The month of June was woefully unkind to North Carolina FC, yielding zero wins, one draw, and four losses between their NASL and U.S. Open Cup matches. That ended on Saturday night, with a 1–2 loss to Indy Eleven, the second loss to the previously winless side in eight days time.

How did such ineptitude cast a dark shadow over a once-celebrated and confident team from just one month ago? The Oaks had seemed to be finding a rhythm in May, earning four wins in six matches, and the team was firmly in the hunt for an NASL Spring title, as well as poised for another U.S. Open Cup run. With NCFC fortunes now turned on their head, fractures are spreading across the fanbase, pointing fingers, calling for changes, and trying to rationalize the lack of success on the pitch.

Excuses for underperforming, and promises for better results ahead are no longer resonating among the frustrated and numbed hearts of the NCFC faithful. The most telling quote I heard in the stands in NCFC’s latest loss on Saturday that optimizes what NCFC is going through was: “It’s too bad we can’t practice luck.”

Being unlucky is an understatement for the boys in blue right now. Let’s take a quick look back at some prime examples:

6/24 — Loss 1–2 at home against Indy Eleven

Indy’s second goal came from a deflection off of our own defender, which found Brian Sylvestre driving in the wrong direction. Sylvestre clearly had the ball covered if the Indy shot only evaded our defender’s desperate jab at the ball.

6/17 — Loss 0–2 away against Indy Eleven

Indy’s first goal came from a deflection, when one of our defenders attempted to clear the ball off the goal line, which went straight to an Indy player’s chest only a couple of feet away for an effortless goal.

The back-to-back Indy losses came at the only time Indy has played with a full-strength roster. Indy Eleven was the 2016 NASL runners-up, and after very minimal off-season turnover, they were poised to repeat their success in 2017. However, Indy unexpectedly struggled through eleven straight winless NASL matches due to constant injuries and suspensions. NCFC had the pleasure of catching a healed Indy at their best, which coincided with NCFC season-worst run of their own injuries and fatigue.

6/14 — Loss 2–3 at home against Houston Dynamo

Aside from NCFC missing a few late-game empty net opportunities, which was heartbreaking enough, fans had to bear witness to NCFC’s defensive errors catalyzing Houston’s offense, especially after a long and disheartening lightning delay. Houston’s initial goal originated from an uncontested cross due to one of our most consistent defenders uncharacteristically slipping on the pitch.

6/10 — Draw 2–2 away against New York Cosmos

The Cosmos’ game tying goal from Kalif Alhassan was not only Alhassan’s first goal of the season for the Cosmos, but it came in his first Cosmos appearance. Another right place — right time for NCFC opponents. Alhassan, a former Portland Timbers winger, has been an NASL journeyman for the past few years, never quite finding the same offensive game he had in his younger playing days. This chip shot over NCFC’s Brian Sylvestre in the 84th minute crushed the hearts of the Oaks.

6/4 — Loss 0–1 at home against New York Cosmos

Heading into the match, NCFC was forced to play with a fatigued roster after participating in the U.S. Open Cup match earlier in the week. Opting to focus on the U.S. Open Cup, NCFC had nothing left to throw against the hyper-aggressive Cosmos. New York had already been defeated in the Open Cup tournament, and took advantage of over a week of rest, and pushed the pace beyond what NCFC could manage to match.