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Tickets vs. Lansdowne Bhoys FC are only $10 per ticket. Call the Coastal Credit Union North Carolina Football Club Box Office at 919-459-8144 or click here to buy tickets online. 

CARY, N.C. (May 14, 2018) – North Carolina FC’s 18-day break from action will conclude with the club’s second-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup against Lansdowne Bhoys at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. 

Over the years, NCFC has impressed in the Open Cup, reaching the semifinals of the competition in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014. In its 10 appearances in the tournament, NCFC has beaten MLS sides six times. 

Here’s a closer look at Lansdowne Bhoys, NCFC’s first challenger in this year’s competition. 

1. Lansdowne was the top amateur club in 2017 

Based in Yonkers, N.Y., Lansdowne has developed a reputation as one of the top amateur clubs in U.S. soccer. In 2016-17, Lansdowne impressively completed the amateur double, winning both the National Amateur Cup and the National Open Cup. 

Lansdowne captured the National Amateur Cup championship with a dramatic 3-2 (9-8 PKs) win over Bavarian SC and also claimed the National Open Cup title by defeating CD Montague 5-0. 

Lansdowne were founded in 1997 and have an established history as a successful club with Irish roots. The club’s current president, William McGrory, is a native of Donegal, Ireland, and head coach Austin Friel, a Derry, Ireland, native, starred the League of Ireland. 
 

2. They’re affiliated with Scottish giant Celtic 

Take one look at Lansdowne’s green and white striped kits and you’ll notice how it resembles the uniforms of Celtic, Scotland’s most successful team and a household name in Europe. 

The connections between Lansdowne and Celtic don’t end there, however. During the 2015-16 season, the two clubs entered an international partnership that includes youth camps and tournaments. Lansdowne is one of 18 North American clubs to have an affiliation with Celtic, a relationship that allows for permission to use Celtic’s crest on uniforms, visits from Celtic coaches and coach education sessions among other benefits. 

3. A former Arsenal youth talent captains Lansdowne

As a young player, Sean Kelly stood out within Arsenal’s youth academy. A talented center back with a high soccer IQ, he captained Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup and played with Cesc Fabregas, one of the most accomplished players in English Premier League history. 

Through a series of unfortunate injuries, Kelly’s time with Arsenal came to an end, and he later played with Cork City and Pike Rovers in Ireland. 

Kelly’s life and career were transformed when he received a phone call from Lansdowne. The club offered him a chance to play and the opportunity for work in the construction business. 

Kelly now captains Lansdowne and, like many of the Lansdowne players, complicatedly balances work with soccer. Why? “Because I love it,” he said. 

Read more about Kelly and Lansdowne in this profile by Jonah Fontela. 

4. A proven threat in the Open Cup 

In addition to dominating amateur competitions, Lansdowne also held its own in its previous U.S. Open Cup appearance, too. 

In 2016, Lansdowne earned a first-round victory over the Long Island Rough Riders before pulling off an impressive 2-0 upset victory over the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round. Lansdowne’s cup run eventually ended with a 2-0 defeat against the Rochester Rhinos. 

To earn the right to play NCFC on Wednesday, Lansdowne defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in the first round of this year’s competition. A first-half goal by Daryl Kavanagh gave Lansdowne an early 1-0 lead and that advantage was doubled in the second half thanks to a Brooklyn own goal. 

5. There’s a local connection 

Lansdowne’s trip down to Cary for Wednesday’s match will mark the return to the Triangle for midfielder Lukas Zarges. 

Zarges, a Friedrichsdorf, Germany, native, played his final collegiate season at N.C. State in 2016, scoring three goals for the Wolfpack. Before his time at N.C. State, Zarges played at UNC-Greensboro for three seasons and was named First Team All-Southern Conference in 2014. 

Tickets vs. Lansdowne Bhoys FC are only $10 per ticket. Call the Coastal Credit Union North Carolina Football Club Box Office at 919-459-8144 or click here to buy tickets online. 

CARY, N.C. (May 14, 2018) – North Carolina FC’s 18-day break from action will conclude with the club’s second-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup against Lansdowne Bhoys at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. 

Over the years, NCFC has impressed in the Open Cup, reaching the semifinals of the competition in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014. In its 10 appearances in the tournament, NCFC has beaten MLS sides six times. 

Here’s a closer look at Lansdowne Bhoys, NCFC’s first challenger in this year’s competition. 

1. Lansdowne was the top amateur club in 2017 

Based in Yonkers, N.Y., Lansdowne has developed a reputation as one of the top amateur clubs in U.S. soccer. In 2016-17, Lansdowne impressively completed the amateur double, winning both the National Amateur Cup and the National Open Cup. 

Lansdowne captured the National Amateur Cup championship with a dramatic 3-2 (9-8 PKs) win over Bavarian SC and also claimed the National Open Cup title by defeating CD Montague 5-0. 

Lansdowne were founded in 1997 and have an established history as a successful club with Irish roots. The club’s current president, William McGrory, is a native of Donegal, Ireland, and head coach Austin Friel, a Derry, Ireland, native, starred the League of Ireland. 
 

2. They’re affiliated with Scottish giant Celtic 

Take one look at Lansdowne’s green and white striped kits and you’ll notice how it resembles the uniforms of Celtic, Scotland’s most successful team and a household name in Europe. 

The connections between Lansdowne and Celtic don’t end there, however. During the 2015-16 season, the two clubs entered an international partnership that includes youth camps and tournaments. Lansdowne is one of 18 North American clubs to have an affiliation with Celtic, a relationship that allows for permission to use Celtic’s crest on uniforms, visits from Celtic coaches and coach education sessions among other benefits. 

3. A former Arsenal youth talent captains Lansdowne

As a young player, Sean Kelly stood out within Arsenal’s youth academy. A talented center back with a high soccer IQ, he captained Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup and played with Cesc Fabregas, one of the most accomplished players in English Premier League history. 

Through a series of unfortunate injuries, Kelly’s time with Arsenal came to an end, and he later played with Cork City and Pike Rovers in Ireland. 

Kelly’s life and career were transformed when he received a phone call from Lansdowne. The club offered him a chance to play and the opportunity for work in the construction business. 

Kelly now captains Lansdowne and, like many of the Lansdowne players, complicatedly balances work with soccer. Why? “Because I love it,” he said. 

Read more about Kelly and Lansdowne in this profile by Jonah Fontela. 

4. A proven threat in the Open Cup 

In addition to dominating amateur competitions, Lansdowne also held its own in its previous U.S. Open Cup appearance, too. 

In 2016, Lansdowne earned a first-round victory over the Long Island Rough Riders before pulling off an impressive 2-0 upset victory over the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round. Lansdowne’s cup run eventually ended with a 2-0 defeat against the Rochester Rhinos. 

To earn the right to play NCFC on Wednesday, Lansdowne defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in the first round of this year’s competition. A first-half goal by Daryl Kavanagh gave Lansdowne an early 1-0 lead and that advantage was doubled in the second half thanks to a Brooklyn own goal. 

5. There’s a local connection 

Lansdowne’s trip down to Cary for Wednesday’s match will mark the return to the Triangle for midfielder Lukas Zarges. 

Zarges, a Friedrichsdorf, Germany, native, played his final collegiate season at N.C. State in 2016, scoring three goals for the Wolfpack. Before his time at N.C. State, Zarges played at UNC-Greensboro for three seasons and was named First Team All-Southern Conference in 2014. 

CARY, N.C. (May 10, 2018) – North Carolina Football Club has partnered with Coastal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services. As a result, Coastal Credit Union will be named the Official Credit Union of North Carolina Football Club.

As a cornerstone of the relationship, the box office at WakeMed Soccer Park will be renamed Coastal Credit Union Box Office. Through the multi-year partnership, Coastal will also be able to provide its members with exclusive benefits, including buy-one-get-one offers on all season tickets and individual game tickets and on-field VIP experiences.

“The naming of our box office is one of our most prominent sponsorship assets, and we are proud to partner with such a strong local brand in Coastal Credit Union,” said North Carolina Football Club Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Marketing Steven de Haseth. “Coastal’s commitment to engaging and growing its brand in the community is in line with our core values and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” 

With this partnership, Coastal extends its brand footprint in the area, having already enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek and the recently-announced partnership with Kane Realty to rename Midtown Park at North Hills, Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park.

“With our new mission being ‘Bank Better to Live Better’, we’re taking strategic measures to be more visible in our community in places where we know our members live, work, and play,” says Coastal President and CEO, Chuck Purvis. “Each of these sponsorships allows us to engage in our community while strengthening Coastal’s brand and providing exclusive benefits to our members at the same time. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

About Coastal Credit Union
Coastal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services. Coastal was chartered on August 31, 1967 with the mission of fostering the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Today, with $2.9 billion in assets, Coastal serves 245,000 members from 1,700 business partners and is among the leading financial institutions in North Carolina.  Coastal operates 22 branches in central North Carolina and serves members in all 50 states through a network of 5,000 shared branches, 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs, mobile banking featuring mobile check deposit, and a robust offering of online services at www.COASTAL24.com.
 
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, 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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CARY, N.C. (May 10, 2018) – North Carolina Football Club has partnered with Coastal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services. As a result, Coastal Credit Union will be named the Official Credit Union of North Carolina Football Club.

As a cornerstone of the relationship, the box office at WakeMed Soccer Park will be renamed Coastal Credit Union Box Office. Through the multi-year partnership, Coastal will also be able to provide its members with exclusive benefits, including buy-one-get-one offers on all season tickets and individual game tickets and on-field VIP experiences.

“The naming of our box office is one of our most prominent sponsorship assets, and we are proud to partner with such a strong local brand in Coastal Credit Union,” said North Carolina Football Club Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Marketing Steven de Haseth. “Coastal’s commitment to engaging and growing its brand in the community is in line with our core values and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” 

With this partnership, Coastal extends its brand footprint in the area, having already enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek and the recently-announced partnership with Kane Realty to rename Midtown Park at North Hills, Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park.

“With our new mission being ‘Bank Better to Live Better’, we’re taking strategic measures to be more visible in our community in places where we know our members live, work, and play,” says Coastal President and CEO, Chuck Purvis. “Each of these sponsorships allows us to engage in our community while strengthening Coastal’s brand and providing exclusive benefits to our members at the same time. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

About Coastal Credit Union
Coastal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services. Coastal was chartered on August 31, 1967 with the mission of fostering the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Today, with $2.9 billion in assets, Coastal serves 245,000 members from 1,700 business partners and is among the leading financial institutions in North Carolina.  Coastal operates 22 branches in central North Carolina and serves members in all 50 states through a network of 5,000 shared branches, 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs, mobile banking featuring mobile check deposit, and a robust offering of online services at www.COASTAL24.com.
 
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, 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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CARY, N.C. (May 9, 2018) –  North Carolina FC will begin its 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign, hosting a second-round match against Lansdowne Bhoys FC. The match will be played on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Lansdowne advanced to face NCFC after a 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Italians in the first round of the tournament.
 
North Carolina FC has a rich Open Cup tournament history and will look to add to its record with another strong campaign in 2018. In total, North Carolina FC has advanced to at least the fourth round of the cup six times. The squad has defeated MLS teams six times, featuring three-consecutive wins over the LA Galaxy from 2012-2014. In 2007, NCFC advanced to the semifinals – it’s best finish in the competition ever.
 
Lansdowne Bhoys FC comes from the amateur ranks of U.S. Soccer and are in its second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearance in the last three years. In 2016, Lansdowne advanced to the third round with a victory over the PDL's Long Island Rough Riders and an upset win over the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Widely regarded as one of the top amateur teams in the United States, Lansdowne Bhoys FC currently hold both amateur national titles – the National Amateur Cup and the National Amateur Open Cup.
 
All tickets for the match are on sale now for $10. NCFC season ticket members can use ‘Game A’ from their season ticket packages to attend the match. Click here to purchase tickets for the game.

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CARY, N.C. (May 9, 2018) –  North Carolina FC will begin its 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign, hosting a second-round match against Lansdowne Bhoys FC. The match will be played on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Lansdowne advanced to face NCFC after a 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Italians in the first round of the tournament.
 
North Carolina FC has a rich Open Cup tournament history and will look to add to its record with another strong campaign in 2018. In total, North Carolina FC has advanced to at least the fourth round of the cup six times. The squad has defeated MLS teams six times, featuring three-consecutive wins over the LA Galaxy from 2012-2014. In 2007, NCFC advanced to the semifinals – it’s best finish in the competition ever.
 
Lansdowne Bhoys FC comes from the amateur ranks of U.S. Soccer and are in its second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearance in the last three years. In 2016, Lansdowne advanced to the third round with a victory over the PDL’s Long Island Rough Riders and an upset win over the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Widely regarded as one of the top amateur teams in the United States, Lansdowne Bhoys FC currently hold both amateur national titles – the National Amateur Cup and the National Amateur Open Cup.
 
All tickets for the match are on sale now for $10. NCFC season ticket members can use ‘Game A’ from their season ticket packages to attend the match. Click here to purchase tickets for the game.

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TAMPA, Fla. (May 1, 2018) – North Carolina FC midfielder Kyle Bekker has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 7 of the 2018 season. Bekker scored once and notched two assists to lead NCFC to a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night that extended the club’s undefeated streak to four games and earned its first home win of the season.
 
Bekker received 47 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Charleston Battery forward Gordon Wild finished second with 26 percent.
 
The Canadian international has been instrumental in the midfield for NCFC this season. He’s played 622 minutes and started all seven matches for NCFC. Bekker and NCFC will be back at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club’s opponent is still too be determined for that match, but will be either the Brooklyn Italians, New York Cosmos B or Lansdowne Bhoys FC.
 
USL Team of the Week
GK – Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Toronto FC II:Patterson-Sewell recorded a shutout that included a penalty-kick save to deny New York’s Stefano Bonomo as TFC II claimed its second draw of the season.
 
D – Skylar Thomas, Charleston Battery:Thomas won 16 of 24 duels overall during the Battery’s two victories against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, while recording seven tackles, four interceptions and 12 clearances.
 
D – Sam Fink, Saint Louis FC:Fink recorded a key late goal-line clearance to cap a performance that also saw him win eight of 13 duels and complete 33 of 39 passes.
 
D – Tobi Adewole, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Adewole recorded three tackles, two interceptions and eight clearances and won eight of 13 duels as the Hounds recorded their fifth shutout in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta.
 
M – Todd Wharton, Rio Grande Valley FC: Wharton recorded one assist, four key passes and 35 of 38 passes, while winning five of seven duels in the Toros’ 2-0 victory against Orange County SC. 
 
M – Emmanuel Ledesma, FC Cincinnati:Ledesma notched a goal and an assist in Cincinnati’s 3-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday, while finishing with three key passes and three shots on goal.
 
M – Kevin Partida, Reno 1868 FC:Partida scored a tremendous opening goal in Reno’s 2-0 victory against OKC Energy FC and completed 34 of 40 passes in a tidy display in midfield on Saturday night.
 
M – Kyle Bekker, North Carolina FC:Bekker had a goal and two assists as North Carolina ran its undefeated streak to four games with a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night.
 
M – Jose Escalante, San Antonio FC:Escalante scored the second goal of the night and also won a penalty kick, as SAFC handed Las Vegas Lights FC its first loss of the season in a 3-1 win on Friday night.
 
F – Gordon Wild, Charleston Battery:Wild scored his first two professional goals to lead the Battery to a 3-0 victory against ATL UTD 2 last Tuesday night.
 
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC:Lancaster scored twice to lead Louisville to its fifth win in six games this season in a 3-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday night.
 
Bench: Sean Lewis (PEN), Thomas Juel-Nielsen (OC), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Christiano Francois (PGH), Tah Anunga (CHS), Solomon Asante (PHX), Ilija Ilic (LOU)

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TAMPA, Fla. (May 1, 2018) – North Carolina FC midfielder Kyle Bekker has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 7 of the 2018 season. Bekker scored once and notched two assists to lead NCFC to a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night that extended the club’s undefeated streak to four games and earned its first home win of the season.
 
Bekker received 47 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Charleston Battery forward Gordon Wild finished second with 26 percent.
 
The Canadian international has been instrumental in the midfield for NCFC this season. He’s played 622 minutes and started all seven matches for NCFC. Bekker and NCFC will be back at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club’s opponent is still too be determined for that match, but will be either the Brooklyn Italians, New York Cosmos B or Lansdowne Bhoys FC.
 
USL Team of the Week
GK – Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Toronto FC II:Patterson-Sewell recorded a shutout that included a penalty-kick save to deny New York’s Stefano Bonomo as TFC II claimed its second draw of the season.
 
D – Skylar Thomas, Charleston Battery:Thomas won 16 of 24 duels overall during the Battery’s two victories against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, while recording seven tackles, four interceptions and 12 clearances.
 
D – Sam Fink, Saint Louis FC:Fink recorded a key late goal-line clearance to cap a performance that also saw him win eight of 13 duels and complete 33 of 39 passes.
 
D – Tobi Adewole, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Adewole recorded three tackles, two interceptions and eight clearances and won eight of 13 duels as the Hounds recorded their fifth shutout in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta.
 
M – Todd Wharton, Rio Grande Valley FC: Wharton recorded one assist, four key passes and 35 of 38 passes, while winning five of seven duels in the Toros’ 2-0 victory against Orange County SC. 
 
M – Emmanuel Ledesma, FC Cincinnati:Ledesma notched a goal and an assist in Cincinnati’s 3-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday, while finishing with three key passes and three shots on goal.
 
M – Kevin Partida, Reno 1868 FC:Partida scored a tremendous opening goal in Reno’s 2-0 victory against OKC Energy FC and completed 34 of 40 passes in a tidy display in midfield on Saturday night.
 
M – Kyle Bekker, North Carolina FC:Bekker had a goal and two assists as North Carolina ran its undefeated streak to four games with a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night.
 
M – Jose Escalante, San Antonio FC:Escalante scored the second goal of the night and also won a penalty kick, as SAFC handed Las Vegas Lights FC its first loss of the season in a 3-1 win on Friday night.
 
F – Gordon Wild, Charleston Battery:Wild scored his first two professional goals to lead the Battery to a 3-0 victory against ATL UTD 2 last Tuesday night.
 
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC:Lancaster scored twice to lead Louisville to its fifth win in six games this season in a 3-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday night.
 
Bench: Sean Lewis (PEN), Thomas Juel-Nielsen (OC), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Christiano Francois (PGH), Tah Anunga (CHS), Solomon Asante (PHX), Ilija Ilic (LOU)

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CARY, N.C. (April 28, 2018) – North Carolina FC scored a trio of first-half goals in an eight-minute span to defeat Penn FC 3-0 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Saturday night, extending its unbeaten run to four matches.

“Important result,” NCFC head coach Colin Clarke said. “Go on the road for three, come back home, it’s important to back that up, and obviously for us we wanted to win in front of our fans. With the break coming up, all of those little things just made it even more important than it was. But a massive three points and a great performance.”
 
The victory, the first at home in 2018 for NCFC (2W-3L-2D), was powered by goals from Austin da Luz, Kyle Bekker and Daniel Rios between the 29th and 37th minutes, as Penn FC struggled to cope with the NCFC attack.
 
Bekker finished with a goal and two assists and was responsible for creating NCFC’s first goal of the match.
 
Positioned on the right flank, Bekker played in a precise cross, which Austin da Luz tracked down and headed home for his first score of the season.
 
Six minutes later, it was Bekker who did the scoring, as he converted a Peabo Doue cross at the back post.
 
NCFC wrapped up its goal barrage in the 37th minute thanks to Daniel Rios’ fourth tally of the season, which was made possible by Bekker’s determination. After having his own shot blocked, Bekker tracked down the rebound and fed Rios, who fired into an empty net.
 
Game Changer: 
Already ahead by one goal, NCFC took complete control of the match with Bekker’s goal in the 35th minute. Although Doue’s cross was initially intended for Rios, Bekker did well to position himself near the back post, where he finished from just a few yards out.
 
Key Stat:
NCFC scored three goals in an eight-minute span against Penn FC. Prior to Saturday’s match, Penn FC had conceded just three goals in its first five matches of the season.

They Said It:
“We knew that we owed these fans a result," said Kyle Bekker. "You could see it at the beginning of the week: everybody knew we had something to prove. We hadn’t been happy with our performances, especially at home. Tonight we came out and kind of showed that everybody’s coming together, and we’re on the right foot.”

Up Next: 
After a two-week break, NCFC will begin Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park against either the Brooklyn Italians, New York Cosmos B or Lansdowne Bhoys.
 
NCFC will then resume USL action on the road against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m.
 
Notes:
 
– Three players with North Carolina ties started for NCFC – Greenville, N.C., native Michael Harrington, Winston Salem, N.C., native and team co-captain Austin da Luz and long-time Rocky Mount, N.C., resident Futty Danso. Additionally, Raleigh, N.C. natives and NCFC Youth Academy products D.J. Taylor and Dre Fortune each made the bench for the team, with Fortune appearing as a substitute.
 
– Daniel Rios has now scored four goals in his last five matches. 
 
– NCFC’s three goals are the most the club has scored in a match since Oct. 1, 2017, when it won 5-0 against Indy Eleven.
 
– NCFC recorded its third shutout of the season. 
 
– With his 16th career goal for NCFC, Austin da Luz is now in sole possession of seventh place on the club’s all-time scoring list, passing Pablo Campos.
 
Box Score:
 
NCFC (4-4-2): Alex Tambakis; Peabo Doue, Michael Harrington, Futty Danso, Steven Miller; Austin da Luz ©, Marcel Kandziora, Graham Smith, Kyle Bekker (Bernhard Luxbacher, 89’), Daniel Rios (Dre Fortune, 84’), Donovan Ewolo (Marios Lomis, 84’)
 
Subs not used: Austin Guerreo, Wuilito Fernandes, DJ Taylor, Aaron Guillen
 
PEN: (4-4-2): Romuald Peiser; Jake Bond, Ken Tribbet (Miguel Jaime, 83’) ©, Tiago Calvano, Harri Hawkins; Mauro Eustaquio, Richard Menjivar (Pedro Galvao, 46’), Freddie Opoku, Jerry Ortiz (Aaron Dennis, 46’); Lucky Mkosana, Tommy Heinemann
 
Subs not used: Sean Lewis, Kyle Venter, Marco Franco, Salim Muhammad
 
Score:
NCFC: 3
PEN: 0
 
Goals:
NCFC:  Austin da Luz (Kyle Bekker, 29’), Kyle Bekker (Peabo Doue, 35’), Daniel Rios (Kyle Bekker, 37’)
PEN: —
 
Cautions:
NCFC: Marcel Kandziora 66’, Steve Miller 75’
PEN: Mauro Eustaquio 40’, Jake Bond 49’
 
Ejections:
NCFC: —
PEN: —
 
Attendance: 3,970

 

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CARY, N.C. (April 28, 2018) – North Carolina FC scored a trio of first-half goals in an eight-minute span to defeat Penn FC 3-0 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Saturday night, extending its unbeaten run to four matches.

“Important result,” NCFC head coach Colin Clarke said. “Go on the road for three, come back home, it’s important to back that up, and obviously for us we wanted to win in front of our fans. With the break coming up, all of those little things just made it even more important than it was. But a massive three points and a great performance.”
 
The victory, the first at home in 2018 for NCFC (2W-3L-2D), was powered by goals from Austin da Luz, Kyle Bekker and Daniel Rios between the 29th and 37th minutes, as Penn FC struggled to cope with the NCFC attack.
 
Bekker finished with a goal and two assists and was responsible for creating NCFC’s first goal of the match.
 
Positioned on the right flank, Bekker played in a precise cross, which Austin da Luz tracked down and headed home for his first score of the season.
 
Six minutes later, it was Bekker who did the scoring, as he converted a Peabo Doue cross at the back post.
 
NCFC wrapped up its goal barrage in the 37th minute thanks to Daniel Rios’ fourth tally of the season, which was made possible by Bekker’s determination. After having his own shot blocked, Bekker tracked down the rebound and fed Rios, who fired into an empty net.
 
Game Changer: 
Already ahead by one goal, NCFC took complete control of the match with Bekker’s goal in the 35th minute. Although Doue’s cross was initially intended for Rios, Bekker did well to position himself near the back post, where he finished from just a few yards out.
 
Key Stat:
NCFC scored three goals in an eight-minute span against Penn FC. Prior to Saturday’s match, Penn FC had conceded just three goals in its first five matches of the season.

They Said It:
“We knew that we owed these fans a result,” said Kyle Bekker. “You could see it at the beginning of the week: everybody knew we had something to prove. We hadn’t been happy with our performances, especially at home. Tonight we came out and kind of showed that everybody’s coming together, and we’re on the right foot.”

Up Next: 
After a two-week break, NCFC will begin Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park against either the Brooklyn Italians, New York Cosmos B or Lansdowne Bhoys.
 
NCFC will then resume USL action on the road against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m.
 
Notes:
 
– Three players with North Carolina ties started for NCFC – Greenville, N.C., native Michael Harrington, Winston Salem, N.C., native and team co-captain Austin da Luz and long-time Rocky Mount, N.C., resident Futty Danso. Additionally, Raleigh, N.C. natives and NCFC Youth Academy products D.J. Taylor and Dre Fortune each made the bench for the team, with Fortune appearing as a substitute.
 
– Daniel Rios has now scored four goals in his last five matches. 
 
– NCFC’s three goals are the most the club has scored in a match since Oct. 1, 2017, when it won 5-0 against Indy Eleven.
 
– NCFC recorded its third shutout of the season. 
 
– With his 16th career goal for NCFC, Austin da Luz is now in sole possession of seventh place on the club’s all-time scoring list, passing Pablo Campos.
 
Box Score:
 
NCFC (4-4-2): Alex Tambakis; Peabo Doue, Michael Harrington, Futty Danso, Steven Miller; Austin da Luz ©, Marcel Kandziora, Graham Smith, Kyle Bekker (Bernhard Luxbacher, 89’), Daniel Rios (Dre Fortune, 84’), Donovan Ewolo (Marios Lomis, 84’)
 
Subs not used: Austin Guerreo, Wuilito Fernandes, DJ Taylor, Aaron Guillen
 
PEN: (4-4-2): Romuald Peiser; Jake Bond, Ken Tribbet (Miguel Jaime, 83’) ©, Tiago Calvano, Harri Hawkins; Mauro Eustaquio, Richard Menjivar (Pedro Galvao, 46’), Freddie Opoku, Jerry Ortiz (Aaron Dennis, 46’); Lucky Mkosana, Tommy Heinemann
 
Subs not used: Sean Lewis, Kyle Venter, Marco Franco, Salim Muhammad
 
Score:
NCFC: 3
PEN: 0
 
Goals:
NCFC:  Austin da Luz (Kyle Bekker, 29’), Kyle Bekker (Peabo Doue, 35’), Daniel Rios (Kyle Bekker, 37’)
PEN: —
 
Cautions:
NCFC: Marcel Kandziora 66’, Steve Miller 75’
PEN: Mauro Eustaquio 40’, Jake Bond 49’
 
Ejections:
NCFC: —
PEN: —
 
Attendance: 3,970

 

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