Everything on the Line for Asheville City SC
Soccer Sheet spoke with Charlotte Independence 2, Appalachian FC, and Asheville City SC about the road to the USL 2 Eastern Conference final. Asheville face Vermont Green FC tonight.
Tonight at 6:30 PM, Asheville City SC will face defending USL 2 champions Vermont Green FC in a rematch of sorts: both clubs’ women’s squads met in the semifinals of the USL W League playoffs, with Vermont victorious in the 1-0 win.
The Green Women lost in the final, however, so for both clubs this is a last chance for a trophy until the pre-professional leagues return next year.
When we asked Asheville City SC club director Tim Blekicki about playing the Green twice in one year, he had this to say:
“Maple syrup still isn’t a personality trait.”
Sounds like the start of a beautiful derby. You can stream tonight’s Eastern Conference championship for free at 6:30 PM ET.
Asheville City SC is North Carolina’s Last Team Standing in the USL 2 Playoffs
Asheville City SC’s path to the Eastern Conference championship started in unfamiliar territory: USL 2’s South Atlantic Division. Asheville had previously played in the South Central Division, which they had won three years in a row, including in 2024, when they won the Eastern Conference and made it to the national semifinals.
Of course, another thing was different this year: Asheville SC finished the regular season in second place, as Charlotte Independence 2 won the division. Appalachian FC, the third place team, also qualified for the playoffs.
Though they finished second in a harder, new division, the Blues weren’t deterred.
“The players and staff have fully deserved this after all the effort and perseverance,” Asheville City SC Men’s head coach Carl Reynolds told Soccer Sheet. “We have had a tough schedule and managed to find results throughout them all whilst staying true to our identity.”
Because of the second place finish, Asheville had to win a qualifier against Virginia Beach United to make the tournament proper. Appalachian FC also won their play-in match, and drew Charlotte Independence 2 in the first round of the playoffs.
Asheville needed extra time to defeat Lionsbridge FC in the first round of the playoffs, 2-3 (a.e.t.), while Appalachian FC stunned Charlotte Independence 2 with a 0-2 win.
Charlotte Independence 2 head coach Nick Fusco talked to Soccer Sheet after the loss.
“We are definitely frustrated with the way our season ended, felt like we had potential to make a run with the group we had left this season but it just didn’t happen,” said Fusco. “At the end of the day, we have to finish our chances and just didn’t do that against a team that defended very well and put away the couple chances they had. I think overall this shows how strong our conference is as a whole, 3 teams from the same conference making up this round with 2 of them facing each other in the round of 16. We’ve had a great season and plan on taking another step forward next year with a lot of guys planning on returning.”
The upset set up a Sunday showdown between Asheville and the Boys from Boone. The Blues got off to a strong start, and led 3-0 at halftime, but App responded in the second half with quick goals in the 54th and 60th minutes.
Then, in the 69th minute, Mitch Picksley got his second goal of the match for the Blues, and his brace would be decisive in Asheville’s 4-2 victory.
“I’m personally delighted to have the opportunity to play in a second conference final in 2 years,” said Reynolds.
Appalachian FC head coach Tom Gillette praised Asheville’s performance when he spoke to Soccer Sheet after the match.
“Proud of the performance, we played with courage and aggression,” said Gillette. “Asheville were very efficient with their chances in the first half [and] that put us in a difficult position at half time but our response in the first fifteen in the second half was incredible, unfortunately we weren’t able to get back on level terms but it was a performance of a strong team.”
Blekicki was equally complementary towards App after the match.
“Great season by Appalachian FC and impressive they were able to succeed after making the jump from NPSL,” said Blekicki. “Not everyone does that. Proud of Carl and the boys but the job isn’t done yet.”
For Asheville, the job continues tonight.