The New York Cosmos will visit North Carolina FC on Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 pm. NCFC got off to a rocky start in the 2017 Fall Season, winning just one of their five games and none of their home matches. The Cosmos' next opponent heads back to Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park after earning a point on the road against the San Francisco Deltas. New York will be up against a team eager to please a frustrated home crowd.

 

Here are some of NCFC's players that are worth noting:

 

 

Stalling Sylvestre
 

Goalkeeper, Brian Sylvestre, has been one of North Carolina's strongest performers this year. The 24-year-old shot-stopper has been keeping his team's net under lock and key, making 16 catches and 13 clearances. With Sylvestre in goal, NCFC has not allowed more than two goals in the Regular Season since their April 8 matchup against the San Francisco Deltas (L 3-1), and have not conceded more than two goals at home in 2017.

 

Sylvestre saved five of six shots, conceding one goal against the visiting Cosmos in the Spring Season matchup after failing to thwart Juan Guerra's 52nd minute half-volley from the center of the area. As the current league leader in saves (81), Sylvestre is not easily beaten.

 

A regular in North Carolina's lineup, Steven Miller helped his team to their only win in the Fall Season so far. Playing 90 minutes in a 3-2 road win against Spring Season Champion, Miami FC, the attack-minded right back tallied two assists, setting up teammates, Jonathan Glenn and Marcel Kandziora, in the 27th and 70th minutes. Starting all 15 of his games this year, Miller has proven to be a dependable option in North Carolina's back line, making 38 clearances and 31 interceptions, as well as winning 18 of 26 tackles.

 

In New York's last visit, Miller won three of his five duels and made three clearances. Less than 10 minutes after the Cosmos took the lead, Miller tried to get his team back on the scoreboard, delivering a perfect cross near the midfield line to an onrushing Matthew Fondy, who blasted a half-volley at Cosmos keeper, Brian Holt, from the top of the box. The right back is good at finding his teammates, completing 80.3% of his passes.

 

The Cosmos will not only be tasked with getting past Miller to score, but also with preventing him from creating chances in the attack.

 

 

North Carolina's leading goal-scorer, Lance Laing, has been putting his left foot to good use, tallying eight goals so far this year. He is third in the NASL in goals scored and leads the league in total crosses (142). Two of Laing's goals were Fall Season equalizers. The six-foot midfielder helped his team to a 2-2 draw against Jacksonville Armada FC with a 68th minute volley, and sent a 72nd minute spot kick past the San Francisco Deltas in last Saturday's 1-1 away draw.

 

Leading NCFC in shots, with 38, and second in chances created (31), Laing brings a lot of punch to his team's attack. The Cosmos did a good job of marking him in their last trip to North Carolina. The midfielder was unable to take any shots, creating only one chance during 90 minutes of play.

 

 

Second in goals scored for North Carolina (5), Matthew Fondy kicked off NCFC's Fall Season campaign with a stoppage time penalty that earned his team a point against Puerto Rico FC. Fondy makes good use of his chances in the 18-yard box, netting in all five of his goals from inside the area. With 20 of 36 shots on target, the six-foot one-inch forward knows how to keep a goalkeeper busy.

 

The Cosmos will be busy in their search for three points when they travel to North Carolina on Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 pm. Watch the game live on MSG Networks and ESPN3.