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]
| 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) |
Club
editRoster
edit- As of November 5, 2023[3]
Competitions
editExhibitions
edit| February 11, 2023 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 | 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
editStandings
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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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| April 5, 2023 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- ^ "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.