May 14, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC Press Release
Cary, NC – North Carolina FC beat Loudoun United FC 2-0 on Tuesday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. NCFC improved to 2-4-4 on the season and 10 points, earning their fourth clean sheet of the year.
North Carolina FC performed some magic to take the lead midway through the first half. Rafa Mentzingen scored his first goal in an NCFC kit when Paco Craig whipped the ball down the right flank and slotted home a half-spin. This was Mentzingen’s fourth goal contribution of 2024 and Mentzingen’s 50th goal contribution in his USL career.
The home side put the exclamation point on their victory with another brilliant combination, with Ezra Armstrong finishing off Rodrigo da Costa’s effort in second-half stoppage time. It was Da Costa’s 30th assist of his USL career.
match notes
Collin Martin surpassed 10,000 USL Championship regular season minutes after just 69 minutes of play. NCFC is the fourth team Martin has played for in the USL Championship, most of which he spent during his four seasons with the San Diego Loyal. Martin’s final 850 minutes in the milestone against NCFC were the second-most of any USL Championship team he has played.
Xavier Holloway, one of NCFC’s seven academy signings announced last week, is named to the roster for the first time since joining the team on a USL Championship academy contract. Holloway is the first of seven players to be named on the matchday roster.
The game started at 8:20 PM ET, 1:14 minutes later than scheduled due to local weather.
next:
North Carolina FC travels north to take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, May 18 at 7:00 PM ET at Highmark Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Box Score:
NCFC (3-4-2-1): Jake Maguire; Justin Malou (Lamar Bautista – 30′), Paco Craig ©, Bryce Washington; Ezra Armstrong, Colin Martin, Raheem Somersall (Mikey Maldonado – 85′), Rafa Menzingen; Luis Perez (Rodrigo da Costa – 85′), Evan Conway; Olex Anderson (Garrett McLaughlin – 78′)
Subs not used: Antonio Carrera, Nelson Flores Blanco, Kyrom Lumsden, Xavier Holloway, Shaft Brewer Jr.
LDN (4-2-2): Hugo Fauroux, Kwame Awuah (Robby Dambrot – 58′), Keegan Tingey (Riley Bidois – 88′), Jacob Erlandson, Keegan Hughes (Riley Bidois – 88′), Abdellatif Aboukoura (Kalil ElMedkhar) ) ). Tommy McCabe, Florian Balott, Jack Ryan ©, Wesley Leggett (58) Drew Skundrich (Tommy Williamson – 68′)
Unused subscribers:
score:
NCFC: 2
LDN: 0
target:
NCFC: P. Craig – 24′ (Menzingen); E. Armstrong – 90+7′ (Da Costa)
LDN:
caution:
NCFC: R. Mentzingen – 1′, R. Somersall – 42′; E. Armstrong – 67′; L. Bautista – 74′, 90+12′; M. Maldonado – 90′
LDN: J. Erlandson – 13′; H. Fortress – 33′, Bench – 85′
dispose:
NCFC: L. Bautista – 90+12′ (second yellow)
LDN:
Attendance: 1,385
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