VSI Tampa Bay FC News Release -- www.vsi-fc.com
Thursday, August 15, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – VSI Tampa Bay FC finds itself at the mercy of other USL PRO teams this week as the club prepares to host the Charlotte Eagles at Plant City Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay currently sits in ninth place in the USL PRO standings, outside the eight playoff places. On Wednesday night the Wilmington Hammerheads defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, with the outcome of the match playing a big role in determining who may move into the eighth and final playoff position amongst USL PRO teams.
The Hammerheads' 4-1 victory lifted them to 33 points, two above VSI Tampa Bay FC in the USL PRO standings. The Hammerheads now turn their attention to Antigua, where they could move into the playoff places with a win and a loss by the Dayton Dutch Lions in their final match of the 2013 regular season against Harrisburg.
VSI Tampa Bay FC holds hope that the cards may still fall in its favor. The playoff possibility is still alive, as a whirlwind of events must fall into place for Tampa Bay to secure the eighth and final playoff position. If Wilmington ties Antigua, and the Dutch Lions lose against the Harrisburg City Islanders, and Tampa Bay wins against the Charlotte Eagles Friday evening, then VSI Tampa Bay, Wilmington and Dayton all end in a three-way tie. VSI Tampa Bay would then move ahead through the league's tiebreakers and secure the eighth position due to goal differential.
With that in mind, VSI Tampa Bay FC (9-12-4) face a must-win situation in Friday night’s contest against the Eagles. The Eagles (10-4-10) enter Florida on a high after recording keeper Eric Reed’s eighth shutout on the season in their last outing, while midfielder Jorge Herrera earned USL PRO Player of the Week honors on Tuesday as he led the side into fifth place in USL PRO standings.
VSI Tampa Bay FC’s final home game is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Plant City Stadium on Friday night and tickets are as low as $10 per adult and $5 per children. Children under 12 years old gain free entry into Friday night’s match and as always VSI Tampa Bay FC youth club affiliates, VSI Pinellas Flames and VSI West Florida Flames youth club players need only wear their game jerseys into Friday evening’s match to gain free entry. For more information on the team or to pre-purchase tickets visit the VSI Tampa Bay FC website at www.vsi-fc.com.