The Long Trail. We ventured out to the North Carolina forests to catch Appalachian FC on their road to Open Cup glory. Hard not to fall in love with a team that has a Sasquatch as its mascot, a legion of adoring fans, and a moving origin story. Back in 2020, Appalachian State University had discontinued its men’s soccer program during the pandemic, so head coach Jason O’Keefe joined a group of local business owners to create this NPSL team from scratch. Fast-forward a couple of years later, and they’re competing in their first-ever Open Cup. Last night’s match was probably the biggest in their history, going head-to-head in the 2nd round against the storied Charlotte Independence. It was a real David vs Goliath occasion, with mainly college players going up against former Premier League and MLS journeymen like Gabi Obertan and Miguel Ibarra. The fans bused all the way into Mecklenburg Sportsplex for the showdown, and they played their part in the stands. In the end, it wasn’t enough as...