2023 North Carolina FC season
2023 season | |
---|---|
Owner | Stephen Malik |
Head coach | John Bradford |
Stadium | Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
USL League One | 2nd |
USL1 Playoffs | Champions |
U.S. Open Cup | 2nd Round |
Top goalscorer | League: All: Oalex Anderson (17) |
Highest home attendance | League/All: 5,795 (10/14 vs. Koxville) |
Lowest home attendance | League/All: 1,119 (4/8 vs. Charlotte |
Average home league attendance | 2,503 |
Biggest win | 3 goals (April 21 vs. Chattanooga) (September 2 at Fuego FC) |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 (June 10 at Forward Madison) |
The 2023 North Carolina FC season was the 17th season of the club's existence, and their third season in USL League One, the third division of the American soccer pyramid. North Carolina was coached by John Bradford, his third season with the club, and played their home games at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The club had finished at the bottom of the table in their second season in USL League One. North Carolina finished the season in 2nd place in the league table, earning a spot in the playoffs. After defeating Hailstorm FC 3–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated rival Charlotte Independence 5–4 in penalties to win the 2023 USL League One Final.[1]
It was announced on August 7, 2023, that North Carolina will return to the USL Championship for the 2024 season.[2]
Club
Roster
- As of November 5, 2023[3]
No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Nick Holliday | ![]() |
2 | DF | Christian Lue Young | ![]() |
3 | DF | Nelson Blanco | ![]() |
4 | DF | Luke Croll | ![]() |
5 | DF | Navarro | ![]() |
6 | DF | Gustavo Fernandes | ![]() |
7 | MF | Luis Arriaga | ![]() |
8 | MF | Pecka | ![]() |
9 | FW | Oalex Anderson | ![]() |
10 | MF | Jaden Servania | ![]() |
12 | GK | Tor Saunders | ![]() |
13 | MF | Louis Perez | ![]() |
14 | FW | Rafael Mentzingen | ![]() |
15 | FW | Mikey Maldonado | ![]() |
17 | FW | Shak Adams | ![]() |
18 | DF | David Benton | ![]() |
19 | FW | Garrett McLaughlin | ![]() |
22 | DF | Max Flick | ![]() |
23 | FW | Marvin Mariche | ![]() |
24 | DF | David Garcia | ![]() |
25 | GK | Trevor Mulqueen | ![]() |
26 | MF | John McDowell | ![]() |
31 | GK | Brooks Thompson | ![]() |
44 | MF | Raheem Somersall | ![]() |
88 | FW | Preston Popp | ![]() |
Competitions
Exhibitions
February 11, 2023 (2023-02-11) Preseason 1 | North Carolina FC | v | UNC–Chapel Hill | Cary, North Carolina |
1:30 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
February 18, 2023 (2023-02-18) Preseason 2 | North Carolina FC | v | One Knoxville SC | Cary, North Carolina |
2:00 EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
February 22, 2023 (2023-02-22) Preseason 3 | North Carolina FC | v | New York City FC II | Cary, North Carolina |
3:00 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
February 25, 2023 (2023-02-25) Preseason 4 | North Carolina FC | v | Charleston Battery | Cary, North Carolina |
2:00 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
March 1, 2023 (2023-03-01) Preseason 5 | North Carolina FC | v | Columbus Crew 2 | Cary, North Carolina |
2:00 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
March 4, 2023 (2023-03-04) Preseason 6 | North Carolina FC | v | Loudoun United FC | Cary, North Carolina |
1:00 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
March 11, 2023 (2023-03-11) Preseason 7 | North Carolina FC | v | Charlotte Independence | Cary, North Carolina |
2:00 PM EST | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
July 21, 2023 (2023-07-21) | North Carolina FC | 2–4 | Sunderland A.F.C. | Cary, North Carolina |
7:05 PM EDT | Mentzingen ![]() Perez ![]() | Matete ![]() Batth ![]() Roberts ![]() Clarke ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park |
USL League One
Standings
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Union Omaha (S) | 32 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 65 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
2 | North Carolina FC (C) | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 63 | |
3 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 59 | 37 | +22 | 62 | Qualification for the play-offs |
4 | Charlotte Independence | 32 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 49 | |
5 | Greenville Triumph SC | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 48 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (S) Players' Shield winner
Match results
March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) 1 | North Carolina FC | 0–1 | Tormenta FC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Report | Akale ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,429 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
April 1, 2023 (2023-04-01) 2 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Lexington SC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Report | Akale ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,423 Referee: Shawn Tehini |
April 8, 2023 (2023-04-08) 3 | North Carolina FC | 1–1 | Charlotte Independence | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Anderson ![]() | Report | Kelly ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,119 Referee: Alejo Calume |
April 15, 2023 (2023-04-15) 4 | Union Omaha | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | Omaha, Nebraska |
3:00 PM EDT | Gallardo ![]() | Report | Mentzingen ![]() Perez ![]() | Stadium: Al F. Caniglia Field Attendance: 1,665 Referee: Jervis Atagana |
April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21) 5 | North Carolina FC | 3–0 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Anderson ![]() Mentzingen ![]() | Report | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,766 Referee: Izlen Peksenar |
April 29, 2023 (2023-04-29) 6 | Greenville Triumph | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | Greenville, South Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Wu ![]() | Perez ![]() Mentzingen ![]() | Stadium: Paladin Stadium Attendance: 3,228 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) 7 | Fuego FC | 0–2 | North Carolina FC | Fresno, California |
10:00 PM EDT | Report | Mentzingen ![]() Perez ![]() | Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 775 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
May 13, 2023 (2023-05-13) 8 | North Carolina FC | 0–2 | Forward Madison | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Report | Martinez ![]() Osmond ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,610 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
May 17, 2023 (2023-05-17) 9 | North Carolina FC | 3–2 | Richmond Kickers | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Anderson ![]() Perez ![]() McLaughlin ![]() | Report | Da Silva ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,377 Referee: José Carlos Rivero |
May 21, 2023 (2023-05-21) 10 | Charlotte Independence | 2–1 | North Carolina FC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
2:00 PM EDT | Mbuyu ![]() Bennett ![]() | Report | Anderson ![]() | Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,672 Referee: Servando Berna Rico |
June 3, 2023 (2023-06-03) 11 | One Knoxville SC | 0–1 | North Carolina FC | Knoxville, Tennessee |
7:30 PM EDT | Report | Servania ![]() | Stadium: Regal Stadium Attendance: 2,422 Referee: Michael O'Reilly |
June 10, 2023 (2023-06-10) 12 | Forward Madison | 3–0 | North Carolina FC | Madison, Wisconsin |
8:00 PM EDT | Payne ![]() Prentice ![]() Crull ![]() | Report | Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 4,567 Referee: Matt Geringer |
June 18, 2023 (2023-06-18) 13 | North Carolina FC | 2–2 | Lexington SC | Cary, North Carolina |
3:00 PM EDT | Perez ![]() McLaughlin ![]() | Report | Baynham ![]() Robertson ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,682 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |
June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30) 14 | North Carolina FC | 2–0 | Charlotte Independence | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EST | Anderson ![]() | Report | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,396 Referee: Joe Surgan |
July 8, 2023 (2023-07-08) 15 | One Knoxville SC | 2–2 | North Carolina FC | Knoxville, Tennessee |
7:30 PM EDT | Crisler ![]() Ross ![]() | Report | Anderson ![]() McLaughlin ![]() | Stadium: Regal Stadium Attendance: 2,109 Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
July 15, 2023 (2023-07-15) 16 | North Carolina FC | 2–2 | Forward Madison | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Anderson ![]() | Report | Gebhard ![]() Bartman ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,875 Referee: Michael O'Reilly |
July 26, 2023 (2023-07-26) 17 | North Carolina FC | 2–0 | Hailstorm FC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Perez ![]() Anderson ![]() | Report | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,354 Referee: Shawn Tehini |
July 29, 2023 (2023-07-29) 18 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 1–2 | North Carolina FC | East Ridge, Tennessee |
7:30 PM EDT | Hernandez ![]() | Report | Sommersall ![]() Mentzingen ![]() | Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,717 Referee: Madzid Coric |
August 5, 2023 (2023-08-05) 19 | Tormenta FC | 2–3 | North Carolina FC | Statesboro, Georgia |
7:30 PM EDT | Adjei ![]() Sterling ![]() | Report | Mentzingen ![]() ![]() Anderson ![]() | Stadium: Optim Health Systems Field Attendance: 2,041 Referee: Donovan Eubank |
August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09) 20 | Richmond Kickers | 2–2 | North Carolina FC | Richmond, Virginia |
7:00 PM EDT | Terzaghi ![]() Hornsby ![]() | Report | McLaughlin ![]() Hornsby ![]() | Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,143 Referee: Gary Gutiérrez |
August 12, 2023 (2023-08-12) 21 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Greenville Triumph | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | McLaughlin ![]() Perez ![]() | Report | MacKinnon ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,301 Referee: Cristian Campo |
August 19, 2023 (2023-08-19) 22 | Richmond Kickers | 1–3 | North Carolina FC | Richmond, Virginia |
7:00 PM EDT | Fitch ![]() | Report | Anderson ![]() Maldonado ![]() | Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 5,570 Referee: Gabriele Ciampi |
August 26, 2023 (2023-08-26) 23 | North Carolina FC | 1–2 | Hailstorm FC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Garcia ![]() | Report | Amann ![]() Rendón ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,343 Referee: Olvin Oliva |
September 2, 2023 (2023-09-02) 24 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Fuego FC | Cary, North Carolina |
4:00 PM EDT | Servania ![]() Benton ![]() | Report | Cerritos ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,142 Referee: Velimir Stefanovic |
September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06) 25 | Union Omaha | 4–3 | North Carolina FC | Papillion, Nebraska |
8:00 PM EDT | Dolabella ![]() Brito ![]() Duba ![]() Meza ![]() | Report | McLaughlin ![]() Mentzingen ![]() Popp ![]() | Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 2,648 Referee: Joe Surgan |
September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09) 26 | Greenville Triumph | 0–2 | North Carolina FC | Greenville, South Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Report | Mentzingen ![]() Servania ![]() | Stadium: Paladin Stadium Attendance: 1,524 Referee: John Rush |
September 16, 2023 (2023-09-16) 27 | North Carolina FC | 2–3 | Tormenta FC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Sommersall ![]() Anderson ![]() | Report | Akale ![]() Khoury ![]() Adjei ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,952 Referee: Aleksandar Zhelyazkov |
September 20, 2023 (2023-09-20) 28 | Fuego FC | 0–3 | North Carolina FC | Fresno, California |
10:30 PM EDT | Report | Anderson ![]() McLaughlin ![]() Mentzingen ![]() | Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 582 Referee: Olvin Oliva |
September 23, 2023 (2023-09-23) 29 | Hailstorm FC | 0–2 | North Carolina FC | Windsor, Colorado |
9:00 PM EDT | Report | McLaughlin ![]() Anderson ![]() | Stadium: Future Legends Complex Attendance: 2,119 Referee: Cristian Campo |
September 29, 2023 (2023-09-29) 30 | North Carolina FC | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Mentzingen ![]() | Gil ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,664 Referee: Gary Gutiérrez |
October 7, 2023 (2023-10-07) 31 | Lexington SC | 0–1 | North Carolina FC | Georgetown, Kentucky |
7:00 PM EDT | Anderson ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 2,181 Referee: Richonne Clark |
October 14, 2023 (2023-10-14) 32 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | One Knoxville SC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:00 PM EDT | Fernandes ![]() McLaughlin ![]() | Report | Ross ![]() | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 5,795 Referee: Arnel Selman |
Playoffs
October 28, 2023 (2023-10-28) Semi-final | North Carolina FC | 3–1 | Hailstorm FC | Cary, North Carolina |
7:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,345 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05) Final | North Carolina FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Charlotte Independence | Cary, North Carolina |
5:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 4,487 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk | ||
Penalties | ||||
U.S. Open Cup
![North Carolina](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Flag_of_North_Carolina.svg/23px-Flag_of_North_Carolina.svg.png)
![Virginia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Flag_of_Virginia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Virginia.svg.png)
April 5, 2023 (2023-04-05) 2nd Round | North Carolina FC ![]() | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | ![]() | Leesburg, Virginia |
7:00 PM EDT | Servania ![]() | Report | Ryan ![]() Leggett ![]() | Stadium: Segra Field Referee: Kenneth Rojas |
References
- ^ "STARRY NIGHT! NCFC is 2023 USL League One Champion". northcarolinafc.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ "North Carolina FC to rejoin USL Championship in 2024". northcarolinafc.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ "North Carolina FC 2023 Roster". uslleagueone.com. USL League 1. Retrieved December 19, 2023.