News

North Carolina FC Brings Confidence Into First Away Test

Matchday Info:
North Carolina FC at Bethlehem Steel FC
Saturday, March 23 – 7:30 p.m.
Talen Energy Stadium

Broadcast:
Digital: ESPN+ (Link: https://es.pn/2W1SbLG)
Live Updates: @NorthCarolinaFC #BSTvNC

CARY, N.C. (March 15, 2019) –North Carolina FC is set to face Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Penn. NCFC enters the match full of confidence following a season-opening 4-1 victory over Louisville City FC.

NCFC will look to its attackers for scoring. Marios Lomis, Donovan Ewolo and Robbie Kristo all netted goals in the season opener. Although the season is young, NCFC enters the match on top of the table (on goal difference) and with three in-form strikers.

Around the rest of the squad, NCFC debuted a young, but impressive backline last weekend. The average age of the four defenders was just 22.5 years old, but the group stood resolute to deny Louisville until the end of the match. Newcomers Ben Speas (one assist) and Tommy McCabe (one goal) had noteworthy impacts, while the veteran leadership of Austin da Luz and Steven Miller was also on display.

The first away test comes against a tough opponent. Bethlehem Steel FC is connected to MLS side Philadelphia Union and regularly uses MLS reserves and Academy players to fill out its roster, providing an unpredictable group to prepare against. The Steel started the season on a strong note, downing expansion side Birmingham Legion 2-0 on the road.

Last season, Bethlehem got the best of North Carolina FC, picking up a 2-1 win in Cary and a 1-1 draw in Bethlehem. In the final meeting of the regular season, Graham Smith threw himself in front of a goal-bound shot from Bethlehem’s James Chambers on the final play to save a point for NCFC.

Last Time Out:
North Carolina FC rolled to a 4-1 victory over Louisville in the season opener, toppling the two-time defending USL Cup Champions. The win marked Dave Sarachan’s debut, while the opening day roster had an average age of just 24 years old.

Players To Watch:
North Carolina FC – No. 31 Steven Miller
The midfielder will likely check off a bucket list item when he plays a professional match at Talen Energy Stadium. The Elkins Park, Penn., native grew up nearby and even interned with the Philadelphia Union in 2010. On Saturday, a large contingent of Steven Miller supporters, including friends and family will be in the stands to cheer him on.

Bethlehem Steel FC – No. 45 James Chambers
Chambers is a regular for Bethlehem and impacts much of what the club does in the midfield and going forward. The 32-year-old native of Ireland has been with Bethlehem since 2016 and scored 12 goals and recorded two assists. He didn’t score in his side’s 2019 opener over Birmingham, but he’s always a threat to impact the game.

Up Next:
North Carolina FC will return home to feature in a Friendship Cup doubleheader on Saturday, March 23. The NC Courage will host Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. before NCFC faces Club Necaxa of Liga MX in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

###

Homegrown Caleb Duvernay Inks Professional Contract with North Carolina FC

CARY, N.C. (March 15, 2019) – Caleb Duvernay has signed a professional contract with North Carolina FC, pending league and federation approval. Duvernay had a successful preseason trial with the club prior to signing a contract.

The Cary, N.C., native is a homegrown player in the truest sense. Duvernay is the first player in club history to play for NCFC Youth Academy, play for NCFC U-23 and sign a professional contract with the first team.

"We're pleased to add Caleb to our roster as he represents another local athlete to join our club,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “Having him in with us during pre-season, Caleb has earned his way onto our roster through his hard work and quality. With the addition of Caleb to our roster, he offers us depth and balance to our backline."

Duvernay has been a part of NCFC Youth since he started playing soccer as a child. His prowess led him to NCFC Youth Academy and he enjoyed a successful youth career. Duvernay earned 2013 Development Academy 15/16 Starting XI honors and participated with the U-15 and U-17 U.S. Youth National Team Residency Program.

Following his youth career, Duvernay joined NC State where he made 67 appearances, played 3,123 minutes, scored two goals and recorded seven assists as a four-year starter. During the summers, Duvernay was a standout performer with NCFC U-23 for four-straight seasons from 2015-2018.

At the end of his collegiate career, the defender was drafted by the Portland Timbers with the 61st pick in the 2018 MLS Superdraft. Duvernay trained in Portland during the MLS preseason before he rejoined NCFC U-23.

To see the full list of NCFC’s 2019 roster, click here.

North Carolina FC will face Bethlehem Steel FC at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Penn., on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. The team will return home to feature in a Friendship Cup doubleheader the following Saturday. The NC Courage will host Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. before NCFC faces Club Necaxa of Liga MX in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

Player Profile:
Name: Caleb Duvernay
Position: Defender
Birthdate: 07/24/1996 (Age: 22)
Hometown: Cary, N.C.
College: NC State
Height: 5’7
Weight: 165 lbs

###

CARY, N.C. (March 15, 2019) – Caleb Duvernay has signed a professional contract with North Carolina FC, pending league and federation approval. Duvernay had a successful preseason trial with the club prior to signing a contract.

The Cary, N.C., native is a homegrown player in the truest sense. Duvernay is the first player in club history to play for NCFC Youth Academy, play for NCFC U-23 and sign a professional contract with the first team.

“We’re pleased to add Caleb to our roster as he represents another local athlete to join our club,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “Having him in with us during pre-season, Caleb has earned his way onto our roster through his hard work and quality. With the addition of Caleb to our roster, he offers us depth and balance to our backline.”

Duvernay has been a part of NCFC Youth since he started playing soccer as a child. His prowess led him to NCFC Youth Academy and he enjoyed a successful youth career. Duvernay earned 2013 Development Academy 15/16 Starting XI honors and participated with the U-15 and U-17 U.S. Youth National Team Residency Program.

Following his youth career, Duvernay joined NC State where he made 67 appearances, played 3,123 minutes, scored two goals and recorded seven assists as a four-year starter. During the summers, Duvernay was a standout performer with NCFC U-23 for four-straight seasons from 2015-2018.

At the end of his collegiate career, the defender was drafted by the Portland Timbers with the 61st pick in the 2018 MLS Superdraft. Duvernay trained in Portland during the MLS preseason before he rejoined NCFC U-23.

To see the full list of NCFC’s 2019 roster, click here.

North Carolina FC will face Bethlehem Steel FC at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Penn., on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. The team will return home to feature in a Friendship Cup doubleheader the following Saturday. The NC Courage will host Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. before NCFC faces Club Necaxa of Liga MX in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

Player Profile:
Name: Caleb Duvernay
Position: Defender
Birthdate: 07/24/1996 (Age: 22)
Hometown: Cary, N.C.
College: NC State
Height: 5’7
Weight: 165 lbs

###

Tommy McCabe Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

TAMPA, Fla. (March 12, 2019)– North Carolina FC midfielder Tommy McCabe was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 1 of the 2019 season. McCabe made his professional debut and scored the game-winning goal in North Carolina FC’s 4-1 victory over Louisville City FC. Additionally, Marios Lomis, who recorded one goal and one assist, was named to the bench for the Team of the Week.

North Carolina FC will face Bethlehem Steel FC at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Penn., on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. The team will return home to feature in a Friendship Cup doubleheader the following Saturday. The NC Courage will host Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. before NCFC faces Club Necaxa of Liga MX in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

USL Championship Team of the Week
GK – Brendan Moore, ATL UTD 2:Moore recorded a six-save shutout as Atlanta opened its season with a 2-0 victory against Hartford Athletic.

D – Phanuel Kavita, Saint Louis FC:Kavita scored the game-tying goal and recorded six clearances as STLFC rallied for victory against Indy Eleven.

D – PapéDiakité, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The center back recorded 13 clearances, won 11 of 12 duels and 8 of 9 aerial duels as the Rowdies earned a road shutout in Memphis.

D – Alex Cooper, Fresno FC: Cooper recorded the assist on the Foxes’ goal, finished with three key passes overall and won 3 of 4 duels in Fresno’s 1-1 draw with New Mexico.

M – Zach Zandi, Bethlehem Steel FC: Zandi scored the second goal in Steel FC’s victory against Birmingham while also completing 37 of 42 passes in his professional debut.

M – Tommy McCabe, North Carolina FC: McCabe notched what proved to be the winner on his professional debut in NCFC’s 4-1 win against Louisville and completed 30 of 34 passes overall.

M – Shane Malcolm, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC:Malcolm recorded the first hat trick of the 2019 season as the Switchbacks swept to a 4-1 win against the LA Galaxy II

M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes scored a fine goal, recorded two key passes and completed 12 of 14 passes overall in SAFC’s 3-3 draw with Phoenix Rising FC.

F – Tom Barlow, New York Red Bulls II:Barlow struck twice as the Red Bulls II opened the season with a 3-1 win against the Swope Park Rangers

F – Deshorn Brown, OKC Energy FC:Brown scored the second-fastest goal in Championship history after just 12 seconds, then added a second in a 3-1 win against El Paso Locomotive FC.

F – Devon Sandoval, New Mexico United:Albuquerque native Sandoval scored the first goal in New Mexico’s history as the expansion side earned a 1-1 draw with Fresno FC.

Bench: David Ochoa (SLC), Jordan Burt (COS), Matt LaGrassa (NSH), Marcus Epps (NY), Shandon Hopeau (TAC), Marios Lomis (NC), Junior Flemmings (PHX)

###

North Carolina FC Ushers in New Era with Commanding 4-1 win over Louisville City FC

CARY, N.C. (March 9, 2019)- North Carolina FC began the Dave Sarachan era with a commanding 4-1 victory over two-time defending USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC. The team began a new era as they played in front of an electric crowd at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Marios Lomis opened the scoring followed by tallies from Donovan Ewolo, Tommy McCabe and Robbie Kristo with the latter two recording goals in their NCFC debut.

“It was the first game of a long season,” said head coach, Dave Sarachan. “We can’t just rest on this, but obviously it was a terrific start against what I would still consider a great team in Louisville.”

NCFC started the match with not only a new coach in Sarahcan but also four new faces in the starting lineup. Two of these players, Alex Comsia and Sam Brotherton anchored the back line that only allowed one goal during the match.

The scoring kicked off in the 34th minute when Ewolo sent in a ball to Lomis who trapped it with his left foot, took three touches with his right foot, and blasted the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Lomis had another chance four minutes later, this time with a ball from Steven Miller, but the Dutchman barely headed left of goal.

The team entered the locker room at halftime with the 1-0 lead, and then came out attacking quickly in the second half. Miller started off an offensive attack in the 50th minute with a high arching ball that found the head of Ben Speas. The header bounced off the goal post before Tommy McCabe came flying into the box to finish the loose ball for a goal.

McCabe was excited to score in his first game with the North Carolina Football Club. “I haven’t scored in a while, so it was good to score in my debut. It was a great team win against a great opponent, so that’s the perfect way to start the season.”

NCFC kept up the momentum with a third goal just three minutes later. Austin da Luz played a ball wide to DJ Taylor who dribbled it to the end line before crossing it back to Ewolo who one-touched it into the net.

Lomis nearly had his second goal of the game after blasting a shot off the top crossbar in the 73rd. The offensive attacks did not stop there though, as NCFC pressured Louisville’s goalkeeper, Tim Dobrowski, the entire second half.

Kristo entered the game in the 75th minute, making his debut for the club. It only took him eight minutes before he made his impact on the game. Speas sent a long ball that Kristo received at midfield before racing a Louisville City FC defender one-on-one down the field and chipping the ball over Dobrowski.

Louisville City FC midfielder Sunny Jane scored the team’s only goal in added time denying Alex Tambakis a clean sheet. He put a low driving shot past the Greek goalkeeper, shortly before the final whistle blew.

Up Next:
North Carolina FC will travel to Pennsylvania for their first away game of the season against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m.

Notes:

The win was the first time in club history that NCFC scored four goals in their home opener.
Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Tommy McCabe and Ben Speas made their debut for the North Carolina Football Club in the match.
Comsia and McCabe made their professional debut.
NCFC Youth standout Manny Perez made his professional debut coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
Robbie Kristo made his NCFC debut entering the game in the 75th minute and marked his NCFC debut with an 83rd minute goal.
Lomis recorded his first goal of the season and sixth since joining the North Carolina Football Club since joining the team in 2018.
McCabe recorded his first professional goal.
Ewolo scored his eighth goal as a member of NCFC and his first of the season. He also had his first assist of 2019 and his second in a NCFC uniform.
Taylor’s assist was the first for the NCFC Youth product since joining the team.

Box Score:

NCFC (4-2-3-1): Alex Tambakis; Aaron Guillen, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, DJ Taylor; Donovan Ewolo (Manny Perez, 72’), Tommy McCabe, Steven Miller; Austin da Luz ©, Ben Speas (Dre Fortune, 84’); Marios Lomis (Robert Kristo, 75’)

Subs not used: Nic Platter, Duval Wapiwo, Victor Ibekoyi, Yamikami Chester

LOU (4-3-3): Tim Dobrowolski; Sean Totsch (Lucky Mkosana, 57’), Paco Craig, Alexis Souahy, Oscar Jimenez; Paolo DelPiccolo ©, Speedy Williams, Niall McCabe; Brian Ownby, Luke Spencer (Magnus Rasmussen, 77’), George Davis IV (Sunny Jane, 57’)

Subs not used: Benjamin Lundt, Shawn Francis, Taylor Peay

Score:

NCFC: 4

LOU: 1

Goals:

NCFC: Marios Lomis (Donovan Ewolo, 34’), Tommy McCabe (unassisted, 50’), Donovan Ewolo (DJ Taylor, 53’), Robert Kristo (Ben Speas ,83’)

LOU: Sunny Jane (unassisted, 90+’)

Cautions:

NCFC: —

LOU: —

Ejections:

NCFC: —

LOU: —

Attendance: 3, 213

Up Next:
North Carolina FC will travel to Pennsylvania for their first away game of the season against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m.

Notes:

The win was the first time in club history that NCFC scored four goals in their home opener.
Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Tommy McCabe and Ben Speas made their debut for the North Carolina Football Club in the match.
Comsia and McCabe made their professional debut.
NCFC Youth standout Manny Perez made his professional debut coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
Robbie Kristo made his NCFC debut entering the game in the 75th minute and marked his NCFC debut with an 83rd minute goal.
Lomis recorded his first goal of the season and sixth since joining the North Carolina Football Club since joining the team in 2018.
McCabe recorded his first professional goal.
Ewolo scored his eighth goal as a member of NCFC and his first of the season. He also had his first assist of 2019 and his second in a NCFC uniform.
Taylor’s assist was the first for the NCFC Youth product since joining the team.

Box Score:

Subs not used: Nic Platter, Duval Wapiwo, Victor Ibekoyi, Yamikami Chester

Subs not used: Benjamin Lundt, Shawn Francis, Taylor Peay

Score:

NCFC: 4

LOU: 1

Goals:

NCFC: Marios Lomis (Donovan Ewolo, 34’), Tommy McCabe (unassisted, 50’), Donovan Ewolo (DJ Taylor, 53’), Robert Kristo (Ben Speas ,83’)

LOU: Sunny Jane (unassisted, 90+’)

Cautions:

NCFC: —

LOU: —

Ejections:

NCFC: —

LOU: —

Attendance: 3, 213

North Carolina FC Ready for Season Opener Against Louisville City FC

Matchday Info:
North Carolina FC vs. Louisville City FC
Saturday, March 9 – 4 p.m.
Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Broadcast:
Digital: ESPN+
Live Updates: @NorthCarolinaFC #NCvLOU

CARY, N.C. (March 7, 2019) – North Carolina FC begins a new era on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m. when the two-time defending USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC visits Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. On the heels of many exciting offseason changes and upgrades, North Carolina FC is ready to kick off what is sure to be one of the club’s most exciting seasons yet.

At the helm, former USMNT manager Dave Sarachan leads the way. The experienced coach has racked up trophies and accolades throughout his nearly 40-year coaching career, and is ready to bring his winning mentality to NCFC. A new technical staff featuring John Bradford, Clint Peay and Nic Platter means some of the area’s best soccer minds are together to lead the team to championship results.

North Carolina FC is excited for its 2019 roster to make an impact in the USL Championship. Eleven new players have joined a roster featuring veteran leadership and young talents. The average age for NCFC’s opening day roster is 24 years old. Fan favorites like Austin da Luz and Steven Miller are back, while plenty of exciting offseason signings are also ready to etch their name into the club’s prolific history.

The first test of the year comes against an impressive side in Louisville. The visitors have won the USL Cup two years running and certainly seem fit to defend their title. Despite losing their leading scorer from last season, the core of the championship team remains. Louisville is coached by John Hackworth, another prominent national figure who joined the club ranks from U.S. Soccer.

NCFC’s returners will certainly remember Louisville City FC as the two teams met in the second to last game of the 2018 regular season. Louisville edged NCFC in that match, 2-1 ultimately hampering NCFC’s playoff qualification run. Prior to that, the teams met for the first time in series history in Cary and a late equalizer from North Carolina FC saw the teams split the points.

Players To Watch:
North Carolina FC – No. 9 Marios Lomis
After the departure of North Carolina FC’s top scorer Daniel Rios, Marios Lomis will certainly look to take another step forward in his development. In all competitions, the forward scored eight goals in 2018. With playing time up for grabs, look for Lomis to establish himself as a scorer early in the season.

Louisville City FC – No. 11 Niall McCabe
McCabe has been with Louisville since the organization’s inception in 2015, totaling nearly 7,000 minutes of play across all competitions. McCabe controls much of Louisville’s midfield, but he’s also a dangerous attacking option going forward. He notched six goals last year, including two in the USL Cup playoffs. Look for McCabe to try and control the middle and facilitate the attack for the visitors.

Coming Up Next:
North Carolina FC will hit the road for its first away match of the year, visiting Bethlehem Steel on Sunday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium.

Changes Set Up Successful Season for North Carolina Football Club

CARY, N.C. (March 6, 2019) – Changes are coming to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. In fact, many have already happened, and North Carolina Football Club is excited to start a new season with plenty of fresh changes around the organization and game-day experience. From brand new faces , to a completely upgraded ticketing system and big-time stadium enhancements, the North Carolina FC and NC Courage seasons are on a strong path to early success.

Fresh Faces:
On the team front, chances are you’ve already heard of Dave Sarachan’s appointment as the head coach of North Carolina FC. The former manager of the USMNT has also assembled an impressive staff which will better connect NCFC’s youth-to-professional pipeline. NCFC Youth Academy Director John Bradford, former U.S. YNT U-15 Head Coach Clint Peay and Assistant General Manager and Goalkeeper Coach Nic Platter round out the rest of the coaching staff.

Paired with 10 key returners, a new contingent of NCFC players, including NCFC Youth Academy star Manny Perez, 2018 Malawi Player of the Year Yamikami Chester and New Zealand International Sam Brotherton, are ready to kick off the new era. To learn more about North Carolina FC’s 2019 roster, click here.

On the Courage side, the team enters the 2019 season as the team to beat. Fresh off winning the Women’s International Champions Cup, the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2018, the championship-caliber NC Courage returns a staff and roster with minimal changes, with Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé being one of big additions to the team. The league has expanded its roster size to 22 with the space for four additional supplemental roster spots. Being a FIFA Women's World Cup year, the NWSL will have the unique challenge of playing a portion of the season without some of its biggest stars, making roster depth that much more important.

The Courage has also been hard at work adding new players and retaining key pieces that led to its success. To learn more about the North Carolina Courage, click here.

Stadium Upgrades:
Upon entering the stadium, you’ll also see some exciting changes around the grounds. LED field boards have replaced the static field boards along the east side of the field, giving sponsors a better opportunity than ever to advertise their business.

The team will also get some enjoyment from the upgrades. Both locker rooms have been repainted with branded colors and team logos. Brand-new Kwik Goal soccer goals have arrived. The Pro Premier® Copa Goal was originally developed for the 2016 Copa America Centenario and is now used by U.S. Soccer on their training grounds and during matches.

Additionally, state-of-the-art team benches from dreamseat will be installed in April. Both companies are nationally known for their excellent products and the changes are another exciting way that North Carolina Football Club continues to improve the match-day experience for fans and players alike.

While in the stadium, be sure to stop by one of the three merchandise tents, outside the gates and in the east and west concourses, to check out all the new NCFC and NC Courage merchandise for 2019.

As always, the same fun atmosphere will be alive on game days. NCFC Youth members will have interactive entertainment at NCFC Youth Fan Zone, located in the southeast corner of the stadium. The Family Zone, which includes soccer pool, an inflatable goal, face painting and other activities will be located in the northwest corner and Far Post Pavilion – a bar scene with corn hole and other tailgating games will remain in the southwest corner.

Ticketing and Parking:
You’ll notice one of the most important changes when you look to buy your tickets for a North Carolina FC or NC Courage match. The club has officially partnered with Ticketmaster to bring their best-in-class software and easy, streamlined services to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The move also brings a fully digital ticketing system to make buying, using and transferring season and individual game tickets easier and safer than ever.

The organization has also added a guest services tent right outside the gates in front of the box office, where a staff member will be happy to assist fans with any questions they may have.

This year, North Carolina Football Club will also charge for parking. Requiring $10 cash for general admission parking and $15 VIP parking option that can be purchased in advance on Ticketmaster.

Getting To The Game In Style:
Once again, the North Carolina Football Club will offer the Red and Blue Express bus from locations in Downtown Raleigh and in Durham. New this year is an added stop in Durham at Hi-Wire Brewery at 800 Taylor St. in addition to Bull McCabe’s and Brightleaf Square. The Raleigh stops are still the Carolina Ale House on Glenwood South and London Bridge Pub. The bus will run for Saturday games only. For more information on the Red and Blue Express click here.

Early Season Can’t Miss Games:
The first opportunity to soak in the new changes will be on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m. for North Carolina FC’s home opener against two-time defending USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC.

Just a few weeks later, North Carolina Football Club will host a Friendship Cup doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 as the NC Courage will face Alex Morgan, Marta and the Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. and North Carolina FC takes on Liga MX side Necaxa in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Both matches will take place at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The NC Courage will begin their 2018 NWSL title defense on Saturday, April 13 when they host the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m.

As the season quickly approaches, North Carolina Football Club continues to prepare for a big year and new era in club history.

Season tickets for the North Carolina FC and NC Courage’s 2019 seasons are on sale now and feature many great packages and benefits – including General Admission Parking, the brand-new Auto-Renewal Program and traditional benefits such as exclusive meet the team opportunities. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (March 6, 2019) – Changes are coming to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. In fact, many have already happened, and North Carolina Football Club is excited to start a new season with plenty of fresh changes around the organization and game-day experience. From brand new faces , to a completely upgraded ticketing system and big-time stadium enhancements, the North Carolina FC and NC Courage seasons are on a strong path to early success.

Fresh Faces:
On the team front, chances are you’ve already heard of Dave Sarachan’s appointment as the head coach of North Carolina FC. The former manager of the USMNT has also assembled an impressive staff which will better connect NCFC’s youth-to-professional pipeline. NCFC Youth Academy Director John Bradford, former U.S. YNT U-15 Head Coach Clint Peay and Assistant General Manager and Goalkeeper Coach Nic Platter round out the rest of the coaching staff.

Paired with 10 key returners, a new contingent of NCFC players, including NCFC Youth Academy star Manny Perez, 2018 Malawi Player of the Year Yamikami Chester and New Zealand International Sam Brotherton, are ready to kick off the new era. To learn more about North Carolina FC’s 2019 roster, click here.

On the Courage side, the team enters the 2019 season as the team to beat. Fresh off winning the Women’s International Champions Cup, the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2018, the championship-caliber NC Courage returns a staff and roster with minimal changes, with Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé being one of big additions to the team. The league has expanded its roster size to 22 with the space for four additional supplemental roster spots. Being a FIFA Women’s World Cup year, the NWSL will have the unique challenge of playing a portion of the season without some of its biggest stars, making roster depth that much more important.

The Courage has also been hard at work adding new players and retaining key pieces that led to its success. To learn more about the North Carolina Courage, click here.

Stadium Upgrades:
Upon entering the stadium, you’ll also see some exciting changes around the grounds. LED field boards have replaced the static field boards along the east side of the field, giving sponsors a better opportunity than ever to advertise their business.

The team will also get some enjoyment from the upgrades. Both locker rooms have been repainted with branded colors and team logos. Brand-new Kwik Goal soccer goals have arrived. The Pro Premier® Copa Goal was originally developed for the 2016 Copa America Centenario and is now used by U.S. Soccer on their training grounds and during matches.

Additionally, state-of-the-art team benches from dreamseat will be installed in April. Both companies are nationally known for their excellent products and the changes are another exciting way that North Carolina Football Club continues to improve the match-day experience for fans and players alike.

While in the stadium, be sure to stop by one of the three merchandise tents, outside the gates and in the east and west concourses, to check out all the new NCFC and NC Courage merchandise for 2019.

As always, the same fun atmosphere will be alive on game days. NCFC Youth members will have interactive entertainment at NCFC Youth Fan Zone, located in the southeast corner of the stadium. The Family Zone, which includes soccer pool, an inflatable goal, face painting and other activities will be located in the northwest corner and Far Post Pavilion – a bar scene with corn hole and other tailgating games will remain in the southwest corner.

Ticketing and Parking:
You’ll notice one of the most important changes when you look to buy your tickets for a North Carolina FC or NC Courage match. The club has officially partnered with Ticketmaster to bring their best-in-class software and easy, streamlined services to Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The move also brings a fully digital ticketing system to make buying, using and transferring season and individual game tickets easier and safer than ever.

The organization has also added a guest services tent right outside the gates in front of the box office, where a staff member will be happy to assist fans with any questions they may have.

This year, North Carolina Football Club will also charge for parking. Requiring $10 cash for general admission parking and $15 VIP parking option that can be purchased in advance on Ticketmaster.

Getting To The Game In Style:
Once again, the North Carolina Football Club will offer the Red and Blue Express bus from locations in Downtown Raleigh and in Durham. New this year is an added stop in Durham at Hi-Wire Brewery at 800 Taylor St. in addition to Bull McCabe’s and Brightleaf Square. The Raleigh stops are still the Carolina Ale House on Glenwood South and London Bridge Pub. The bus will run for Saturday games only. For more information on the Red and Blue Express click here.

Early Season Can’t Miss Games:
The first opportunity to soak in the new changes will be on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m. for North Carolina FC’s home opener against two-time defending USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC.

Just a few weeks later, North Carolina Football Club will host a Friendship Cup doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 as the NC Courage will face Alex Morgan, Marta and the Orlando Pride in a preseason match at 1 p.m. and North Carolina FC takes on Liga MX side Necaxa in an international exhibition at 3:30 p.m. Both matches will take place at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The NC Courage will begin their 2018 NWSL title defense on Saturday, April 13 when they host the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m.

As the season quickly approaches, North Carolina Football Club continues to prepare for a big year and new era in club history.

North Carolina FC Preseason Match Against Charleston Cancelled

CARY, N.C. (March 2, 2019) – Due to inclement weather in the area overnight, North Carolina FC’s final preseason test against the Charleston Battery, scheduled for today (Saturday, March 2) at 2 p.m. has been cancelled.

Head coach Dave Sarachan and NCFC will have one final week of preseason training before its home opener against two-time USL Cup Champion Louisville City FC, on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m.

Tickets for the match can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster or by calling the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.

North Carolina FC Signs Goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod

CARY, N.C. (February 26, 2019) – North Carolina FC has added to its goalkeeper depth with the signing of Canadian shot stopper Darrin MacLeod, pending league and federation approval. MacLeod has been with the team throughout the preseason and has earned minutes in all three preseason matches played to date.

“I’m very pleased to add Darrin to our roster,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “Darrin has the experience to play at this level and to have both he and Alex [Tambakis] on our roster strengthens our goalkeeping position.”

Prior to joining North Carolina FC, MacLeod spent the last two seasons with Swope Park Rangers. He was primarily relied on as a backup goalkeeper while totaling 10 appearances and 930 minutes from 2017-18. His playing time was highlighted by two shutouts and a 2017 USL Cup Playoff appearance.

The 24-year-old played college soccer for Drake University from 2013-2016, where he made 76 appearances and holds the school’s goalkeeper record for games, minutes, saves, shutouts and wins. MacLeod also earned Missouri Valley Conference honors, as well as numerous academic awards throughout his career.

During the summers, MacLeod played for USL League Two sides, K-W United and Toronto FC Academy. Prior to starting his college career, he played youth soccer with Oakville Soccer Club in Ontario.

North Carolina FC’s roster includes goalkeeper Alex Tambakis and Darrin MacLeod, defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Aaron Guillen, Timmy Mehl, Manny Perez and DJ Taylor, midfielders Austin da Luz, Dre Fortune, Victor Igbekoyi, Tommy McCabe, Steven Miller, Austin Panchot, Graham Smith and Duval Wapiwo and forwards Yamikani Chester, Donovan Ewolo, Robert Kristo, Marios Lomis and Ben Speas.

As the start of the 2019 season nears, both individual game, flex plans and season tickets are available for purchase on Ticketmaster – the club’s official ticketing and technology partner. Click here to learn more about tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

###

North Carolina Football Club Announces Parking Policy for the 2019 Season

CARY, N.C. (February 26, 2019) – North Carolina Football Club announced the parking policy for the 2019 season. Beginning this season, the club will charge $10 for General Admission parking and $15 for VIP Parking at all NCFC and NC Courage home games.

The General Admission fee is cash only and will be collected at ingress on gameday, while the online-only VIP parking option (the lot immediately adjacent to the North end of Sahlen’s Stadium) can be purchased in advance when purchasing individual tickets on Ticketmaster.

Please note that Season Ticket Members have General Admission parking included in their package but will have the option to upgrade to a VIP season pass when purchasing season tickets.

Additionally, as an incentive and reward to the club’s supporters groups, all supporters group members for Oak City Supporters, Junkyard Dogs and Renegade Soccer Supporters, will receive free General Admission parking as long as they sign up for a supporters’ club membership by April 30, 2019. For more information on supporters’ club memberships, click on the links above.

Season tickets for the North Carolina FC and NC Courage’s 2019 seasons are on sale now and feature many great packages and benefits – including General Admission Parking, the brand-new Auto-Renewal Program and traditional benefits such as exclusive meet the team opportunities. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

###

North Carolina FC Preseason Game Moved to Cardinal Gibbons

CARY, N.C. (February 22, 2019) – Due to heavy rains, North Carolina FC has moved its preseason game against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. to Cardinal Gibbons High School.

The game was originally set to take place at WakeMed Soccer Park. The in-state rivalry preseason exhibiton remains free and open for the public to attend.

Address:
Cardinal Gibbons High School
1401 Edwards Mill Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27607

###