2021 North Carolina FC season
| 2021 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Stephen Malik | ||
| Head coach | John Bradford | ||
| Stadium | Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park | ||
| USL League One | 12th | ||
| USL1 Playoffs | Did not qualify | ||
|
| |||
The 2021 North Carolina FC season was the 15th season of the club's existence, and their first season in USL League One and the third division of the American soccer pyramid after dropping down from the USL Championship to focus on their youth system.[1] North Carolina was coached by John Bradford, his first season leading the club, replacing former head coach Dave Sarachan.[2] North Carolina FC played their home games at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Club
Roster
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | USA | Damian Las (on loan from Fulham) |
| 2 | DF | CAN | Malyk Hamilton |
| 4 | DF | USA | Max Flick |
| 5 | DF | SEN | Malick Mbaye |
| 6 | DF | SLV | Nelson Blanco |
| 7 | MF | BRA | Pecka |
| 8 | MF | USA | Luis Arriaga |
| 9 | MF | USA | Selmir Miscic (on loan from Philadelphia Union II) |
| 12 | MF | USA | Peter Pearson |
| 14 | DF | USA | Nelson Martinez |
| 15 | MF | SCO | Daniel Steedman |
| 17 | FW | USA | Josh Coan |
| 18 | GK | USA | Jake McGuire |
| 19 | MF | SLE | Jay Tee Kamara (on loan from Louisville City) |
| 21 | MF | CUW | Shermaine Martina |
| 22 | MF | USA | Aziel Jackson (on loan from Minnesota United) |
| 24 | GK | USA | Nick Holliday ([A]) |
| 25 | DF | USA | Britton Fischer ([A]) |
| 26 | FW | USA | Cole Frame ([A]) |
| 27 | MF | USA | Drew Kerr ([A]) |
| 28 | MF | USA | Marvin Mariche ([A]) |
| 29 | MF | USA | Nata Martinez ([A]) |
| 32 | DF | PUR | Parker O'Ferral ([A]) |
| 34 | FW | USA | Rohit Thakur ([A]) |
| 35 | MF | USA | Caden Tolentino ([A]) |
| 36 | GK | USA | Sam Terranova ([A]) |
| 44 | FW | JAM | Thorn Simpson (on loan from Molynes United) |
- ^ North Carolina FC Youth Academy Contract
Competitions
USL League One
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | New England Revolution II | 28 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 37 |
| 9 | Forward Madison FC | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 32 | 34 | −2 | 36 |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale CF | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 31 |
| 11 | Tormenta FC | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 30 |
| 12 | North Carolina FC | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 30 | 50 | −20 | 25 |
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.
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.
Match results
On January 25, 2021, the USL League One office announced the schedule for all twelve teams.[3]
| May 8, 2021 1 | North Carolina FC | 0–1 | Greenville Triumph | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,440 |
| May 15, 2021 2 | Forward Madison | 1–0 | North Carolina FC | Madison, Wisconsin |
| 8:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 1,529 |
| May 22, 2021 3 | Richmond Kickers | 0–0 | North Carolina FC | Richmond, Virginia |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,377 |
| May 29, 2021 4 | North Carolina FC | 1–2 | FC Tucson | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,060 |
| June 5, 2021 5 | North Carolina FC | 1–2 | Fort Lauderdale CF | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,513 |
| June 16, 2021 6 | Greenville Triumph | 2–1 | North Carolina FC | City View, South Carolina |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,552 |
| June 20, 2021 7 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 3–2 | North Carolina FC | East Ridge, Tennessee |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1,924 |
| June 25, 2021 8 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Richmond Kickers | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,118 |
| July 3, 2021 9 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | 0–0 | North Carolina FC | Statesboro, Georgia |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Eagle Field Attendance: 1,057 |
| July 10, 2021 10 | Greenville Triumph | 0–0 | North Carolina FC | City View, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,411 |
| July 18, 2021 11 | North Carolina FC | 2–4 | Toronto FC II | Cary, North Carolina |
| 6:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,088 |
| July 21, 2021 12 | North Carolina FC | 4–0 | Richmond Kickers | Cary, North Carolina |
| 6:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,118 |
| August 1, 2021 13 | Fort Lauderdale CF | 2–3 | North Carolina FC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Chase Stadium |
| August 5, 2021 14 | New England Revolution II | 3–0 | North Carolina FC | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 100 |
| August 10, 2021 15 | North Carolina FC | 1–4 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,211 |
| August 14, 2021 16 | North Texas SC | 4–0 | North Carolina FC | Arlington, Texas |
| 9:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Choctaw Stadium Attendance: 550 |
| August 25, 2021 17 | North Carolina FC | 1–0 | Forward Madison | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 996 |
| August 28, 2021 18 | Richmond Kickers | 0–0 | North Carolina FC | Richmond, Virginia |
| 6:30 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 1,807 |
| September 4, 2021 19 | North Carolina FC | 0–3 | Union Omaha | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| September 11, 2021 20 | North Carolina FC | 4–1 | New England Revolution II | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 2,249 |
| September 18, 2021 21 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 3–1 | North Carolina FC | East Ridge, Tennessee |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1,689 |
| September 26, 2021 22 | North Carolina FC | 0–1 | North Texas SC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 2:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,106 |
| October 1, 2021 23 | Toronto FC II | 3–0 | North Carolina FC | Toronto, Canada |
| 4:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: BMO Training Ground Attendance: 1,689 |
| October 9, 2021 24 | North Carolina FC | 2–3 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Cary, North Carolina |
| 3:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,120 |
| October 13, 2021 25 | FC Tucson | 0–2 | North Carolina FC | Tucson, Arizona |
| 10:00 PM EDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 1,417 |
| October 16, 2021 26 | Union Omaha | 4–1 | North Carolina FC | Papillion, Nebraska |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 3,197 |
| October 23, 2021 27 | North Carolina FC | 1–0 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,373 Referee: Joshua Belk |
| October 30, 2021 28 | North Carolina FC | 0–2 | Greenville Triumph | Cary, North Carolina |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Report |
|
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 4,084 |
References
- ^ Andrejev, Alex (January 10, 2021). "North Carolina FC scaling back to USL League One, emphasizing role in youth soccer". News Observer. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ^ Schnittker, Nicholas. "NCFC names John Bradford as new head coach". Technician. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ^ "USL Championship, League One 2021 season launch dates announced". Soccer Stadium Digest. January 25, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2025.