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USL Charlotte Independence

Zahorski's Hat Trick Leads Independence over Upward Stars in US Open Cup

May 20, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


Charlotte Independence vs. Upward Stars
Charlotte Independence vs. Upward Stars
(Charlotte Independence)

ROCK HILL, SC (May 20, 2015) - The Charlotte Independence on Wednesday night defeated NPSL side Upwards Stars FC by a score of 4-1 to advance themselves to the third round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Tomasz Zahorski led the charge for Charlotte, tallying not only his first goal with the Independence but his first hat trick as well.

Charlotte pushed the game early but it was the Stars who got on the board first. Independence goalkeeper Diego Restrepo came out of the box to make a play in the 12th minute but slipped and had the ball stolen away by Andre Carle. The forward easily chipped the ball to the back of the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

"The mentality was decent from the beginning," said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "We had the kind of game we wanted but we hadn't been able to score, and the gift of the first goal sort of picked them up and gave them life and made it hard (on ourselves). But credit to the guys, I thought they kept composure, continued to do what was successful and found ways to get goals and get chances. But I thought we made it a little bit harder on ourselves than we had to."

Zahorski equalized the game in the 20th minute with a beautiful header off a corner kick from Enzo Martinez. "Tomasz is a very good finisher and very good in the air," said Jeffries. "I thought the first goal was a fantastic header, just the timing and the power he got on it was really good."

Charlotte continued to dominate possession and Martinez tallied a goal of his own in the 40th minute. Jack Metcalf delivered a long pass down the middle for Martinez, who smashed it into the cross bar. A lucky bounce put the ball just over the goal line and gave the Independence a 2-1 lead.

The Martinez-Zahorski duo was at it again just four minutes later. Martinez found Zahroski with space in front and it was an easy finish to put the Independence ahead 3-1 at the half.

Fouls started to pile up in the second half as both teams seemed to be playing with a bit of desperation. The Stars found what may have been their best chance of the night in the 61st minute as Jeremy de Hoog came up the left sideline with space. Just as he was about to take his shot, Andrew Ribeiro slid in to break it up.

"I thought the mentality to start the second half was not quite as good," said Jeffries. "We didn't keep the same tempo and weren't able to get enough chances early on to really bury the game."

But the Independence continued to press and Daniel Jackson found himself with two great opportunities on net in the 81st and 83rd, he just couldn't finish either.

Three minutes of stoppage time was added to the match with the Independence leading 3-1. It was in approximately the 92nd minute when Zahorski sealed the victory with his third goal of the night.

"This is my first 90 minutes in an official game and we make a big step to the next game," said Zahorski. "I'm happy because this is my first hat trick in the U.S. and for the Independence, so hopefully next game will be also good for us."

The Independence will next face NASL side Carolina RailHawks in Cary, NC on Wednesday, May 27. It will be the team's third game in seven days, thanks to a USL tilt with the Charleston Battery on Saturday, May 23. "I think we are physically really good and mentality after this game really good too," said Zahorski.

Charlotte and Carolina squared off in a preseason match in mid-March, but Jeffries said that contest will have no baring on the third-round US Open Cup match. "They will have a few different guys and so do we and we're both at very different points in our seasons," he said. "But it's a great opportunity because it's a nice stadium, nice field, it is a good NASL team and it's an NASL team that, unfortunately for us, takes the Open Cup seriously."

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Charlotte Independence vs. Upward Stars
Charlotte Independence vs. Upward Stars
   

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