W-League Match Report
Saturday, July 12, 2014
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - In a must-win game against the Carolina Elite Cobras, the Charlotte Lady Eagles took a 2-1 victory Saturday night, pushing them into a Southeastern Conference title game matchup against the Gulf Coast Texans.
The Lady Eagles will host the Texans on Saturday, July 19 at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the 2014 W-League Championship at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The Lady Eagles started out with a good push and in the second minute when Leah Fortune had a good shot that almost opened the scoring, but Carolina goalkeeper Rose Hull punched it out over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless. In the 19th minute the Cobras struck first when forward Savannah McCaskill was played through the Lady Eagles' offside trap by Lydia Vandenbergh. McCaskill's shot slipped underneath Robyn Jones and put the visitors up 1-0.
The Lady Eagles quickly back quickly in the 33rd minute when Emmi Dunn took a pass from Alex Brandt and took a shot from distance past Hull into the top-right corner to tie the game. Less than five minutes later Fortune intercepted a Hull was pass attempt and dribbled it past two defenders in front of the net for an unassisted goal to put the Lady Eagles up 2-1 in the 37th minute.
Coming back from the half the Lady Eagles continued to get a number of opportunities to widen the gap but could not capitalize. Amanda Naeher had free kick attempts in the 70th and 73rd minutes, but sent both just over the crossbar.
The second half remained scoreless and the Lady Eagles were able to hold on for the win. Tickets for the Southeastern Conference Championship match can be purchased online at a discounted rate until the day of the game. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate.