ONE From Last Week

Last week we said that Union Omaha hosting North Carolina FC at Werner Park on Saturday would be one to watch and it did not fail to entertain. Coach Jay Mims had his boys primed and ready to challenge for a spot at the top of the table and they came out blasting. While usual starter between the pipes, Rashid Nuhu, was given a day off, backup goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita proved to Mims that the club has a fantastic option if needed. Within the first 30 seconds of the match, Piedrahita went deep and Nick Holliday, the 16yo rookie goalie for NCFC, got caught out by the bounce on the turf and Union Omaha went up 1-0 early. Just five minutes later, veteran forward Cory Herzog, made it 2-0 after collecting a long-ball from Piedrahita and putting a curler in at the far post.

The owls poured on the pressure and in the 17th minute left fullback, Ryen Jiba collected the ball in the defensive third, sent a ball forward to Noe Meza, who in turn decided to chip the rookie from 25 yards out, making a bad night worse for the visitors. North Carolina didn’t quit, and Garrett McLaughlin almost added to his goal tally with a banger off the crossbar at point blank range. Minutes later, they kept pressuring to pull one back and forced Piedrahita to make an amazing double-save! Nelson Flores Blanco, unfortunately set NCFC back even further by earning himself the first red card of the night for the visitors.

North Carolina started the second half down three goals and down a man – the two were even-stevens for the first 10 minutes of the half, but Union Omaha made it 4-0 off an in-swinging corner kick sent to the far post, where Alex Touche sent it softly across the face of the goal and Noe Meza finished it off to earn his brace. Ten minutes after that, NCFC Britton Fischer earned a double-yellow for a tactical foul then added dissent to the mixer to reduce North Carolina down to 9 men. Noe Meza skipped it off the top of the crossbar on the ensuing free kick, just missing out on his hattrick for the night. To their credit, despite being down by four and missing two players, North Carolina did not give up on the night – substitute Nicolas Rincon slipped gracefully past Union Defenders across the end line then quickly centered the ball for Garrett McLaughlin to slot home a consolation goal in the 91st.

That last gasp goal for McLaughlin brought him up to 10 for the year, in a three-way tie for third place in the Golden Boot Race. Jacob Labovitz scored for Greenville to make it 11 for the season and Emiliano Terzaghi, who also scored over the weekend, leads the race on 12.

Louis Perez could be essential for FC Tucson if they have any hope of making a late season charge.

ONE For Next Week

The sole mid-week match up featuring Forward Madison and NCFC went full time but failed to go “Full Mingo” with both teams adding a point to their total in the table. This seemingly worked out best for the home team, Forward Madison, who now have 32 points; are tied for 4th in the table and get a full week off. North Carolina FC, however, have only earned the full 3 points once since June 25th and have 8 matches left, starting this weekend when they host fellow cellar dwellers, FC Tucson.

FC Tucson, despite being dead last, still have a few matches in hand on North Carolina and should they win on Saturday, they could possibly start the long climb out of the basement of League One. Remarkably, there are still 27 points available to FC Tucson, including a make up match against none other than North Carolina, which was postponed back on July 30th. Tucson play one of those matches, away at WakeMed Soccer Park, against North Carolina this weekend and goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez, 4th in the league with 45 saves, could well end up 1st in the by the time his fight against Golden Boot challenger, Garrett McLaughlin (on 10 goals) and Oalex Anderson (on 5 goals) seek to show off in front of their home fans.

North Carolina FC, in 10th place on 23 points, can catch up to 9th place Northern Colorado should they prevail at home this weekend and while that doesn’t sound profound, it will put them only two, or maybe three wins, out of a playoff spot with winnable matches the following three weeks – away to Northern Colorado Hailstorm, home vs Central Valley Fuego, and an away rematch at Forward Madison on September 17th. Should they lose on Saturday to last place Tucson, it may deflate any hope. With two months left in the season, this match may end up critical.