Sports stats



USL North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC Excited for Home Return against Hartford Athletic

April 26, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - North Carolina FC returns home on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. for a matchup with Hartford Athletic at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The game is Kicks 4 Kids Night and PNC Bank is the presenting partner of the game. The match presents a massive chance for North Carolina FC to claim its stake near the top of the standings. The team currently sits at fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 11 points and a victory could move the side as high as second place with a game in hand.

Last weekend, North Carolina FC visited Charlotte Independence and earned a 3-0 victory with goals from Austin da Luz, Marios Lomis and Ben Speas. The win marked the sixth-straight victory over Charlotte and gave NCFC a much-needed boost of confidence. Before last weekend's result, NCFC was winless in three matches.

Hartford presents an interesting test for NCFC. The team is a 2019 expansion team, playing its first season of professional soccer. Hartford is still searching for its first win on the season with a 0W-7L-0D record.

The visitors narrowly lost games against powerful Eastern Conference opponents Indy Eleven and Charleston Battery, but the side has suffered recent 4-0 defeats to New York Red Bulls II and Tampa Bay Rowdies. The team is also concluding a difficult eight-game road trip.

Despite Hartford's troubles to start the season, NCFC will need to be sharp to secure a result. Leading goal scorer Marios Lomis has scored in the last three matches, and NCFC hasn't lost a match at home all season. Look for the home side to dictate the match in possession and chances created.

Players To Watch:

North Carolina FC No. 9 Marios Lomis

A team-leading five goals has Marios Lomis tied for fourth in the USL Championship golden boot race. While it's still early in the season, Lomis is producing at a high rate. He's in great form with a goal in three consecutive games. Look for the forward to continue his hot streak.

Hartford Athletic No. 92 Giuseppe Gentile

Hartford's roster features a well-known opponent for NCFC. Forward Giuseppe Gentile has been a longtime foe, competing against the side on various teams since 2015. This year, Gentile has been relied on as a substitute. He's made five appearances and totaled 245 minutes.

Up Next:

North Carolina FC is hitting the road for its next two league games. NCFC will return home for a second-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game the third week of May. Details on an exact opponent and date are still being determined. NCFC's next USL Championship home match comes against the Birmingham Legion on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available online or by calling the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 26, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central