WHO: NORTH CAROLINA FC

WHAT: A USL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH. IT’S NOT A MATCH TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, IT’S JUST A REGULAR SEASON GAME, BUT USL DECIDED THEIR TOP DIVISION WOULD BE CALLED THE CHAMPIONSHIP SO NOW WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE. IT’S A REGULAR GAME. NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP. IN THE USL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2019, 7:00 3:00 4:00 P.M. EST

WHERE: WAKEMED SOCCER PARK, 201 Soccer Park Drive, Cary, NC 27511w

WATCH: WBKI-58 AND ESPN+. NO REAL RADIO BROADCAST, BUT YOU CAN LISTEN ON THE IHEART APP, APPARENTLY. MAYBE.

ALSO, OFFICIAL WATCH PARTY IS AT AGAINST THE GRAIN, WHO ARE THE BEST, BUT IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DOWN THERE THE USUAL HAUNTS WILL ALSO HAVE THE GAME, E.G. SAINTS, FALLS CITY TAPROOM, MOLLY MALONE’S, ETC.

WHO, AGAIN? ERR. MAHH. GERRRRRRRDDDDD IT’S THE FIRST MARCH TO THE MATCH OF THE 2019 SEASON!!!!!!1!!!1!ONE!!! I’ve been waiting so long to write that.

OK, so North Carolina. They’ve got a new coach. They don’t have a Daniel Rios, but they do have a Manny Perez, a Robert Kristo, and a Ben Speas. All serviceable-to-quite good players, but no one that makes me shake in my boots.

Dave Sarachan, based on his longer than anticipated tenure with the National Team, seems like a pretty adaptable guy depending on the opposition, so it’s hard to necessarily predict how he’ll play. I’m guessing John Hackworth, who used to work with and for Sarachan, has a much better idea of what to expect.

Most preseason prognosticators have treated the Failhawks as an afterthought. Not in contention. While that could be understandable, given the power moves Indy and Nashville made, and the Rhino moves Pittsburgh made, I think NCFC could be a dark horse playoff team. FiveThirtyEight thinks they’ll finish tenth, but gives them a 59% chance to make the postseason. Now that ten teams make the postseason, that’s a much easier task, but still.

As far as what to expect from this game? No idea. Given North Carolina’s wholesale roster overhaul and inconsistent preseason (they had a lot of friendlies cancelled due to weather), you’d have to give Louisville City the edge just based on returning players, the caliber of those players, and NCFC’s discombobulation.

What I do know is that they’re pulling out the stops for their first tailgate (#WHALEGATE) of the season with some good North Carolina pork BBQ starting at 1pm. I also know that I’m so glad to have Louisville City soccer back. Buckle up for the long haul, it’s gonna be another great ride.

VAMOS MORADOS! VAMOS A GANAR!