Match Details
- Date: Sunday, March 17
- Kickoff time: 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Mecklenburg County Sports Complex
- Celebrating: The Season Opener
Live Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Follow along: Follow the match with realtime stats and live play-by-play on our Matchday Hub page.
Key Storylines
Carolina Core FC kicks off the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a road match at Sportsplex at Matthews against Crown Legacy FC.
For the Foxes this year, there’s a mix of new players and MLS NEXT Pro veterans. Returning to the league are 2023's 7th highest goal scorer, Papa Ndoye (14 goals), and midfield creator Jacob Evans (4 goals and 4 assists).
Young talent has also emerged to play an important role on the roster. 20-year-old North Carolina-native Yekeson Subah returns to the league after scoring three goals in just 988 minutes played for LAFC2 during the 2023 MLSNP season.
Players To Watch
Papa Ndoye* – 14 goals, 1 assist (Houston Dynamo 2)
Yekeson Subah* – 3 goals, (LAFC 2)
Kai Thomas* – 2 goals, 2 assists (FC Cincinnati 2)
*2023 MLS NEXT Pro Stats
Coaching Debut
This game marks the official debut of USMNT and MLS legend Roy Lassiter as a head coach. Previously with the Houston Dynamo U20's, Lassiter looks to continue his success from MLS into to MLSNP as Carolina Core FC embark on its inaugural season. The 1996 MLS Golden Boot winner, will start his head coaching career on the touchline Sunday, March 17 against Crown Legacy FC.
