The first half of the match got off to a scrappy start with end to end action.   Wilmington had the two best scoring chances early on.  The first attempt off a cornerkick was cleared off the goal line by Eagles forward Taurai Daka.  Then in the 27^th minute Eagles goalkeeper Dan Benton made a great diving save to deny the close range header by Wilmington forward Jamie Holmes.

Charlotte had some good offensive pressure especially in the latter part of the second half, but they were unable to capitalize on chances.  Wilmington goalkeeper Dan Ruch was not strongly tested in the half.  The first half ended scoreless.

Charlotte veteran forward Taurai Daka scored in the 52^nd minute to put the Eagles up 1-0.  Joseph Kabwe passed the ball from the left midfield into the middle for Dustin Swinehart.  Swinehart controlled the ball, picked his spot and drilled a shot from 20 yards out.   Wilmington goalkeeper Dan Ruch made a great effort to make the save but the strong shot powered through his finger tips and carried toward the goal line.  Taurai Daka rushed in from the right side to finish off the goal, and touched the ball into the open net.

Charlotte Eagles head coach commented on the match, "we felt like our backs were against the wall coming into tonight.   It's not that we have been playing poorly, just not getting the results. In fact, I though we played more poorly tonight than the ones we've lost, so it was good to get the win." 

The Charlotte Eagles have a two game road trip next weekend facing the Cincinnati Kings on July 27 ^th and the Cleveland City Stars on July 28^th.  Charlotte then has a weekend off before wrapping up the regular season at home on August 10^th hosting the Bermuda Hogges.  Tickets for the August 10^th match can be purchased online at www.CharlotteEagles.com.  Save $2.00 on each ticket by purchasing your tickets prior to gameday at the Eagles website.

     Charlotte Eagles Soccer...

(Charlotte, NC) - The Charlotte Lady Eagles finished off the 2007 W-League regular seoson with a bang tonight, defeating the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners 8-0.   Kelly Schmedes led the way for the Lady Eagles with two goals and three assists.  Christy Rife had two goals and two assists, and Nikki Lyons, Carrie Lorenz and Heidi Casey each added a goal in the win.

The Lady Eagles took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the match.   Veteran midfielder Lydia Vandenberg set up the goal with a pass up the middle, through the Fredericksburg defense and onto the run of Nikki Lyons.  Lyons had just the keeper to beat, and did so with a nicely placed shot from 14 yards out.

Kelly Schmedes put the Lady Eagles up 2-0 in the 24^th minute with a goal coming off the Lady Eagles' cornerkick.  Lydia Vandenberg took the kick from the right side, playing it in to Christy Rife at the near post.  Rife touched the ball across the goalmouth to Schmedes who poked it into the goal from a yard out.

Kelly Schmedes scored her second goal of the match in the 35 ^th minute.  Tina
Murphy got the ball and split the defense with a pass forward for Schmedes.  Schmedes took a touch forward and then fired a shot from 15 yards out, beating Fredericksburg goalkeeper Aly Pont with a hard shot into the upper right corner.

Just two minutes later the Lady Eagles extended their lead to four goals.   Lydia Vandenberg played the ball forward to the right side for Schmedes on the run.  Schmedes, pressured by the keeper, passed the ball across the goalmouth for Christy Rife.  Rife was all alone in the middle for an easy goal, touching it into the open net.

In the 42^nd minute of play, defender Ashley Swinehart scored to put the Lady Eagles up 5-0.   The goal was set up by Christy Rife on the right side.  Rife served a ball across to the middle, where Swinehart rushed it and finished with a beautiful header in the right side of the goal.

The Lady Eagles scored their final goal of the first half in the 45 ^th minute.  Nikki Lyons put a pass forward to the top right corner of the Fredericksburg six yard box.  Kelly Schmedes got to the pass just ahead of goalkeeper Pont.  Schmedes made a short pass to the middle for Christy Rife, who scored with a shot into the open goal.   The first half ended with the Lady Eagles up 6-0.

Lady Eagles midfielder Carrie Lorenz scored the first goal of the second half, and her first of the season in the 54 ^th minute.  Lorenz received a pass ad the top right side of the Fredericksburg 18 yard box from Jenny Hammond.  Lorenz fired a low shot to the right side from 20 yards out.  Pont dove and got her hands on the shot, but it wasn't enough to keep it out of the net.

Heidi (Drummond) Casey put the Lady Eagles up 8-0 in the 60 ^th minute of play.  Kelly Schmedes worked down the right side and served the ball across to the far post.  Casey was there to score the goal with a header at the top of the six yard box.

The Charlotte Lady Eagles needed a win tonight for any chance at the playoffs.   They got their win, but now they rely on the Hampton Roads Piranhas to defeat the Richmond Kickers Destiny on Friday night.  If Richmond wins or ties, then Richmond and Atlanta will be the top two teams in the Atlantic Division and will advance to the playoffs.   If Richmond loses to Hampton Roads, then the Lady Eagles will beat out Richmond for the second spot.

     Charlotte Eagles Soccer...