(Charlotte) - The Charlotte Lady Eagles kicked off their 2007 season with a bang tonight hosting the Atlanta Silverbacks Women at Waddell Stadium.   Forward Kelly Schmedes led Charlotte with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Atlanta.  The other two Charlotte goals were scored by veteran Tina Murphy and first year Lady Eagle Nikki Lyons.

 

Kelly Schmedes had a goal and an assist for Charlotte

    

Tina Murphy got the first close scoring chance of the game in the 6th minute off the throw from Ashley Swinehart, but Murphy's shot hit the crossbar.   Just five minutes later former U.S. National Team player Kelly Schmedes put the Lady Eagles up 1-0 with a break away goal.  Heidi Drummond made pass forward onto the run of Schmedes.   Schmedes poked a shot around advancing Atlanta goalkeeper Staci Pugh into the bottom right corner. 

Charlotte came close to another goal in the 17th minute off the flip-throw from Ashley Swinehart.  Drummond got her head on the throw-in and placed the ball to the left post, but Pugh got to the shot to make the save.  

Kelly Schmedes help the Lady Eagles to a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute.   This time it was Schmedes with the assist.  Kelly pushed down the right side to the end line and crossed a ball in for Tina Murphy.  Murphy hit a hard one-timer into the back of the net from 10 yards out for the 2-0 lead.

The Charlotte Lady Eagles out-shot Atlanta 8-5 in the first half.   Goalkeepers Pugh and Forbis had two saves each.    

The Lady Eagles continued to control the pace of the game in the second half, but Atlanta got a quality scoring chance in the 66th minute.   Siobhan Rooney pushed down the right sideline and served a ball into the center for Christine Latham.  Latham ran onto the cross and headed a strong shot on goal, but Lady Eagles goalkeeper Katie Forbis was there to make a quality save.

Atlanta goalkeeper Staci Pugh was taken off the field in the 78th minute with an injury following a collision with Charlotte forward Darcel Mollon.  Midfied substitute Sara Power took over in goal for Atlanta since Pugh was the only goalkeeper active on the Atlanta roster.

Lady Eagles substitute forward Nikki Lyons scored the third goal of the game for Charlotte in the 86th minute, just minutes after entering the game.  Darcell Mollons set up the goal on the break down the left side.  Mollon held up her run and made a beautiful pass across the field to the feet of Lyons.   Lyons scored with a placed shot inside the left post, beating Power in goal.

"Quality win against a very high quality team.  Atlanta always comes with such experience."  We're excited about our attack this year; quality in depth at the forward position.  Having Schmedes back is awesome and having her score the first goal is no surprise for us," commented Lady Eagles Head Coach Lee Horton.