Carolina Soccer Report: NCFC signs a Tar Heel, the NC Courage travel abroad, and Carolina Core hosts the Holdent Trent Community Cup
By Ryan Donahue
Charlotte FC is back at the bank this weekend as the side takes on Southeast rivals Atlanta United in the first of two league fixtures. Charlotte, despite securing a point on the road this past weekend in Seattle, left much to be desired with both Dean Smith and fans expecting to see an improved performance this weekend. One change Smith could make to inject some energy into his side would be handing Wilfried Zaha his first home and MLS debut. Charlotte’s DP winger missed the season opener against Seattle due to the birth of his child but is expected to return for this upcoming weekend.
Here is our weekly recap of all soccer news around the Carolinas outside Charlotte FC:
Top Stories of the Week
Charleston Battery
With less than two weeks until their season begins, Charleston Battery picked up a 4-0 win this past weekend over Charlotte Independence with a brace from Cal Jennings, Johnny Klein, and MD Myers. Ahead of the club’s season opener, the Battery announced its new partnership with The Ideal Life, a local Charleston-based company that will be the club’s new title and front-of-kit sponsor for the upcoming season.
The Battery will debut its new sponsor when the side faces off against Louisville City FC on Saturday, March, 8 at home.
NCFC
North Carolina FC announced on February 18 the signing of former UNC-Chapel Hill midfielder Ahmad Al-Qaq on a one-year contract with an additional option to extend. In Al-Qaq’s forty-seven appearances with the Tar Heels, he scored six goals and captured five assists. Al Qaq has already started his trial with NCFC featuring in the side fixture against Charlotte FC earlier this month.
NCFC will kick off their USL season on March 8 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at home.
Charlotte Independence
Charlotte Independence fell to the Battery in a disappointing 4-0 defeat however as the side continues to work toward preseason fitness, a new signing may help improve their fortunes heading into the new season.
On February 20, the Independence announced a new defensive signing Mike DeShields, who previously played for the Hartford Athletic last season. DeShields is also a former North Carolina homegrown player having spent his college years playing at Wake Forest. Head Coach Mike Jeffries stated that with DeShields coming into the side, the Independence will get an experienced central defender who can adapt to the side’s style of play and will bring leadership and athleticism to the backline.
Charlotte Independence will play their season opener on March 15 away to the Richmond Kickers.
Greenville Triumph
The Triumph lost 3-2 to the Battery this past weekend however excitement around the club continues to grow with the appointment of new goalkeeper and Golden Glove winner Seth Torman. The Alabama native joins the side on the back of a strong 2024 in which he made his professional debut with Los Angeles Force where he featured 18 times and picked up six clean sheets, a league title, and a save of the year.
Greenville kicks off its regular season on March 8 against Westchester SC.
Crown Legacy FC
The Crown Legacy has added fresh recruits to its roster with the additions of Portuguese midfielder Ferna Ferreira, defenders Yves Tcheuyap and Jamie Smith, and forward Barzee Blama. Ferreira joins from Rio Ave FC on loan through June 30, 2025, with an option to purchase the player at the end of the trial. Smith joins from Greenville Triumph where he made 64 appearances in two seasons and contributed with eight goals. Tcheuyap is an experienced collegiate player formerly with NC State and East Tennessee. Tcheuyap will have a one-season contract with Crown Legacy which also contains an option to extend for 2026. Bobby Belair the assistant General Manager described the Canadian as an exciting prospect that will help strengthen the side left-back position which is also a spot that Charlotte FC is still looking to fill.
Blama is a Mercer University forward with a contract through 2026 but options as far out as 2029. The forward was described by Belair as a strong dynamic central forward with a strong eye for goal. Blama started in 33 of his 39 collegiate appearances across two seasons where he chipped in with 13 goals and three assists.
Crown Legacy kicks off on March 7 against NYCFC II and fans will be excited to eye up these recruits and evaluate if these new additions could help fill needs in the First Team.
Carolina Core FC
The Core won this past weekend against Wake Forest in its preseason fixture with a cool finish from Facundo Canete to seal a 1-0 win at home.
The Core also hosted High Point University in the Holden Trent Community Cup honoring the High Point and MLS goalkeeper who tragically passed away in October of last year. The Community Cup was put on by the Goal 13 Foundation which helps to serve student-athletes in need of support to achieve their goals.
Carolina Core FC will face off on March 14 against Inter Miami II in the MLS NEXT Pro league.
North Carolina Courage (W)
The Courage women have headed out on international business with several players getting called up to their respective national teams. Of those players, Jaedyn Shaw will continue her run of caps with the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup. Manaka Matsukubo will also participate with Japan in the cup earning her first senior call-up after a strong U-20 World Cup performance where she helped lead Japan to a second-place finish.
Denise O’Sullivan and Feli Rauch also are with their national teams Ireland and Germany respectively as the teams take on UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures.
The North Carolina Courage’s 2025 NWSL season opener starts against Racing Louisville on March 15.
Carolina Ascent FC (W)
Carolina Ascent FC picked up a draw this past weekend against DC Powers at home. With the game going back and forth, head coach Phillip Poole examined the match stating that the side's ability to come back from behind twice in the match showed resilience and positives could be taken from that performance. Sarah Trocolli also picked up her first goal acknowledging the effort the team has spent to refine its finishing in training.
The Ascent currently sits second in the USL Super League table.
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