CARY, N.C. – Austin da Luz notched a goal and assist as North Carolina FC advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory against the Premier Development League’s Ocean City Nor’easters at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The victory marks the third consecutive season NCFC has advanced to the Fourth Round, and sixth time in the past seven seasons.

“Great result,” said NCFC Head Coach Colin Clarke. “We’re moving on to the next round – that’s the main thing. Started out well, got our goal and then gave up a poor one. We settled, and at halftime, 2-1 up, it was just go get the next goal and go from there.”

The hosts took the lead in just the eighth minute as Da Luz gained possession on the left side and sent in a low cross that Max Lomis clipped home at the near post. Ocean City got on level terms 10 minutes later as Uros Ilic found the net for the visitors, but Da Luz put home a powerful header from the center of the penalty area into the right corner of the net in the 26th minute from Bernhard Luxbacher’s cross.

Ocean City’s Fredlin Mompremier almost notched another leveler for the Nor’easters around the hour-mark, only for his free kick to just miss the target, but shortly after North Carolina added its third as Dre Fortune found the net after a good piece of interplay by Da Luz and Lomis created the chance.

NCFC closed out its second impressive win of the tournament with seven minutes to go as a shot by D.J. Taylor caromed off Donovan Ewolo to find the back of the net. North Carolina will now await the draw on Thursday for the Fourth Round to determine which side from Major League Soccer it will face in two weeks.

“It’s what it’s all about for this club right now,” said da Luz on the chance to square off with MLS opposition. “To showcase our ability to not only play at that level, but to put on a show in this stadium, in this town, and fill it up. And bring in fans who might not normally come out to games and show them what it’s all about.”