Eagles Fall in Final USL PRO Regular Season Match
September 6, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
Charlotte NC - The Eagles faced off against the Harrisburg City Islanders tonight and closed out their 2014 season and their last game in USL PRO with a 4-2 loss to the City Islanders. Prior to the game the Charlotte Eagles honored Mark Steffens and Tom Engstrom for their years of service and the legacy that they leave with the Eagles.
There was no lack of battle for either team as both fought for a playoff spot. The Eagles opened up the scoring in the 9 th minute when Wells Thompson took a feed from Ben Newnam and carried it down the field and was able to put it past Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble. Just shortly after, in the 14 th minute Charlotte goalkeeper Alec Kann was given a yellow card which resulted in a penalty kick for the City Islanders, Jimmy McLaughlin took the kick and Kann came out to make a big save, unfortunately he couldn't keep control of the rebound and McLaughlin was able to get the rebound and push it to the opposite side of the goal tying the game up.
The City Islanders continued the first half by getting a number of chances; it looked as if they were going to widen the gap but there was an offside call on them just before the ball found the net. City Islanders offense continued to attack the Eagles net and would have tallied another goal if not for a good move by Eagles Bilal Duckett who knocked the ball out of play. The Islanders moved the tally up to 2-1 when Jose Barril dribbled the ball right past Charlottes defense and hammered a shot past Kann in the 39 th minute.
A goal kick for the City Islanders found Barril down the field who took the ball and ran with it, he managed to get away from Eagles defense and get the ball behind Kann tallying his second of the night in the 48 th minute. Alec Kann continued to stay tall despite the number of shots he faced, right around the hour mark he made two huge punch outs to keep the Eagles within reach of the Islanders.
In the 71 st minute Harrisburg defender Richie Marquez took a handball in the box giving Charlotte a penalty kick. Jorge Herrera lined up the PK and sent Noble the wrong way, bringing the Eagles within one of the Islanders. Following the Eagles second goal the offense picked up and the Eagles were able to keep more possession and gain more quality chances. Eagles goalkeeper Alec Kann received his second yellow card of the night sending him out of the game in the 87 th minute and using Charlotte's last substitute to send in Brock Duckworth. Unfortunately Duckworth wasn't able to stop the penalty kick by Harrisburg player Barill.
Harrisburg clinches a spot in the USL PRO postseason but will have to wait for tomorrow night's Wilmington and Rochester match to figure out where they will travel for the post season.
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