CARY, N.C. (January 22, 2019) – North Carolina FC will officially begin preparations for the new era that is the 2019 USL Championship season, as players report for the first day of practice on Monday, Feb. 4. The team’s preseason schedule has also been released, and features four exciting home matches as well as one road match. The first three matches will feature games against North Carolina’s top college programs, while the team will conclude the preseason schedule with two games against regional USL Championship rivals.



“I’m very excited to get the season underway and to begin working with our group of players,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Dave Sarachan. “We have scheduled games throughout our pre-season that will offer us an opportunity to evaluate and see our group in match conditions. Along with quality training, these matches will be an important indicator of where we are as a group as we head into the first week of March and our opening match on March 9. I, along with my staff, believe we have assembled a group of players that are excited and motivated to begin the 2019 season.”



North Carolina FC will open its preseason schedule against UNC Wilmington on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park on Field 6. The team will face Duke University in Durham on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. On Saturday, Feb. 16, the team will host UNC Chapel Hill at 1 p.m. on Field 4 at WakeMed Soccer Park.



All three exhibitions against the local college teams will highlight North Carolina FC’s ties to developing soccer players in the state. Between the rosters for Wilmington, Duke and Chapel Hill, nearly 20 players featured for NCFC Youth Academy or NCFC U-23 at some point in their young careers.



North Carolina FC will conclude the final two weeks of the preseason against professional sides. NCFC will host in-state rival Charlotte Independence on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. on Field 7 at WakeMed Soccer Park. Preseason meetings between the teams have been exciting, dramatic affairs that have set the stage for intense regular-season and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches later in the season.



Charleston Battery will make the trip to WakeMed Soccer Park to face North Carolina FC on Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. on Field 6 in the final preseason test. The week after, North Carolina FC will begin USL Championship play.



Unless otherwise noted, home preseason matches are free and open for the public to attend. Fans are encouraged to come support North Carolina FC and get their first glimpse of the new-look squad. Dates and locations are subject to change. Please check NorthCarolinaFC.com for updates.



2019 North Carolina FC Preseason Schedule

Date Time Opponent H/A Location Sat. Feb. 9 TBD UNC Wilmington Home Closed Door Scrimmage Tues. Feb. 12 10 a.m. Duke Away Duke University Training Field Sat. Feb. 16 1 p.m. UNC Chapel Hill Home WakeMed Soccer Park Field 4 Sat. Feb. 23 2 p.m. Charlotte Independence Home WakeMed Soccer Park Field 7 Sat. March 2 2 p.m. Charleston Battery Home WakeMed Soccer Park Field 6

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