Charlotte Edges Past Atlanta

Charlotte Eagles News Release - www.charlotteeagles.com

Saturday, July 14, 2012

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Lady Eagles defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 with a goal from Michelle Moll to claim the W-League Southeast Division title on Saturday evening in Charlotte, North Carolina. The victory sends the Lady Eagles to Virginia for the Eastern Conference Championship playoffs next weekend.

In a winner-take-all game that would see the victor through to the playoffs the Lady Eagles got off to a fast start when Moll found the back of the net in just the first minuten of play. For the next 89 minutes the teams would battle.

Atlanta had a great opportunity to equalize in the sixth minute but a shot off of the corner kick went just wide.

In the 12th minute, Charlotte had an excellent build up as Gloria Douglas took a great through pass but she couldn't find Amanda Naeher who was streaking down the side.

The Lady Eagles had their best chance to score again in the 14th minute when the Atlanta goalkeeper chested the ball to the ground and Naeher took control of it but her shot bounced off the cross bar.

The Lady Silverbacks had two more chances to tie in the 19th minute when Libby Guess failed to find the back of the net and in the 23rd minute when a sprinting Tiffini Turpin had the ball at her feet only for Charlotte Robyn Jones to dive and halt Turpin's progress.

The Lady Eagles took the narrow advantage into the halftime break.

The Lady Silverbacks came out of halftime and immediately started pressing the Charlotte forward but couldn't get a shot off until the 60th minute when Charlotte Jones saved a shot by Guess.

Desperately pushing forward in search of the equalizer the Charlotte defense held firm and held on to win the hard fought game 1-0.