Eagles Travel to Richmond this Weekend
May 2, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
Charlotte, NC --The Charlotte Eagles are setting out on their first road trip of the 2013 USL PRO season by taking on the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, May 4th at 7 pm. The game can be seen live online by visiting http://www.uslnation.com/.
The Eagles are coming off of a four game opening season homestand which has them sitting in 5th place in the league standings with 8 points and a 2-0-2 record. Veteran Nate Thornton is tied with rookie forward Christian Ramirez for the team lead in goals with two. Charlotte last played Friday, April 26th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Christian Ramirez struck first for the Eagles. After collecting a pass from Christian Meza in the 3rd minute, Ramirez finished past goalkeeper Greg Blum to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead. Meza would find the back of the net after Blum made a series of fine saves.
The Kickers head into this weekend's match following a 4-1 win over the Rochester Rhinos on April 20. After conceding an early goal, the Kickers rallied back with four unanswered goals as Mike Callahan, Joseph Ngwenya, Jason Yeisley and Stanley Nyazamba led the Kickers to their second consecutive victory at City Stadium. Richmond has earned 7 points from three games so far this season which is good for 6th place currently in the 2013 USL PRO standings.
The Kickers hold the all time season series between the two 21 year old rivals at 21-11-9. In 2012 the two clubs split the 4 game season series 2-2 with each team winning it's respective home legs. The Eagles won 4-1 and 1-0 last season at Charlotte Christian Stadium while Richmond won 1-0 and 2-1 at City Stadium. This season the two clubs play only twice with the Kickers returning to Queens Sports Complex on Friday, August 2nd.
Leigh Cowlishaw returns for his 14th season in charge of the Richmond Kickers. Prior to becoming the manager, Cowlishaw played for the Kickers for five seasons, making 152 appearances and scoring 20 goals for the club from the midfield.
Midfielder Nate Robinson (#14) burst onto the scoring scene in his second professional match, notching a pair of assists in the Kickers 4-1 rout over Rochester. Signing just 24 hours before the home opener, Robinson was discovered at the Kickers 2013 Pro Combine after spending the 2012 season with the PDL's Michigan Bucks. Forward Michael Seaton (#29) could make his professional debut this weekend, on loan from the Kickers MLS affiliate, D.C. United. The 16-year old Maryland native signed with D.C. as a Homegrown player in January after impressing with United's Academy. After spending the offseason training with the Colorado Rapids, midfielder Luke Vercollone (#4) has made an immediate impact upon his return to Richmond for his sixth season. Splitting time between the defense and the midfield, the Kickers workhorse has made 129 appearances and accumulated nearly 11,000 minutes in Richmond.
The Eagles return home Tuesday, May 14th to take on the Charleston Battery. Tickets for that match can still be purchased.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 2, 2013
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- Phoenix FC & FC Tucson Face off in First Round of U.S. Open Cup - Phoenix FC
- Riverhounds Travel to the West Coast for Two Games - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
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- Eagles Travel to Richmond this Weekend - Charlotte Eagles
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