Last year, Northern Virginia FC (NoVa FC) did something rare. They lost.
In the Final Qualifying Round of the 2023 Open Cup, after a stellar run through three matches, they fell to West Chester United. That 2-1 loss – to a giant of the American amateur game – ended the Virginia club’s hopes of reaching the Open Cup Proper for a second-straight year, leaving them on the outside looking in.
Losing isn’t common for NoVa FC, who are based in Leesburg, VA and compete in USL League Two, the Major Arena Soccer League, and the Eastern Premier Soccer League. Stacked with talent through each team, NoVa’s a powerhouse competitor no matter what the competition.
A good example of the kind of dominance we’re talking about is the club’s 34-0-0 streak in EPSL play that stretches back to October of 2021. Regardless of the names on the roster, the system sets the players up to shine.
“I don't think it's certain players at this point, we just have a good formula in place that gets us the results with whatever 18 that’s available,’ said head coach Kareem Sheta, focussed on getting the right combination of style and talent – and players willing to work to meet the standard he sets.
“We typically don't have repeating starting 11s which is odd, but it's important to allow younger players to start and get the experience,” he added.
Changing Cast for NoVa
It’s a rotating cast of talent that’s stacked up trophy after trophy for the Virginia club.
This year, they won their division of the EPSL before facing a four-way playoff to decide the league champion. That playoff included some big (and historic) names like NY Pancyprian Freedoms and Fall River FC. NoVa FC took that title and then repeated as EPSL Champion.
Back in 2022, the club won the USASA Region 1 Championship before falling to eventual USASA Champion Bavarian United SC of Milwaukee in the National Amateur Cup Final. That same year, NoVa would win another division title in the MASL (and repeat again in 2023) and reach the Tournament Proper of the Open Cup, where they came up short against professional opposition in the Second Round.
