| | | | Undefeated Atlanta Still Trouble for Lady Eagles (Charlotte, NC) - The Charlotte Lady Eagles hosted the division leading Atlanta Silverbacks tonight at Restart Field. Despite scoring the opening goal, the Lady Eagles could not hand Atlanta. Christine Latham scored three goals to lead the Silverbacks Women to a 4-2 victory over the Lady Eagles.
Charlotte and Atlanta battled in the midfield for control of the match though much of the first half, but it was the Lady Eagles who took the first lead of the match. Defender Ashley Swinehart pushed up the right side into the midfield and played the ball forward for Schemedes on the run. Schmedes danced around the last Atlanta defender and beat Atlanta goalkeeper Allison Whitworth with a well-placed shot inside the left post.
Just as the Lady Eagles seemed to be heading to halftime with a 1-0 lead, the Silverbacks women scored in the 45th minute. Former Lady Eagles forward Sarah Steinmann connected with Christine Latham to split the Lady Eagles defense. Latham beat Lady Eagles goalkeeper Laura Armstrong to send the match to halftime deadlocked at 1-1.
The Lady Eagles started out the second half a bit flat and Atlanta took full advantage with another goal by Christine Latham in the 47th minute. This time Latham was played in by Molly Franklin, creating a fast break. Armstrong rushed out from the net in an attempt to suppress the attack, but Latham put a shot up over Armstrong and into the left side of the goal.
Christine Latham completed her hat trick in the 67th minute. Atlanta lofted a ball into the congested box toward Laura Armstrong. Armstrong got to the ball but it rebounded to Latham who poked it into the goal.
Jill Porto extended the Atlanta lead to 4-1 in the 68th minute off a penalty kick. Tamires Gomes was whistled for a hand ball just inside the Charlotte 18 yard box. Porto stepped up to take the penalty and beat Armstrong with a shot into the right side of the goal.
Charlotte cut the lead back to two goals in the 77th minute off a free kick from 50 yards out. Lydia Vandenbergh took the free kick, putting up for Ashley Swinehart in the box. Swinehart got up for a beautiful header, redirecting the serve and beating Whitworth inside the left post.
The 4-2 loss was and unfortunate result for the Lady Eagles who had several periods of quality play and possession through the match. Atlanta was successful in exploiting a few key Charlotte lapses and doing well to finish the opportunities.
The Charlotte Lady Eagles wrap up the 2008 regular season on Friday, July 18th at Restart Field. Charlotte witl host the West Virginia Illustion with a 7:00 pm kickoff. Save $2.00/ticket when you buy online at www.CharlotteEagles.com prior to game day. Gate ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students 6-18 years of ages. Kids 5 and under get FREE admission.
| | | Herrera Scores Two in 4-3 Win at Wilmington Eagles Have Clinched Playoff Berth (Wilmington, NC) - The Charlotte Eagles pro soccer team faced the Wilmington Hammerheads on the road Saturday night. Jorge Herrera scored two goals to lead the Eagles in a 4-3 victory. Charlotte, 10-1-4 for 34 points, has clinched a berth in the USL-2 post-season with five games remaining in the Eagles' regular season.
Wilmington entered the match ready to go and had the better of the play in the first 25 minutes. Brian Civilikas put the first point on the scoreboard in the 15th minute, heading in a serve from the right side by Chris Murray.
Charlotte responded in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick. Jorge Herrera took the corner kick from the right side and played it short to Joseph Kabwe up the endline. Kabwe layed the ball off to his right for Herrera. Jorge Herrera scored with a left-footed shot that found the back of the net with the help of a deflection.
The Eagles took over the lead just two minutes later with a goal by Robert Ssejjemba. Charlotte had a beautiful build up on the play, stringing along 5-6 passes. Ben Johnson got the ball on the right side on an underlapping run. Johnson made a great cross to find Ssejjemba wide open for the header and the goal.
Jorge Herrera scored his second goal of the match in the 43rd minute to give Charlotte a 3-1 lead. Charlotte played the ball forward from the midfield to Dustin Swinehart. Swinehart layed the ball off for Herrera who blasted a left-footed shot from 12 yards out. Herrera's shot went bending around to the right side of the goal to beat Wilmington goalkeeper John O'Hara.
Wilmington cut the Charlotte lead back to one goal in the final minute of the first half, when the Hammerheads were awarded a free kick for a Charlotte foul, 25 yards out. Tray Alexander took the free kick for Charlotte. Alexander's struck a pretty shot that bent over the Charlotte wall and beat Eagles goalkeeper Terry Boss on the left side. The first half ended with the Eagles up 3-2.
The Charlotte Eagles dominated play early in the second half. Jonah Long scored the first goal of the half in the 62nd minute. Joseph Kabwe served the ball in from the left side and found Robert Ssejjemba. Ssejjemba poked the ball back out to the top of the 18 yard box for Long who scored with a long hard shot to beat O'Hara.
It looked as if the match would close with a 4-2 victory for Charlotte, but an odd senario in stoppage time gave Wilmington a final chance to score, and they capitalized. Wilmington was awarded an indirect free kick in the final seconds of stoppage time, when Terry Boss was whistled for holding the ball too long in the box. Trey Alexander took the shot off the indirect free kick to score his second goal of the match off a set piece.
The Charlotte Eagles return to home field action on Saturday, July 19th when the Eagles will play host to the Real Maryland Monarchs. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 pm at Restart Field. Save $2.00/ticket when you buy online at www.CharlotteEagles.com prior to game day. Gate ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students 6-18 years of ages. Kids 5 and under get FREE admission
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