NH Phantoms Host Charlotte Eagles IN USL2 Action
May 24, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New Hampshire Phantoms News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - (Thursday, May 24, 2007) - The New Hampshire Phantoms will be in search of a victory and what better way to do it than playing at home on Memorial Day Weekend in front of a large crowd. Charlotte Eagles invade Joe Chabot/Hubie McDonough Jr. Stadium at Manchester Memorial High School Saturday night bringing with it a 3-2-0 record good for 4th place in the United Soccer League Division 2 standings. The Phantoms are coming off its best performance of the season last Saturday when it lost a heartbreaker in injury time against the second place team Cleveland City Stars.
The stadium should be buzzing with excitement as two major youth tournaments will be ongoing - the 15th Annual Amherst Soccer Club's Memorial Day Classic which draws 190 teams from all over New England as well as the 15th Annual Nashua Girls Soccer Association hosted by World Cup Soccer Club of Greater Nashua attracting another 120 teams. Participants from both tournaments will be in attendance.
Charlotte, which lost 1-0 to first place Richmond Kickers in its most recent game at the University of Richmond, still managed to qualify for the coveted U.S. Open Cup despite the loss. Cleveland City Stars, Charlotte, Harrisburg City Islanders, and Western Mass Pioneers have all qualified as well as Richmond Kickers who received an automatic bid due to it clinching the 2006 USL2 title.
The Phantoms are in need of a win to have any chance of securing the 6th and final spot. All of last Saturday's results put Cincinnati on the brink of qualifying, but not just yet. As it stands now, if CP Baltimore wins its match this weekend versus Richmond, and if Wilmington take its final two games against Cleveland and Cincinnati, all three clubs will be even on points percentage, head to head record and total wins. This would leave goal difference and goals scored to decide the final two qualifiers. New Hampshire, with the lowest possible maximum percentage of the four, need to defeat Charlotte, and hope Crystal Palace lose and Wilmington does not take maximum points from their final two matches.
NH added some depth to its team last week when it added forward Tiago Lopes of Lisbon, Portugal to its roster. Lopes immediately made his presence felt when he scored the Phantoms second goal of the season against Cleveland. James Greenslit (Wheaton MA College) has been a force all season in anchoring the Phantoms defense, and if Brian Levey can return to the form that earned him a Player of the Week honors in USL2 play a couple of weeks back, the Phantoms have a great shot at upending Charlotte. Almir Barbosa, last year's leading scorer for the Phantoms with 10 goals, is also due to break out of his early season scoring slump (one goal). Another player to watch is Narciso Fernandes, the former Kansas City Wizard and major League Soccer draft pick. Fernandes had his best outing of the season at Cleveland.
Second year Phantoms head coach Sean Carey is ready for the challenge. "With Charlotte already locking up a US Cup playoff spot, we have more to play for than they do," said Carey. ""We're due to put a full game together, whistle to whistle, beginning to end."
Carey was referring to his team having difficulty putting two strong periods together in any one game this season. The Phantoms have played its best soccer in the second half of its most recent two games.
NH tied Harrisburg, 0-0, in its only other home match of the season at its new home venue at Memorial High School.
Kickoff this Saturday night is 7:30 PM. The Phantoms will also be hosting a free Phantoms/Caramba Soccer Camp clinic from 5:45-6:15 PM for all youth who bring a soccer ball. Striker and Phanatic, the two Phantoms mascots, will also be on hand to greet the players.
For more information, go to www.nhphantoms.com, or call the main ticket office at 603-329-4422.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 24, 2007
- Cincinnati Kings Close Out Home Stand With 2-2 Tie - Cincinnati Kings
- NH Phantoms Host Charlotte Eagles IN USL2 Action - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Kickers Host Crystal Palace Baltimore Saturday - Richmond Kickers
- Potential "Beckham Match" declared an Official Sell Out - Penn FC
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