Wikipedia

2023 North Carolina FC season

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]

North Carolina FC
2023 season
OwnerStephen Malik
Head coachJohn Bradford
StadiumSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
USL League One2nd
USL1 PlayoffsChampions
U.S. Open Cup2nd Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
All: Oalex Anderson (17)
Highest home attendanceLeague/All: 5,795
(10/14 vs. Koxville)
Lowest home attendanceLeague/All: 1,119
(4/8 vs. Charlotte
Average home league attendance2,503
Biggest win3 goals
(April 21 vs. Chattanooga)
(September 2 at Fuego FC)
Biggest defeat0–3
(June 10 at Forward Madison)
← 2022
2024 →

Club edit

Roster edit

As of November 5, 2023[3]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Nick Holliday   United States
2 DF Christian Lue Young   United States
3 DF Nelson Blanco   El Salvador
4 DF Luke Croll   England
5 DF Navarro   United States
6 DF Gustavo Fernandes   United States
7 MF Luis Arriaga   United States
8 MF Pecka   Brazil
9 FW Oalex Anderson   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
10 MF Jaden Servania   Puerto Rico
12 GK Tor Saunders   United States
13 MF Louis Perez   France
14 FW Rafael Mentzingen   Brazil
15 FW Mikey Maldonado   United States
17 FW Shak Adams   United States
18 DF David Benton   United States
19 FW Garrett McLaughlin   United States
22 DF Max Flick   United States
23 FW Marvin Mariche   United States
24 DF David Garcia   Spain
25 GK Trevor Mulqueen   United States
26 MF John McDowell   United States
31 GK Brooks Thompson   United States
44 MF Raheem Somersall   Saint Kitts and Nevis
88 FW Preston Popp   Canada

Competitions edit

Exhibitions edit

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   52'
Perez   59'		 Matete   5'
Batth   14'
Roberts   44'
Clarke   45+2'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

USL League One edit

Main article: 2023 USL League One season

Standings edit

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
Source: USL League One
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 edit

March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) 1 North Carolina FC 0–1 Tormenta FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Report Akale   34' 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   34' 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   32' Report Kelly   61' 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   84' Report Mentzingen   3' (pen.)
Perez   43'		 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   45'
Mentzingen   57', 66'		 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   90+4' Perez   19'
Mentzingen   37' (pen.)		 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   32'
Perez   60'		 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   14'
Osmond   68'		 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   62'
Perez   73'
McLaughlin   76'		 Report Da Silva   29', 32' 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   61'
Bennett   81'		 Report Anderson   47' 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   45+1' 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   44'
Prentice   64'
Crull   75'		 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   50'
McLaughlin   54'		 Report Baynham   31'
Robertson   81'		 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   40', 59' 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   31'
Ross   36'		 Report Anderson   4'
McLaughlin   60'		 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   67', 90+3' Report Gebhard   16'
Bartman   37'		 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   45'
Anderson   90+5'		 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   83' Report Sommersall   33'
Mentzingen   39'		 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   13'
Sterling   39'		 Report Mentzingen   35' (pen.),   42' (pen.)
Anderson   76'		 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   33'
Hornsby   90+6'		 Report McLaughlin   36'
Hornsby   90+6' (o.g.)		 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   54'
Perez   56'		 Report MacKinnon   36' 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   86' Report Anderson   16', 53'
Maldonado   81'		 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   52' Report Amann   27'
Rendón   64'		 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   36'
Benton   89'		 Report Cerritos   4' (pen) 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   9'
Brito   45+2'
Duba   59'
Meza   75'		 Report McLaughlin   11'
Mentzingen   85'
Popp   90+4'		 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   11' (pen.)
Servania   23'		 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   49'
Anderson   60'		 Report Akale   21'
Khoury   82'
Adjei   90+4'		 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   28'
McLaughlin   74'
Mentzingen   81' (pen.)		 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   40'
Anderson   58'		 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   12' Gil   40' 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   29' 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   30'
McLaughlin   89'		 Report Ross   55' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,795
Referee: Arnel Selman

Playoffs edit

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 edit

Main article: 2023 U.S. Open Cup
April 5, 2023 (2023-04-05) 2nd Round North Carolina FC   1–2 (a.e.t.)   Loudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT Servania   67' Report Ryan   7'
Leggett   116'		 Stadium: Segra Field
Referee: Kenneth Rojas

References edit

  1. ^ "STARRY NIGHT! NCFC is 2023 USL League One Champion". northcarolinafc.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "North Carolina FC to rejoin USL Championship in 2024". northcarolinafc.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "North Carolina FC 2023 Roster". uslleagueone.com. USL League 1. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
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