Close to Home, Wilmington Travels to North Carolina
July 8, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Wilmington Hammerheads FC News Release
Wilmington, NC - The Wilmington Hammerheads embark on a close trip to North Carolina neighbor, Charlotte Independence; where they will play this Saturday, July 9th at Ramblewood Soccer Complex.
The last encounter between Wilmington and Charlotte on May 10th resulted in a 1-1 tie. Charlotte is currently ranked fifth, Wilmington's desired spot. Although Wilmington stands in eighth place, they travel to Charlotte in hopes of securing a higher spot for playoffs. Head coach Mark Briggs stated, "Although we are in a playoff position at the moment, winning Saturday's game would be huge for us." He continued, "Where Charlotte currently sits is our ideal position. It's high enough in the playoff standings where we could have a great chance to go far this year. We just need to work hard and dominate the game."
Recap
Both teams played over the holiday weekend. Charlotte tied Orlando City B 1-1, which brought them to a 7-4-4 record. Wilmington played Toronto FC II winning 3-0 landing them with a 5-5-5 record.
Players to Watch
Wilmington:
o Bruno Perone
- #23 Defender
- Team's lead goal scorer, with 4 goals
- Played 15 games this season
o Stefan Defregger
- #18 Midfielder
- Impressive last game with 3 assists, overall
- Second lead on team in assists
o Kyle Parker
- #22 forward
- Previously went to UNCC and played for the 49ers
- Played 14 games this season
- Scored 3 goals, tied with defender Ashani Fairclough as second lead scorer
Each team has a lot of potential and are close in the standings. Coach Briggs concluded, "Playing in our backyard creates a huge rival for us. We need to play hard, smart, and win this game to secure a spot for the remainder of the season." He continued, "Charlotte has a lot of potential, but I think we have more if we play our A game."
Join Wilmington's fans at the official watch party location, The Fox & Hound, this Saturday to watch Wilmington take on Charlotte. Kick-off is set for 7pm. If you can't watch the match at The Fox & Hound, you can catch all the action online by visiting the USL's match center and stream the game live online.
Wilmington Hammerheads FC Professional Soccer USL
The Hammerheads are a professional soccer franchise founded in 1996. Competing in the USL, the Hammerheads have grown to be an internationally recognized organization. The USL is the most sophisticated and best operated professional league beneath and in support of Major League Soccer in the United States and Canada. The goal of Wilmington Hammerheads FC is to provide an opportunity for players to develop and reach their goals, while providing affordable family entertainment to Wilmington and the surrounding areas.
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 8, 2016
- Richmond Kickers 3, Harrisburg City Islanders 0 - Richmond Kickers
- Islanders Fall to Richmond 0-3, Face Toronto Sunday - Penn FC
- Riverhounds Sign Ryan Adeleye - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Sacramento Republic FC vs Orange County Blues FC - Sacramento Republic FC
- San Antonio FC to Host 2017 USL Experience - San Antonio FC
- PREVIEW: Stronger Starts and Tighter Defense a Focus - Phoenix Rising FC
- FC Montreal Hosts New York Red Bulls II this Saturday - FC Montreal
- San Antonio FC Hosts OKC Energy FC Looking For Fourth Straight Win - San Antonio FC
- Rhinos Media Advisory - Rochester Rhinos
- USL Weekend Preview - Week 16 - USL
- Swope Park Rangers Hit the Road to Face Arizona United SC - Sporting Kansas City II
- RGV FC Toros Host Tulsa Roughnecks FC - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- PREVIEW: Louisville City FC Hosts One of USL's Best in Charleston - Louisville City FC
- Toronto FC II Sign Aidan Daniels - Toronto FC II
- Close to Home, Wilmington Travels to North Carolina - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Close to Home, Wilmington Travels to North Carolina - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Switchbacks FC Draw Timbers 2 1-1 After Late Goal from Portland - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
