Northern Virginia FC

American soccer team

Not to be confused with Northern Virginia United FC.

Soccer club

Northern Virginia FC

Full name| Northern Virginia Football Club
Founded| 1998; 26 years ago (1998) as Northern Virginia Royals
Stadium| VAR Sportsplex
Leesburg, Virginia
Capacity| 1,500
League| USL League Two
USL W League
Eastern Premier Soccer League
MASL3
2023| 2nd, Chesapeake Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Website| Club website

Home colors

Away colors

|

Northern Virginia FC (formerly Northern Virginia Royals and Evergreen FC, and commonly known as NoVa FC) is an American soccer club from Leesburg, Virginia competing in USL League Two, USL W League, Eastern Premier Soccer League and Major Arena Soccer League 3.

The club's women's team was known as the Northern Virginia Majestics, who played in the women's USL W-League, and fielded a team in the USL's Super-20 League, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues umbrella. Throughout their recent history, NVFC previously enjoyed minor league affiliation with D.C. United, the nearby Major League Soccer franchise.[1]

## History[edit]

### Professional[edit]

Northern Virginia FC was founded in 1998 and joined the USISL D-3 Pro League as an expansion franchise in 1998, entering the team under the name Northern Virginia Royals.[2] They ended their first season in 7th place in the Atlantic Division with a 5–12–1 record.[3] In their second season, they improved, winning 10 of their 18 regular season games, finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division and also qualified for their first US Open Cup campaign in 1999, where they were upset in the first round by Florida PDL side Cocoa Expos 5–3.[4] In the playoffs they beat divisional rivals South Carolina Shamrocks 2–1 in the first round before falling 4–0 to Charlotte in the conference semi-final. The 1998 season and the Royals were featured in the book "Unlucky: A Season of Struggle in Minor League Professional Soccer" by Dave Ungrady, who trained and played briefly for the Royals as well[5][6]

The D-3 Pro League became the USL Pro Select League in 2003, and the Royals finished bottom of the 3-team Southern Division, with just 6 wins for the year. The USL Pro Select League became the USL Second Division in 2005, and dispensed with divisions in favor of a single-table format; for the Royals, this proved to be yet another disastrous season.

### Move to PDL[edit]

After finishing bottom of the league in the USL Second Division, the Royals management took the decision to self-relegate themselves to the USL Premier Development League for the 2006 season.[7] The Royals won their first match in the amateur PDL 3–1 over West Virginia Chaos, ultimately finishing fourth in the Mid Atlantic Division in their debut 2006 season.

The Northern Virginia Royals were inducted into the USL Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007.[7]

### Partnership with D.C. United[edit]

In 2015, the Royals rebranded as Evergreen FC and partnered with Major League Soccer club D.C. United and formed a joint PDL team called D.C. United U-23, who combined their NPSL side with the Royals, to play in the PDL, finishing fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Division.[8][9]

### Evergreen Hammers[edit]

After the 2015 season, the Royals transferred their operations and relocated to Loudon County, Virginia in 2016 playing under the Evergreen FC banner as the Evergreen Hammers.[7][10]

### Northern Virginia FC[edit]

For the 2021 season, Evergreen which was already part of the Northern Virginia FC club, renamed the USL League Two club to sit under the NoVa FC banner.[11] NoVa FC had already operated teams under that name in the lower level United Premier Soccer League and Eastern Premier Soccer League.[12]

On 27 August 2021, NoVa FC announced they would be reviving the women's program with a new side in the USL W League beginning in 2022.[13]

## Logo history[edit]

Logo History

## Year-by-year[edit]

### Professional/USL League Two[edit]

Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup

|
|
|
|
|

Northern Virginia Royals
1998 | 3  | USISL D-3 Pro League | 7th, Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
1999 | USL D-3 Pro League | 4th, Atlantic  | Conference Semifinals  | 1st Round
2000 | 7th, Southern  | did not qualify | 2nd Round
2001 | 4th, Southern  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2002 | 4th, Southern  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2003 | USL Pro Soccer League | 3rd, Southern  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2004 | 3rd, Southern  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2005 | USL Second Division | 9th  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2006 | 4  | USL PDL | 4th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2007 | 7th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2008 | 5th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2009 | 7th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2010 | 5th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2011 | 2nd, South Atlantic  | Conference Quarterfinals  | did not qualify
2012 | 7th, South Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2013 | 3rd, South Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2014 | 6th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup
D.C. United U-23
2015 | 4  | USL PDL  | 5th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
Evergreen FC
2016 | 4  | USL PDL | 7th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2017 | 7th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2018 | 6th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2019 | USL League Two | 8th, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Northern Virginia FC
2021 | 4  | USL League Two | 3rd, Mid Atlantic  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2022 | 3rd, Chesapeake  | did not qualify | did not qualify
2023 | 2nd, Chesapeake  | did not qualify | did not qualify

### Eastern Premier Soccer League[edit]

Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season  | Record (W-D-L)  | Playoffs  | U.S. Open Cup*

|
|
|
|
|
|

2020–21  | 5  | Eastern Premier Soccer League | 2nd, Mid-Atlantic  | 6–0–1  | did not qualify | 2nd Round
2021–22  | 1st, Mid-Atlantic  | 12–0–1  | Champion | 4th Qualifying Round
2022–23  | 1st, Mid-Atlantic  | 10–0–0  | Champion | 4th Qualifying Round

*Club entered in local qualifying round

### Major Arena Soccer League 3[edit]

Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season  | Record (W-L-T)  | Playoffs

|
|
|
|
|

2021–22  | 3  | Major Arena Soccer League 3 | 1st, East  | 10–0–0  | Champion
2022–23  | Major Arena Soccer League 3 | 1st, East  | 7–2–0  | Champion

### USL W League[edit]

Year  | Division  | League  | Regular Season  | Record (W-L-T)  | Playoffs

|
|
|
|
|

2022 | 4  | USL W League | 5th, Mid Atlantic  | 1–7–2  | did not qualify
2023 | USL W League | 3rd, Mid Atlantic  | 6–0–5  | did not qualify

## Honors[edit]

### League[edit]

* Eastern Premier Soccer League
* Mid-Atlantic Conference Regular Season Champion (2): 2021–22; 2022–23
* Playoff Champion (2): 2021–22; 2022–23
* Major Arena Soccer League 3
* East Division Regular Season Champion (2): 2022; 2023
* Playoff Champion (2): 2022; 2023
* National Independent Soccer Association
* NISA Nation National Champion (1): 2023

### Cups[edit]

* Metropolitan DC-Virginia Soccer Association
* MDCVSA State Cup (2): 2021, 2022
* National Independent Soccer Association
* NISA Independent Cup – Mid-Atlantic Region (Runner-Up): 2022
* US Adult Soccer Association Region I
* National Amateur Cup Region I (1): 2022
* US Adult Soccer Association
* National Amateur Cup (Runner-Up): 2022

## Statistics[edit]

### Career USL 2 Goal Leaders[edit]

Rank  | Player  | Goals  | Career span

|
|
|

1 | AJ Sheta | 13 | 2016-
2 | JP Ayolmbong | 12 | 2022-
3 | Vagner Marquis | 11 | 2022-
4 | Tyler Clegg | 8 | 2018-2022
5 | KJ Nadeau | 7 | 2019-
6 | Bernardo Majano | 6 | 2016-2019
6 | Martin Ngoh | 6 | 2021
8 | DJ Charlton | 5 | 2018-2019
9 | Luke Campbell | 4 | 2021-
9 | Connor Coward | 4 | 2016-2017
9 | Jhonny de Souza | 4 | 2018-
9 | John Emmons | 4 | 2017-2018
9 | Lewis Long | 4 | 2017
14 | Samuel Biyo | 3 | 2018
14 | Graydon Hester | 3 | 2016-2017
14 | Iliass Laghjibi | 3 | 2022-
14 | Declan Quill | 3 | 2023-
14 | Alton West | 3 | 2021-

*Through 2023 USL 2 Season

## Head coaches[edit]

* Silvino Gonzalo (1998–2007)
* John Pascarella (2007–2008)
* Tom Torres (2009–2010)
* Richie Burke (2011–2012)[14]
* Grady Renfrow (2013–2014)
* Richie Burke (2014–2015)
* Brian Welsh (2014–2015)
* Ian Bishop (2016)
* Grady Renfrow (2017)
* Paul Ngend (2018–2019)
* Grady Renfrow (2021–)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Royals Owner Mo Sheta Inducted in USL Hall of Fame". Northern Virginia Royals.
2. ^ Kuhns, Will (April 10, 1998). "Local Players, Coach Gonzalo make Royal Entrance to USISL". Washington Post.
3. ^ "USL Pro Media Guide". United Soccer League. 2012.
4. ^ "U.S. Open Cup: First-round result (June 10)". Soccer America. June 11, 1999.
5. ^ Holroyd, Steve (December 28, 2017). "Putting the book in: American soccer literature to read this winter". The Philly Soccer Page.
6. ^ Edwards, Bob (April 28, 1999). "Soccer". NPR.
7. ^ a b c "Evergreen FC formerly Northern Virginia Royals". Northern Virginia Royals.
8. ^ Candeloro, Christian (May 15, 2015). "New York Red Bulls and D.C. United U23 Join PDL". Ocean City FC. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
9. ^ "D.C. United Under-23 team to compete in Premier Development League in 2015". D.C. United. February 19, 2015.
10. ^ "Next-Level Soccer: Evergreen Hammers Host Final Game Saturday". Loudoun Now. June 22, 2016.
11. ^ "UNVEILING THE SCHEDULE: USL League Two will kick off May 1". Front Row Soccer. February 25, 2021.
12. ^ "EPSL Welcomes Northern Virginia FC". EPSL. August 26, 2020.
13. ^ "Northern Virginia FC Announced as Newest Club to Join USL W League". www.uslwleague.com. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
14. ^ Royals Hire Burke as PDL Coach

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Official PDL site

* v
* t
* e

Northern Virginia FC

Based in Leesburg, Virginia

The Club|

* History
* D-3 Pro League
* USL Second Division
* PDL
* Seasons
* Players
* Managers
* Northern Virginia Majestics
* All articles

Stadiums|

* Virginia Revolution Sportsplex
* List of former stadia

Culture|

* Triangle Soccer Fanatics

Rivalries|

* Fredericksburg Hotspur
* Real Maryland Monarchs

Seasons

USL2 / D3PL|

* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005

PDL / USL League Two|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022

EPSL|

* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23

MASL3|

* 2021–22
* 2022–23

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in the United States

* U.S. Soccer Federation
* USASA
* USCS
* State Soccer Associations
* League system
* History
* First game
* College
* Hall of Fame
* Awards
* Clubs
* International competition
* Champions
* Venues (stadiums by capacity
* soccer-specific stadium)
* Women's

Men's|

| National teams|

* Senior (results
* players)
* U23
* U20
* U18
* U17
* U15
* Beach soccer
* Futsal
* indoor soccer
* Paralympic

|

Outdoor leagues|

| Professional|

* MLS
* History
* Playoffs
* MLS Cup
* USL Championship
* USLC Final
* USL League One
* NISA
* MLS Next Pro

|

Amateur|

* USL League Two
* NISA Nation
* NPSL
* CSL
* EPSL
* EPLWA
* GCPL
* MWPL
* OVPL
* SFSFL
* UPSL
* USLPA

Defunct|

* AFA (1884–1924)
* American Cup (1885–1924)
* ALPF (1894)
* APSL (2015–2018)
* NAFL (1895–1898)
* AAFA Cup (1912–13)
* ASL (1921–1933)
* ASL (1933–1983)
* NASFL (1946–47)
* USA (1967)
* NPSL (1967)
* NASL (1968–1984)
* USL (1984–85)
* LSSA (1987–1992)
* ASL (1988–89)
* WSA (1989)
* USL 2nd (1990–2010)
* APSL (1990–1996)
* A-League (1996–2004)
* USL 1st (2005–2009)
* D2 Pro (2010)
* PLA (2015–2017)
* NASL (2011–2017)

Indoor leagues|

| Current|

* MASL
* MASL2
* MASL3
* MLIS
* NISL
* PASL
* WISL

|

Defunct|

* NASL (1975–76, 1979–1984)
* MISL (1978–1992)
* NPSL (1984–2001)
* CISL (1993–1997)
* EISL (1997–98)
* WISL (1998–2001)
* MISL (2001–2008)
* AISL (2003–2008)
* XSL (2008–09)
* MISL (2008–2014)

Futsal leagues|

* MLF
* PFL

Club competitions|

* U.S. Open Cup
* USL Cup
* National Amateur Cup
* Hank Steinbrecher Cup
* U.S. Open (indoor)

Women's|

| National teams|

* Senior (players)
* U23
* U20
* U19
* U18
* U17
* Futsal

|

Outdoor leagues|

| Professional|

* NWSL
* NWSL Challenge Cup
* NWSL Shield
* Playoffs
* USL Super League (beginning play in 2024)

|

Amateur|

* USL W League
* WPSL
* UWS
* OVPL

Indoor leagues|

* NISL
* PASL

Futsal leagues|

* MLF

International competitions|

* SheBelieves Cup
* Tournament of Nations

Club competitions|

* Women's Open
* Women's Amateur

Defunct leagues|

* W-League (1995–2015)
* WUSA (2001–2003)
* WPS (2009–2011)
* WPSL Elite (2012)

Youth|

| Leagues|

* AYSO
* NFHS
* USYSA
* Super Y League
* MLS Next
* USL Academy

|

Competitions|

* US Youth Soccer National Championships

By city|

* Houston
* Los Angeles
* New York City
* Seattle
* St. Louis

Other topics|

* Most expensive American soccer transfers
* Broadcast rights
* Soccer America

* Category

* v
* t
* e

USL League Two

Eastern Conference|

| Northeast|

* AC Connecticut
* Albany Rush
* Black Rock FC
* Boston Bolts
* Boston City FC
* Pathfinder FC
* Seacoast United Phantoms
* Vermont Green FC
* Western Mass Pioneers

|

Mid Atlantic|

* Lehigh Valley United
* Ocean City Nor'easters
* Philadelphia Lone Star FC
* Reading United AC
* Real Central New Jersey
* West Chester United SC

Metropolitan|

* Cedar Stars Rush
* Hudson Valley Hammers
* Ironbound SC
* Long Island Rough Riders
* Manhattan SC
* Morris Elite SC
* FC Motown STA
* New Jersey Copa FC
* Staten Island Sporting Athletic Club
* Westchester Flames

Chesapeake|

* Charlotesville Blues
* Christos FC
* Lionsbridge FC
* Northern Virginia FC
* Patuxent Football Athletics
* Virginia Beach United FC
* Virginia Marauders FC

South Atlantic|

* Charlotte Eagles
* Charlotte Independence 2
* North Carolina FC U23
* North Carolina Fusion U23
* Salem City FC
* South Carolina United
* Tobacco Road FC
* Wake FC
* West Virginia United

Central Conference|

| Great Lakes|

* AFC Ann Arbor
* Flint City Bucks
* Kalamazoo FC
* Lansing City Football
* Michiana Lions
* Midwest United FC
* Oakland County FC
* Union FC Macomb

|

Valley|

* Cleveland Force FC
* Dayton Dutch Lions
* FC Buffalo
* Fort Wayne FC
* Kings Hammer FC
* Toledo Villa FC

Heartland|

* Chicago City SC
* Chicago Dutch Lions
* Des Moines Menace
* Peoria City
* River City FC
* St. Charles FC
* Sueno FC
* FC Wichita

Deep North|

* Bavarian United SC
* Minneapolis City SC
* RKC Third Coast
* Rochester FC
* St. Croix Legends
* Thunder Bay Chill

Southern Conference|

| South Central|

* Asheville City SC
* Athens United
* Birmingham Legion 2
* Dothan United
* East Atlanta Dutch Lions
* Southern Soccer Academy Kings
* Tennessee SC

|

Southeast|

* Brevard SC
* Brooke House FC
* Florida Elite Soccer Academy
* Inter Gainesville KF
* NONA FC
* Brave SC

South Florida|

* Miami AC
* Sarasota Paradise
* St. Petersburg FC
* Swan City SC
* Tampa Bay United
* Weston FC

Mid South|

* Blue Goose SC
* Hattiesburg FC
* Little Rock Rangers
* LA Krewe FC
* Mississippi Brilla FC

Lone Star|

* AC Houston Sur
* AHFC Royals
* Corpus Christi FC
* Hill Country Lobos
* Houston FC
* Twin City Toucans

Western Conference|

| Mountain|

* Albion SC Colorado
* CISA
* Flatirons Rush SC
* New Mexico United U-23
* Salt City SC
* Utah United
* Utah Avalanche

|

Northwest|

* Ballard FC
* Capital FC Atletico
* Lane United FC
* Midlakes United
* FC Olympia
* Tacoma Stars
* United PDX
* West Seattle Junction FC

Nor Cal|

* Academica SC
* Almaden FC
* Davis Legacy SC
* Marin FC Legends
* Monterey Bay FC 2
* Project 51O
* San Francisco City SC
* San Francisco Glens

Southwest|

* AMSG FC
* Arizona Arsenal SC
* Capo FC
* Cochella FC
* FC Tucson
* Redlands FC
* Southern California Eagles
* Ventura County Fusion

Seasons|

| as USISL Premier League|

* 1995
* 1996

|

as PDSL|

* 1997
* 1998

as PDL|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018

as USL League Two|

* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Miscellaneous|

* Previous clubs
* United Soccer League
* USL Championship
* USL League One

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Virginia

Baseball|

Norfolk Tides

Richmond Flying Squirrels

Fredericksburg Nationals
Lynchburg Hillcats
Salem Red Sox
ApL
Danville Otterbots
Pulaski River Turtles
CPL
Martinsville Mustangs
Peninsula Pilots
Tri-City Chili Peppers
VBL
Charlottesville Tom Sox
Covington Lumberjacks
Front Royal Cardinals
Harrisonburg Turks
New Market Rebels
Purcellville Cannons
Staunton Braves
Strasburg Express
Waynesboro Generals
Winchester Royals
Woodstock River Bandits

Basketball|

ABA
Richmond Elite

Football|

WFA
Richmond Black Widows

Ice hockey|

ECHL
Norfolk Admirals
SPHL
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
FPHL
Blue Ridge Bobcats

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Charlottesville Derby Dames
Dominion Derby Girls
NRV Rollergirls
River City Rollergirls
Rocktown Rollers
Star City Roller Girls

Rugby league|

USARL
Northern Virginia Eagles

Rugby union|

MLR
Old Glory DC

Soccer|

USLC
Loudoun United FC
USL1
Richmond Kickers
USL2
Northern Virginia FC
Lionsbridge FC
Virginia Beach United FC
NPSL
Charlottesville Alliance FC
Northern Virginia United FC
Virginia Beach City FC
Virginia Dream FC

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

* George Mason
* Hampton
* James Madison
* Liberty
* Longwood
* Norfolk State
* Old Dominion
* Radford
* Richmond
* VCU
* Virginia
* Virginia Tech
* VMI
* William & Mary

|

NCAA
Division II|

Emory and Henry
UVA Wise
Virginia State
Virginia Union

NCAA
Division III|

Bridgewater
Christopher Newport
Eastern Mennonite
Hampden–Sydney
Lynchburg
Mary Washington
Randolph–Macon
Roanoke
Shenandoah
Southern Virginia
Virginia Wesleyan
Washington and Lee

NAIA|

Bluefield

USCAA|

Apprentice

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in the Washington, D.C., area

Baseball|

MLB
Washington Nationals

Bowie Baysox

Fredericksburg Nationals
ALPB
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Spire City Ghost Hounds
MDL
Frederick Keys

Basketball|

NBA
Washington Wizards
G League
Capital City Go-Go
WNBA
Washington Mystics

Football|

NFL
Washington Commanders
UFL
DC Defenders
WFA
D.C. Divas

Esports|

OWL
Washington Justice

Hockey|

NHL
Washington Capitals

Soccer|

MLS
D.C. United
NWSL
Washington Spirit
USLS
DC Power FC
USLC
Loudoun United FC
NISA
Maryland Bobcats FC
USL2
Northern Virginia FC
NPSL
Northern Virginia United FC

Roller derby|

WFTDA
DC Rollergirls

Rugby union|

MLR
Old Glory DC
Capital Geographical Union
Washington Irish R.F.C.
Washington Renegades RFC
West Potomac Rugby Football Club

Rugby league|

NARL
Washington DC Cavalry

Tennis|

WTT
Washington Kastles

Ultimate|

AUDL
DC Breeze

College athletics|

NCAA Div. I
American
Georgetown
George Mason
George Washington
Howard
Maryland
Mount St. Mary's
NCAA Div. II
Bowie State
Shepherd
UDC
NCAA Div. III
Catholic
Gallaudet
Hood
Mary Washington
Marymount

See also: Sports in Washington, D.C.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template