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North Carolina FC U23 is an American soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. It was founded in 2002 as the Raleigh Elite, and the current affiliate of North Carolina FC, a third division club in the United Soccer League. The team plays in USL League Two (the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid), and previously in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The team was known as the Cary Clarets in 2008 and 2009; and went dormant for a year in 2010. As a member of the USASA League, the then-Carolina RailHawks U23's took the Men's Region III Championship in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and won the U-23's National Championship in 2011 and 2013. The team's colors are navy blue, gold, and cardinal red.
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| Full name | North Carolina FC U23 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | ||
| Stadium | WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina | ||
| Capacity | 1,000[1] | ||
| Owner | Steve Malik | ||
| Head Coach | Christopher Harrington | ||
| League | USL League Two | ||
| 2024 | 3rd, South Atlantic Division Playoffs: DNQ | ||
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The Raleigh CASL Elite entered the PDL for the first time in 2002, and was run by the Raleigh–based Capital Area Soccer League (CASL). They finished their first competitive campaign second in the Mid-Atlantic Division (behind Williamsburg Legacy) with an 11–7–0 record; and made the playoffs. They overcame Northeast Division champions Vermont Voltage 1–0 in the Conference Semi-finals before falling to the Cape Cod Crusaders in the Eastern Conference final. Raleigh enjoyed a brief foray into the US Open Cup thanks to their positive early season form, knocking out D3 Pro League side Carolina Dynamo 5–2 in the first round before losing 3–0 to A-League stalwarts Richmond Kickers in the second.
Raleigh Elite finished third in the Mid Atlantic Division in 2003, with an 8–8–2 record, 17 points behind divisional champions Richmond Kickers Future. Chris Norbet was Elite's top scorer, with seven goals; while John Izzo contributed three assists for the season.
Elite finished in fourth place behind divisional champs Carolina Dynamo with a 7–9–2 record in 2004.
In 2005 Elite enjoyed a productive season, losing just four games. The Elite were high-scoring entertainers throughout the year. They finished in third place in the Mid Atlantic Division, one point behind the Carolina Dynamo. That year, Aaron King was Raleigh's top scorer, with ten goals, while Spencer Wadsworth contributed an impressive eight assists.
Prior to the beginning of the 2006 season, the CASL organization severed ties with them, and the team was taken over by the Morrisville, North Carolina–based Next Level Academy, who renamed it the Raleigh Elite. The new Elite took a step backwards in 2006, which saw them win just four games all season. Willy Guadarrama was Raleigh's top scorer, with nine goals; Guadarrama and Michael Harrington contributed four assists each.
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In March 2007, the Next Level Academy formed a partnership with the then new USL First Division team, the Carolina RailHawks, who subsequently became the team's parent professional club, and the team was renamed the Cary RailHawks U23s. The RailHawks, endured yet another disappointing season not notching their first win until the fourth game of the season. Schilawski and Sassano were the RailHawks' top scorers, with four and five goals respectively, while Joe Germanese contributed four assists.
The RailHawks made a push for the playoffs in 2008. They ended the year third in the Southeast Division, just five points behind second place Bradenton Academics. Brian Shriver and Ronnie Bouemboue were Cary's top scorers, with six and five goals respectively, while Corben Bone contributed four assists.
Renamed 2008–2009
In November 2008, Next Level Academy announced a partnership with Burnley Football Club, then a member of the English Championship, in order to jointly develop professional players. As part of the agreement, the team was renamed the Cary Clarets[2] in USL PD League before withdrawing at the end of the 2009 season. The team was dormant in 2010.
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2002 Raleigh CASL Elite logo
2006 Raleigh Elite logo
2007 RailHawks NPSL logo
2017 NCFC U23 logo
Name reverted
In 2011, the once again re-christened Carolina RailHawks U-23s made it to the USASA Men's U-23 Region III Championship and National Championship.
The Carolina RailHawks U-23's won the 2011, 2012, and 2013 USASA U-23's Region III Championship. In 2011 and 2013 the team also won the USASA U-23's National Championship. In January 2014, the team announced they would enter the NPSL for the upcoming season[3] competing in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the South Region.
Name changed
The team was renamed to Carolina RailHawks NPSL on April 7, 2016. This was to allow players 23 and older to play.[4]
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| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh CASL Elite | |||||
| 2002 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Mid Atlantic | Conference Finals | 2nd round |
| 2003 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | 2nd round |
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Carolina RailHawks U23s | |||||
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southeast | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Cary Clarets | |||||
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Southeast | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | National Semi-finals | did not qualify |
| 2010 | On Hiatus | ||||
| Carolina RailHawks U23s | |||||
| 2011 | USASA | Region III U-23's Championship | National Championship | National Champions | did not qualify |
| 2012 | USASA | Region III U-23's Championship | National Championship | did not qualify | |
| 2013 | USASA | Region III U-23's Championship | National Championship | National Champions | did not qualify |
| 2014 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2015 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Carolina RailHawks NPSL | |||||
| 2016 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, South Atlantic | South Atlantic Conference Semi-final | did not qualify |
| North Carolina FC U23 | |||||
| 2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 6th, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 5th, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 7th, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 3es, South Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
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- USL PDL Eastern Conference Champion 2009
- USASA Region III U-23 Champions 2011; 2012; 2013
- USASA U-23 National Champions 2011; 2013
Damon Nahas (2005–2006)- Sean Nahas (2007)
- Dewan Bader (2008–2014)
Luis Satorra (2015)- Dewan Bader (2016–2018)
- WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North Carolina (2003–2008, 2011–present)
- Middle Creek Park; Cary, North Carolina (2009)
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