.”

In reality, Miller appreciates Smith for being the type of teammate who does “the dirty work that you don’t necessarily see on the stat sheet.”

“That’s something that I value as a player,” Miller said. “That’s something I founded my game [on], so I respect anybody who can put the work in day in and day out and always busts their butt.”

As a player, Smith doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as only a hard worker. He knows he has the skills and knowledge of the game to stand out for reasons other than his work ethic alone. But while form can fluctuate from game to game for even some of the game’s best players, effort is controllable.

“Some days maybe the touch just isn’t great,” Smith said. “Some days your passing isn’t as sharp as you want it to be. But you can still work hard – that’s where you take control.”

It’s been a great beginning for Smith at NCFC, but he’s not satisfied with where he’s at in his development. Becoming more of an offensive threat is a point of emphasis.

“I know I’m not going to score as many goals as Daniel Rios. I’m not going to get as many assists as Kyle Bekker,” Smith said, referencing two of NCFC and the USL’s best in those categories, respectively. “Do I still think I should average a few goals and assists per season? Yeah, I think I should start being a little more dangerous.”

He knows his continued improvement could factor heavily in what NCFC achieves this year. After two victories from a three-game homestand and five straight matches with a point, the team is a mere three points out of playoff position.

“We need to start making a run,” he said. “Just because I’m a rookie and this year is my first year playing pro, I still need to step up and have a good contribution to the team.”

This time a year ago Smith was longing for the chance to be a part of a team. Now he’s trying to do everything he can for the one he’s with.

North Carolina FC Earns Valuable Point in Southern Derby Rivalry Match Against Charleston

CARY, N.C. (August 4, 2018) – North Carolina FC extended its unbeaten streak to five matches and picked up a point in the Southern Derby by playing to a 0-0 draw against the Charleston Battery Saturday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

With the result, NCFC improved to 7W-8L-6D (27 points) on the season, and now heads into a trio of road games just three points out of playoff position.

Facing a Charleston side that had won its prior four contests since drawing 1-1 against NCFC last month, NCFC coach Colin Clarke was pleased to see his team hold its own in a hard-fought contest against one of the USL’s most in-form squads.

“It was two teams that in the past few weeks had been playing pretty well, getting good results. You can see why. There wasn’t a lot created, not a lot of clear-cut (opportunities),” Clarke said. “We probably had the better of the chances, failed to take them – hit crossbar off a deflection, two free headers.”

Scoring chances were few and far between for much of the night, but both teams had a couple of opportunities early on.

In the 6th minute, NCFC’s Austin da Luz teed up his own shot and nearly volleyed it into the left side of the net from beyond the 18-yard box.

After Charleston forward and joint USL leading scorer Ataulla Guerra nearly put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, NCFC had a great opportunity of its own five minutes later, but Kyle Bekker’s left-footed effort was turned away by Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky.

There were no goals to show for as the two teams headed to their respective locker rooms at halftime, but NCFC looked intent on changing that out of the break.

In the 52nd minute, left back Aaron Guillen played in a cross from the left flank that forward Daniel Rios got a head on, challenging Kuzminsky, who bobbled the shot but ultimately gathered.

Just three minutes after Rios’ chance, midfielder Steven Miller saw his deflected shot rattle off the crossbar, inches away from being the game’s first goal.

Charleston’s O’Brian Woodbine had an opportunity to put his team ahead on a free kick in the 67th minute from a few yards beyond the area, but his effort landed comfortably in the hands of NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis.

From that point on, much of the match was played between the two boxes, but second-half substitute Marios Lomis came close to heading home a game-winner off a Bekker service two minutes into stoppage time.

Minutes later, NCFC secured its fifth clean sheet of the season.

Up Next:
NCFC hits the road and begins a three-game road trip at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Al Lang Stadium. NCFC has not faced Tampa since its season opener on March 17.

Game Changer:
Lomis’ headed near-goal punctuated NCFC’s sustained stretch of offensive pressure, allowing the team to control the action and secure an important point.

Fact to know:
NCFC held Charleston to only one shot on target.

They Said It:
“Obviously when you play at home, you want three points and we weren’t able to get it. But we played pretty well at points [of the game]. The first half was good, and at the beginning of the second half, they took over a little bit. That’s a very good team that we played. We probably had the better of it for the majority of the game and it didn’t go our way. It happens. But it was a fair result. We’d like three points, but we’ll take one.” – Steven Miller.

Notes:
– NCFC improved to 5W-4L-3D at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

– Saturday’s match was NCFC’s first in this year’s Southern Derby, a three-team competition involving NCFC, Charleston and the Charlotte Independence, with the title going to the team that accumulates the most points in matches played between the three teams. Although NCFC defeated Charlotte in April and drew Charleston in July, those matches do not count for Southern Derby purposes, because NCFC plays both Charleston and Charlotte three times in 2018, while Charleston and Charlotte play each other twice.

– NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis earned his fifth shutout of the season, the first since May 25 against Atlanta United 2.

– Wuilito Fernandes, Tiyi Shipalane and Marios Lomis each appeared as second-half substitutes.

– Wuilito Fernandes’ 38 minutes played Saturday were a season-high.

– NCFC recorded five shots on target.

Box Score:
NCFC (4-4-2): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Michael Harrington (Wuilito Fernandes, 62’), Connor Tobin ©, DJ Taylor (Marios Lomis, 90’); Steven Miller, Austin da Luz, Graham Smith, Kyle Bekker, Donovan Ewolo (Tiyi Shipalane, 70’); Daniel Rios

Subs not used: Austin Guerrero, Peabo Doue, Dre Fortune, Marcel Kandziora

CHS (3-4-3): Joe Kuzminsky; Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller ©, Neveal Hackshaw; O’Brian Woodbine (Jay Bolt, 70’), Tah Atunga, Angelo Kelly, Jarad van Schaik; Nico Rittmeyer (Gordon Wild, 75’), Ataulla Guerra (Victor Mansaray, 90’+), Kotaro Higashi

Subs not used: Odisinel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Vincenzo Candela, Patrick Okonkwo

Score:
NCFC: 0
CHS: 0

Goals:
NCFC: —
CHS: —

Cautions:
NCFC: —
CHS: Ataulla Guerra 44’

Ejections:
NCFC: —
CHS: —

Attendance: 4,026

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North Carolina Football Club Introduces New Season Ticket Programs for 2019

CARY, N.C. (August 3, 2018) – The North Carolina Football Club announced today that season tickets for the NC Courage and North Carolina FC’s 2019 seasons are on sale now through the club’s ticket website and the Coastal Credit Union Box Office or by phone at 919.459.8144.

2018 Season ticket members will have the opportunity to keep the same pricing for 2019 if they renew by August 31 when taking advantage of the new automatic renewal program.The club is launching a brand-new auto-renewal program that allows for easy payment. Current season ticket members who take advantage of this new opportunity will have the ability to lock in last season’s pricing and keep special season ticket member benefits such as Beer for the Year.

The club is also introducing a new “Carry Over” season ticket option for the Tower seating (located above the West Concourse Suites in the 500 sections), in which the value of any unused tickets can be rolled into a 2020 season ticket package.
2019 season tickets are also on sale to the general public and once again the club is offering several benefits to becoming a member. Below are just a few of the season ticket member benefits.

Savings on average of approx. 25% off regular individual game-day ticket pricing
Priority purchasing opportunity for MLS seating (upon franchise being awarded)
Discounted pricing on individual game tickets
4+ season tickets receive VIP parking pass
General Admission Parking at all regular season games is free
Exchange unused tickets for any NCFC and NC Courage games (exchange is specific to each team)

A full list of 2019 season ticket member benefits will be announced in the next two weeks. For more information on 2019 NCFC season tickets click HERE, and for more on 2019 NC Courage season tickets click HERE.

North Carolina FC hosts the Charleston Battery in a rivalry match this Saturday, August 4 at 7 p.m. while the NC Courage, fresh off their Women’s International Champions Cup victory last weekend, welcomes the Portland Thorns FC at 6 p.m. on Sunday August 5. Both games are at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park and fans are encouraged to visit www.northcarolinafc.com and NCCourage.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919.459.8144, for tickets and more information about the 2019 season ticket packages.

About North Carolina Football Club
North Carolina Football Club is the largest youth-to-professional soccer organization in the country, home to 14,000 players. The club is comprised of a women’s First Division team, Women’s International Champions Cup and reigning NWSL Shield winners, North Carolina Courage (NWSL), a men’s Second Division team, North Carolina FC (USL), as well as a Premier Development League team, North Carolina FC U23 (USLPDL). The organization is also home to both Boys and Girls U.S. Soccer Development Academies in collaboration with NCFC Youth effectively creating a true pyramid from youth recreational all the way to the professional teams. The North Carolina Football Club is owned by local entrepreneur, Steve Malik, and managed by North Carolina native and longtime soccer executive Curt Johnson. North Carolina Football Club was established in 2016 to bring the highest levels of men’s and women’s professional soccer to the state. For more information, please visit www.www.northcarolinafc.com.

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Savings on average of approx. 25% off regular individual game-day ticket pricing
Priority purchasing opportunity for MLS seating (upon franchise being awarded)
Discounted pricing on individual game tickets
4+ season tickets receive VIP parking pass
General Admission Parking at all regular season games is free
Exchange unused tickets for any NCFC and NC Courage games (exchange is specific to each team)

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North Carolina FC Welcomes Charleston Battery for Southern Derby Rivalry Match

MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA FC VS. CHARLESTON BATTERY
SAHLEN’S STADIUM at WAKEMED SOCCER PARK
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 – 7 PM ET

TV: WRAL2
DIGITAL: ESPN+
RADIO: 620 The Ticket
LIVE UPDATES: @NORTHCAROLINAFC, #NCvCHS
CARY, N.C. (Aug. 3, 2018) – North Carolina FC will host a Southern Derby rivalry match against the Charleston Battery when the two teams meet at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, August 4 at 7 p.m. ET. The match will resume action in the Southern Derby for NCFC and a continue a rivalry that goes back to the 1990s.

Winners of its two latest matches, NCFC enters the game riding a four-game point streak and is within two points of a playoff spot.

NCFC’s point streak began with a 1-1 home draw against the Battery on July 7. Trailing 1-0 following halftime, NCFC pulled even on a goal by forward Daniel Rios and nearly came away with three points thanks to a flurry of great scoring chances in stoppage time.

Since that meeting, Charleston has been in tremendous form, winning four consecutive matches to move up to second place in the Eastern Conference.

In their most recent match, the Battery won 3-0 at home against the Richmond Kickers, thanks to a pair of goals from midfielder Nico Rittmeyer and a score from forward Ataulla Guerra.

Guerra, a Trinidad & Tobago international, scored against NCFC in July and leads the USL with 12 goals in 2018.

However, Guerra and his Battery teammates will be facing an NCFC squad that is in fine form and coming off an emotional win.

Last Time Out:
Playing the second of three consecutive home matches, NCFC turned a potential draw into a dramatic 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

With nothing separating the two teams, NCFC scored the decisive goal less than a minute into stoppage time when midfielder Steven Miller’s free kick was partially cleared but ultimately rebounded into the net by second-half substitute Wuilito Fernandes, who one-timed his effort past Pittsburgh goalkeeper Daniel Lynd.

In the 24th minute, Rios opened the scoring for NCFC, as he tallied his team-leading 11th goal of the season, a figure that also ranks second in the USL. Rios’ goal was assisted by midfielder Kyle Bekker, the Canadian’s ninth assist of the year. Like Rios’ goal tally, Bekker also ranks second in an individual statistic – assists.

Players to Watch:
North Carolina FC – #31 Steven Miller
A versatile player, Steven Miller has filled a variety of roles for NCFC in 2018. Miller, who entered the season as the team’s leading returning scorer, scored in NCFC’s season-opening match against the Rowdies in March. Since then, Miller has brought value by playing sound defense and putting himself in attacking positions, especially out on the flanks. While he started off the year playing on the right side of the midfield, Miller has also played right back and played a good portion of last Saturday’s match against Pittsburgh as a left midfielder.

Charleston Battery – #15 Gordon Wild
We’ll assume you already know that you should be paying attention to Charleston’s Guerra, but Gordon Wild is someone to watch, too. A 22-year-old German forward on loan from MLS’ Atlanta United, Wild has scored the second-most goals for Charleston (6) and tied for the team lead with three assists. When these two teams last got together in July, Wild didn’t enter the game until the 89th minute and didn’t have much time to make an impact. But if Wild sees the field for an extended period of time on Saturday, the NCFC defense will have to keep an eye on him at all times.

Coming Up Next
NCFC hits the road and begins a three-game road trip at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Al Lang Stadium. NCFC has not faced Tampa since its season opener on March 17.

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NCFC Match Zone: NCFC vs. Charleston

Game: North Carolina FC vs. Charleston Battery
Date: Saturday, August 4

Box Office Opens: 1:00 p.m. ET

Parking Lots Open: 4:00 p.m. ET
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Gates Open: 6:00 p.m. ET
Parking: Free

Weather: High: 87 degrees, Low: 71 degrees
Location: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park | Soccer Park Dr. Cary, NC 27511
Gameday Activities: NCFC U-23 midfielder Nick Retzlaff will receive the Farouk Bseiso Award, given to a player who has shown exemplary dedication and commitment to the success of the NCFC U-23 program.

The NCFC 02 Elite squad will be honored at halftime for the team’s run to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship game.

Giveaways: The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Austin da Luz jersey T-shirt.

Notable Events: Rivalry Night – Southern Derby

Presented By: Circle K
Game-Day Transportation: Red & Blue Express
Broadcast: ESPN+, WRAL-2, 620 The Ticket
Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets to North Carolina FC vs. Charleston Battery

Game: North Carolina FC vs. Charleston Battery
Date: Saturday, August 4

Box Office Opens: 1:00 p.m. ET

Parking Lots Open: 4:00 p.m. ET
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Gates Open: 6:00 p.m. ET
Parking: Free

The NCFC 02 Elite squad will be honored at halftime for the team’s run to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship game.

Giveaways: The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Austin da Luz jersey T-shirt.

Notable Events: Rivalry Night – Southern Derby

Southern Derby Competition Returns to North Carolina FC

The Southern Derby will return to the Triangle this Saturday when North Carolina FC hosts the Charleston Battery at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Southern Derby, comprised of NCFC, the Battery and the Charlotte Independence, is a regional competition started by supporters that determines which of the three teams had the best season against its fellow rivals by tallying the amount of points each team tallied against the two others.

The Southern Derby was founded in 2000, with the Raleigh Capital Express of the A-League taking home the inaugural trophy after earning nine points in the standings (3W-1L-0D) against the Battery and the Atlanta Silverbacks.

In 2007, the Carolina RailHawks marked their first year as a club with a Southern Derby championship, as the team went 3W-0L-1D against Charleston and Atlanta. Carolina followed up with another derby in 2008, and finished tied for first with Charleston in the derby standings in 2009, the last year the club competed in the Southern Derby.

NCFC’s return to the USL in 2018 signified the club’s renewed involvement in the Southern Derby, as the team now regularly faces both Charleston and Charlotte during the regular season.

Saturday’s match against the Battery will be NCFC’s first this season in the Southern Derby, even though the club won against Charlotte in April and drew against Charleston in July; those matches do not count toward the Southern Derby standings because NCFC plays Charleston and Charlotte three times each, while Charleston and Charlotte play just two games against each other.

The Southern Derby will return to the Triangle this Saturday when North Carolina FC hosts the Charleston Battery at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

NCFC’s return to the USL in 2018 signified the club’s renewed involvement in the Southern Derby, as the team now regularly faces both Charleston and Charlotte during the regular season.