Friday, August 9, 2013
WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Wilmington Hammerheads continued the winning streak they need to keep their playoff hopes alive as they took a 2-1 victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions on Friday night at Legion Stadium. Wilmington's Cody Arnoux found the game-winning goal in stoppage time as the Hammerheads closed the gap on the Dutch Lions and Pittsburgh Riverhounds to four points with two games remaining.
Dayton and Wilmington shared possession for the majority of the first half. Dayton forward Gibson Bardsley took the first shot of the night for the Dutch Lions in the ninth minute from the top corner of the penalty area as he sent the ball soaring over the crossbar. Wilmington's Kyle Greig followed with the Hammerheads first attempt in the 21st minute as he forced a good save by Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams to clear the ball out of the penalty area.
Hammerheads midfielder Bryce Taylor gained his first opportunity of the evening as he went one-on-one with Williams off a long ball, but could only put a foot on the ball long enough to get a touch before the ball deflected off Williams and went out of bounds. The Hammerheads would take the lead in the 31st minute, however, as a header by Daniel Steres opened up a chance that Mickael Oliveira volleyed into the upper corner of the net.
Bardsley tallied four shots for the Dutch Lions, leading the side as they finished with seven shots overall. The Hammerheads logged 16 shots overall as they forced back-to-back attempts in Dayton territory, but it would be Dayton's Joey Madigan would would find an equalizer in the 68th minute as he slid the ball into the net past Hammerheads goalkeeper Philip Tuttle as he came off his line after some miscommunication by the Hammerheads' defense on a free kick.
The Hammerheads had numerous chances in the final 10 minutes of the match as they pushed for a winner, putting anxious fans and supporters on their feet in anticipation. The pressure paid off with less than a minute left in stoppage time as Arnoux took a shot in the penalty area that deflected off the left post and into the goal.
Havin staved off elimination, the Hammerheads must claim victories in their final two matches of the season to have a chance to claim a spot in the USL PRO Playoffs two weeks from now. They next host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, another of the teams they are chasing, before closing the season against the winless Antigua Barracuda FC.
Fan Appreciation Night
The Wilmington Hammerheads are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday, August 14, at Legion Stadium for Fan Appreciation Night. All general admission tickets purchased online at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com and at the front gate of Legion Stadium will be $8 (all adult, senior, and youth).
The Hammerheads will host Antigua Barracuda FC for their final match of the USL PRO regular season on Saturday, August 17th at 7:30 p.m. Legion Stadium will be the venue of a doubleheader on August 17th as the UNC-Wilmington Men's Soccer team will play Longwood University at 5 p.m. prior to the Hammerheads taking field.
For further information regarding the Wilmington Hammerheads, please contact (910) 777-2111 or visit online at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com.