Charlotte, NC: The Charlotte Eagles unveiled their new 2009 Coca-Cola Kits last Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena, and announced the signings of defenders Steve Shak, Gregg Schroeder, Brady Bryant and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
The signings solidify an experienced line of defense for the Eagles which includes two finalists for the 2008 Defender of the Year Award. Both Bryant and Shak were named finalists for the award in 2008 as the two helped the Eagles to the 2008 Regular Season Title and the team’s 7th championship final appearance.
Steve Shak returns for his third season with the Eagles as a player and an assistant coach. The veteran defender was a standout at UCLA where he lead the Bruins to a National Championship before becoming the #1 pick in the 2000 MLS Draft. Before coming to the Eagles in 2007, Shak was a leader on and off the field for the Virginia Beach Mariners in the USL First Division.
Now with the Eagles, Steve continues to be an anchor for the Charlotte defense as well as a leader off the field in the greater Charlotte community. Shak lead the Eagles to their seventh USL-2 Championship appearance, and was named a finalist for USL-2 Defender of the Year. Steve is also a major architect of the Eagles new coaching program named the Coca-Cola Complete Coach Program. The program teaches volunteer coaches not only how to be a good coach, but also a life influencer for their kids.
Alongside Shak is the other USL-2 Defender of the Year finalist, Brady Bryant. Brady Bryant returns to Charlotte for his second season with the team after an amazing year in 2008. Bryant’s return to soccer after spending one season as a wide receiver in arena football, turned out to be a successful one for the South Carolina native. Bryant lead all Eagles in minutes played in ’08 and was an anchor on defense, as he was a 1st Team Selection as well as a finalist for 2008 Defender of the Year.
One of the fastest and strongest members of the Eagles, Brady also spent time with the Wilmington Hammerheads from ’04 to ’06 and was their Defensive MVP in ’04 and ’05. Bryant graduated from the University of Mobile where he was an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention player.
Defender Gregg Schroeder also returns to the Eagles for his 4th season. 2008 started off well for the Westmont graduate and California native, but proved to be difficult for Schroeder as he was sidelined for the majority of the season with a knee injury. After months of rehabilitation and intense training, Schroeder has impressed in the preseason looking stronger than ever as he has started every game in 2009.
A finalist for USL-2 Rookie of the Year in 2006, Schroeder has international experience playing with Ytterby IS in Sweden and with the Madras Eagles in India. Gregg played four seasons in the PDL for the Southern California Seahorses, and earned All-Conference Honors while at Westmont University.
Even when the ball did get past the Eagles back line in 2008, the team had to feel pretty confident in their goalkeepers as they had arguably two of the best keepers in the USL Second Division in Terry Boss and Kevin Trapp. Trapp came to the Eagles after a successful 2007 season with the Western Mass Pioneers. Trapp lead the Pioneers in minutes played and had one of the best GAA stats of goalkeepers in the league.
In 2008, Trapp served as an imporant back-up to 2008 Goalkeeper of the Year Terry Boss. Due to Boss having to represent Puerto Rico in World Cup Qualifying, Kevin Trapp filled the starting role well as he helped the Eagles to important wins during the 2008 season. The team called on Trapp again in the USL-2 Championship when Boss had to sit out due to a red card in the semi-final. Trapp played well in goal for the Eagles and kept the game close as the Eagles were upset by Cleveland 2-1 in the final.
Trapp, a Charlotte native and former Myers Park High School standout will now get his chance to lead the Eagles in 2009. Now the designated starter in 2009 after Red Bull New York signed Boss to an MLS contract, it is an opportunity that the 24 year old is excited about. "No matter who you are, it is difficult thing to be starting every game like I did in 2007 and then next thing you are a back-up again," stated Trapp. "But I learned so much from that experience last season. Terry taught me a lot, and we were able to keep each other motivated every day. It was imporatant for both of us to maintain the mentality that either of us could be starting each week. That has really helped me coming in to this season, and I’m looking forward to the challenge."
The Eagles have two more tune-ups before Opeining Day on April 25th. The team travels down to Clemson, SC April 13th to face the Clemson Tigers at 6pm, and then closes out the pre-season schedule against UNC Charlotte at UNC Charlotte’s TransAmerica Field on April 17th at 7pm.
Season Tickets and Individual Tickets for Opening Day are on sale now at www.CharlotteEagles.com. Opening Day kickoff is at a special 2pm time as the Eagles take on the Wilmington Hammerheads at Charlotte Christian Stadium.
