Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
Friday, June 10, 2011
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the second time this season as goals by Andriy Budnyy, Chris Banks and Luke Mulholland gave them a 3-1 victory on Friday night at Legion Stadium.
The first promising opportunity was by the Hammerheads in the ninth minute when Budnyy had possession deep and was able to take a shot which was blocked by a Riverhound defender.
But it was Pittsburgh that took the lead in the 14th minute when forward Matt Fondy corralled the ball off a corner and poked it passed Wilmington goalie Brock Duckworth and a cluster of Hammerheads defenders. The Hammerheads almost responded immediately when a Wilmington free kick was played into the box by Gareth Evans but the ball was eventually shot wide of the goal.
Wilmington found the back of the net in the 27th minute when Hammerheads defender Tom Parratt sent a long ball from just short of midfield and connected with a heavily defended Budnyy. Even under heavy pressure, Budnyy was able to control the ball and fire home an equalizer for the Hammerheads, sending the teams to halftime tied 1-1.
The Hammerheads went close to taking the lead early in the second half after a free kick by Richard Jata from just outside Pittsburgh’s penalty area was deflected by Riverhounds defense to the feet of Hammerheads defender Gareth Evans who immediately knocked the ball back into the box, only to be sent just wide of the goal by a header from Budnyy.
Wilmington would take the lead in the 55th minute through Banks before Mulholland tacked on a third four minutes later from a precise ball played through Pittsburgh’s defense by Andres Cuero. With both players scoring, Banks and Mulholland remain tied for the team-lead in goals with four apiece this season.
Pittsburgh’s final quality attempt of the game came in the 72nd minute when a Riverhounds’ throw-in entered the Hammerheads’ penalty area. The Hammerheads defenders were unable to clear and a powerful shot by Fondy was pushed just right of the goal.
The Hammerheads now hit the road, facing in-state rival the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night at Charlotte Christian Stadium at 7 p.m.