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USL North Carolina FC

NCFC Heads to Loudoun for First Road Test

March 15, 2024 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC News Release


LEESBURG, Va. - North Carolina FC will hit the road for the first time in 2024 for match week two of the 2024 USL Championship season, facing off against Loudoun United FC at 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16, at Segra Field.

Both teams started the season with draws last weekend as North Carolina FC saw out a scoreless 90 minutes against the Charleston Battery, while a stoppage-time goal gave a shorthanded Loudoun side a share of the points in San Antonio.

Saturday will be the fourth ever meeting between the two teams and first in league play since Loudoun's inaugural season in 2019, where the two sides split the season series in a pair of high-scoring matches.

The two were drawn against each other in the second round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with Loudoun claiming the 2-1 win in extra time. North Carolina FC defender Bryce Washington played the full 120 minutes for Loudoun in that game.

Scouting Loudoun United

Loudoun drew 2-2 on the road against San Antonio FC in their season opener, coming from behind while down a man to secure a late point. Midfielder Florian Valot scored the tying goal deep in stoppage time.

Down a man for most of the game, Loudoun held just 29% of the possession, but still outshot San Antonio 10-8.

Valot is one of Loudoun's newcomers this season but brings a ton of USL Championship and MLS experience, including a title win in 2016 with New York Red Bulls II.

Valot was joined in the midfield by fellow newcomers Tommy McCabe and Drew Skundrich, giving the team an experienced trio in the center of the park and creating an intriguing battle of two extraordinarily talented midfields this Saturday.

A familiar face, McCabe made nine appearances and scored two goals for North Carolina FC while on loan from FC Cincinnati during the 2019 USL Championship season.

Forward Zach Ryan is back leading the line for Loudoun after a 10-goal, three-assist 2023 season. He has already opened his account in 2024 with Loudoun's first goal of the season in the team's opener.

Forward Christiano François will miss the game after being shown a red card during the first half of Loudoun's season opener.

Next Up

Following the trip to Virginia, North Carolina FC will return home for a rivalry matchup against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, March 23. The game is set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park as the team celebrates video games with Level Up Night. Tickets are available here.

Transcribed quotes from press conference

Bradford on the first road test of the year

"Excited. First road trip of the season. The group has been working hard since the beginning and got our first game behind us this last weekend at home, but now it's exciting to take our first road trip and a good test against a good Loudoun team."

Bradford on building blocks from the first game

"In many ways, it felt very much like a first game. We weren't quite as clean as we wanted to be in parts of the field. I thought we defended well, and I thought to a player everybody individually contributed with strong work ethic in the way that we are trying to play. We want that to continue as we go on the road."

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 15, 2024


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