# Asheville City SC

Asheville City SC is an American amateur soccer team based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 2016, the men's team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The women's team was founded in 2017 and played in the Women's Premier Soccer League until joining the newly formed USL W League for the 2022 season. The team colors are blue and white.

## History

Asheville City SC was announced as a National Premier Soccer League expansion team on November 14, 2016. On the day of the announcement, the ownership group was announced: Chairman/CFO Jimmy Wheeler, President Ryan Kelley, General Manager Allen Bradley, Director of Revenue Management Jordan Vance, Director of Community Outreach Josh Yoakum, and Director of Communications Andrew Hunter. All members of the ownership group are Western North Carolina natives.
The same day of the announcement City SC announced that Gary Hamel was going to serve as the club's head coach. Hamel served as the head coach of the nearby Mars Hill University's men's soccer program. Hamel additionally served as an assistant coach for the Oregon State Beavers men's soccer program.
Asheville City SC also announced on its foundation date, that the club will play its home matches at Memorial Stadium in Downtown Asheville. Asheville City SC currently plays home matches at Greenwood Field on the UNC Asheville campus.
On December 5, 2016 the club announced it would compete in the East division of the Southeast Conference. On May 6, 2017, Asheville City won its first ever match in NPSL play.
On October 16, 2019 the club announced it would join USL League Two.

## Colors and badge

The crest was designed with four elements in minds in order to represent the city of Asheville, North Carolina. The colors in the crest a "blue haze" and white. The blue haze color represents the blue hazy seen in the nearby Smoky Mountains, while the color white is the color of all colors, alluding to the spirit of inclusion of Asheville. The silhouette in the crest is of Asheville City Hall, which serves as a homage to the club's downtown location. The "AC" monogram in the logo is a reference to the sport of soccer's tradition in emblems over the last century. The "AC" stands for 'Asheville City' as well as used to recognize the city's love for the game.

## Stadium

Asheville City plays at Greenwood Field on the UNC-Asheville campus.

## Year-by-year

| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
| 2017 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Southeast East Division | Conference Quarterfinals | Ineligible |
| 2018 | 4 | NPSL | 5th, Southeast Conference | Conference Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2019 | 4 | NPSL | 3rd, Southeast Conference | Conference Final | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 4th, Deep South Division | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, South Central Division | Conference Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, South Central Division | Conference Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, South Central Division | National Semifinals | 1st Round: Lost 2-0 vs One Knoxville SC |

## 2022 Men's Roster

    As of July 6, 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ARG | Ryan Bilichuk |
| 2 | DF | AUS | Malcolm Ward |
| 3 | DF | USA | Caden Lawrence |
| 4 | DF | CTA | Bissafi Dotte |
| 5 | DF | NED | Dave Neijenhuis |
| 6 | DF | USA | Makel Rasheed |
| 7 | FW | FRA | Kemy Amiche |
| 8 | MF | GER | Oskar Lenz |
| 9 | DF | USA | Lucas Gonzalez |
| 10 | MF | FRA | Quentin Huerman |
| 11 | FW | AUS | Finn Ballard McBride |
| 12 | MF | SEN | Bachir Ndiaye |
| 14 | DF | USA | Steven James |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | FW | GER | Luca Erhardt |
| 16 | MF | USA | Asa Blake |
| 17 | MF | USA | Clay Obara |
| 18 | DF | USA | Josiah Blanton |
| 19 | DF | USA | Lorenz Hoover |
| 20 | MF | USA | Mason Cookus |
| 21 | FW | ESP | Daniel Cerezo |
| 22 | MF | USA | Aidan O'Brien |
| 23 | MF | USA | Ryan Baer |
| 24 | GK | USA | Sean Green |
| 25 | GK | USA | Will Watson |
| 26 | MF | JPN | Kyoji Hata |
| 27 | MF | JPN | Hayuki Yamazaki |
| 28 | DF | USA | Jason Gun |

## 2023 Women's Roster

    As of October 12, 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 0 | GK | USA | Lexi Dooley |
| 1 | GK | USA | Sophie Hefner |
| 2 | DF | AUS | Jasmine Barry |
| 3 | MF | USA | Estella Gajarsky-Prado |
| 4 | MF | USA | Barrett Eidson |
| 5 | DF | USA | Anna Doane |
| 7 | DF | USA | Sage Branch |
| 8 | MF | USA | Azalea Mihailovich |
| 10 | FW | USA | Taylor Gardner |
| 11 | DF | GER | Sina Anger |
| 13 | MF | USA | Addie Cooper |
| 14 | MF | USA | Daysha Chaney |
| 15 | DF | GER | Julia Hüsch |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | DF | USA | Ashley Macfarlane |
| 17 | DF | USA | Shae Hassig |
| 18 | MF | USA | Lizzie Ball |
| 19 | FW | USA | Kendall Powell |
| 20 | DF | USA | Emilee Nooney |
| 21 | MF | USA | Ava Bjorkman-Tracy |
| 22 | DF | USA | Jordan Schaetzly |
| 23 | MF | USA | Kaiya Boyd |
| 24 | MF | USA | Kylie Kroese |
| 25 | FW | USA | Karlee Benz |
| 27 | MF | JPN | Nao Kawasaki |
| 28 | MF | USA | Lillian Morrison |
| 32 | GK | USA | Gracie Murray |

### Year-by-year

    As of July 21, 2024
| Year | Division | League | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Championship |
| 2018 | 4 | WPSL | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 7 | 31 | 25 | 2nd of 8 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | 4 | WPSL | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 2nd of 8 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 4 | WPSL | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | 4 | WPSL | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 2nd of 8 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 4 | USLW | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 15 | 5th of 6 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USLW | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 22 | 2nd of 7 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USLW | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 26 | 2nd of 7 | Conference Finals | did not qualify |

## Rivalries

Asheville City competes with Chattanooga FC for the "Blue Ridge Derby". Asheville City also competes in the "Carolina Clasico" with Greenville FC. Asheville City also had a brief rivalry with former South Central Division foe SC United Bantams.

## Staff

| Position | Staff |
| Chairman/CFO | Jimmy Wheeler |
| President | Ryan Kelley |
| General Manager | Tim Blekicki |
| Director of Revenue Management | Jordan Vance |
| Director of Community Outreach | Allen Bradley |
| Director of Communications | Kristy Kepley-Steward |
| Head Coach | Scott Wells |
| Assistant Coach | Joe Barber |
| Assistant Coach | Matthew McArthur |
| Assistant Coach | Guy Campbell |
Last updated: July 6, 2017 Source: Asheville City SC