While most of the attention surrounding North Carolina FC and the NC Courage in recent weeks has been about NCFC’s MLS bid and stadium proposal, the two teams have been in action amidst all the hype.
NCFC wrapped up the spring season of the North American Soccer League fifth in the eight-team table, capturing 21 points over 16 games. Miami FC won the first half of the two-part NASL season with 36 points, guaranteeing it the hosting rights to one of the two semifinal games in the league’s playoffs later this year.
Following the spring season, NCFC had the unique opportunity of playing a friendly match against Swansea City AFC, a Welsh team that competes in the English Premier League. The two teams drew 0-0 in the July 22 match. This marked the second-straight year that NCFC (previously the Carolina Railhawks) has taken on EPL competition, as the NASL side drew London-based West Ham United 2-2 last year.
The fall season started out much better for NCFC. After tying Puerto Rico FC 1-1 at home, NCFC traveled to take on Miami FC in an exhilarating match, with defender Christia Ibeagha scoring a 94th-minute winner for NCFC just two minutes after Miami had tied the game.
NCFC returned home to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, where it drew Jacksonville Armada FC 2-2, fighting back from 2-0 to tie the game on a team-leading seventh goal of the season for midfielder Lance Laing. Through three games NCFC sat on top of the fall table, but fell to Miami at home, 1-0, Tuesday night to drop to fourth place with five points and a goal differential of zero.
NCFC will have to be a much stronger team than it has proven to be all season if it has hopes of making it into the four-team NASL playoffs. Miami has already clinched a spot, and the winner of the fall season will host the other semifinal game. The two remaining playoff teams will consist of the two next best teams in the combined NASL standings, where NCFC currently sits in fifth place with 26 points.
In other NCFC team news, the team solidified a spot on its roster moving forward by extending the contract of Laing. Laing has been the most prolific goal-scorer for NCFC this year, and signed an extension onto his existing contract at the end of the July, which will keep him in Raleigh through the end of the 2018 season.
In the National Women’s Soccer League, the newly-founded NC Courage sits atop the table with 36 points through 17 games, five points clear of Portland Thorns FC in second place. The Courage won the NWSL title last season, playing as the Western New York Flash, and look poised to make a run for the title again.
The Courage has won three of its last four games, allowing just one goal in a 1-0 loss to Portland during that stretch. With only 14 goals allowed all season, the Courage has been the most consistent defensive team in the NWSL, and its +10 goal differential is also the top mark in the league.
There are still plenty of games remaining on both the NASL and NWSL schedule, and the two North Carolina teams sit in very different positions. NCFC is on the outside of a playoff spot looking in and needs to make up ground if it wants a chance at capturing the NASL title. The Courage, however, sits atop the table and should look to continue its strong season to lock up the top seed in the playoffs and play for a second-straight NWSL title.
