The Charlotte Eagles took a 2-0 victory against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday night at the Queens Sports Complex.
Goals by Ben Newnam and Jorge Herrera allowed the Eagles to take back-to-back victories for the first time this season and give a big boost to their postseason hopes, while the Hammerheads dropped the second half of the weekend doubleheader after playing to a scoreless draw Friday night against Arizona.
Kann was forced into action again shortly after as an errant back-pass forced the Eagles’ goalkeeper into a sliding challenge to clear the ball out of danger. The Eagles opened the scoring in the 26th minute as Newnam recorded his second goal of the USL PRO campaign. Newnam picked up a loose ball in the penalty area, turned and fired a left-footed shot past Wilmington goalkeeper Quillan Roberts.
Wilmington created a chance late in the first half as Brian Ackley laid a ball off for Steven Miller but Miller’s shot was right at Kann as the Eagles maintained their one-goal lead at the break.
The second half started evenly as both teams traded possession back and forth for the first 15 minutes. Wilmington came close to evening the score as a dangerous corner was played over the crossbar for an Eagles goal kick.
Charlotte doubled its advantage shortly thereafter as Wilmington was called for a handball in the penalty area in the 69th minute. Herrera converted the penalty kick, marking the sixth time the Colombian has scored this season.
The Hammerheads remain in sixth place and jumped to within one point of Rochester for the fifth spot in the USL Pro Table. Wilmington begins a vital four-game road trip on Friday, Aug. 15, with a date against the New York Red Bull Reserves on the campus of the New Jersey of Institute and Technology. Following the match, the Hammerheads head to the west coast for a three-game stretch against Orange County, L.A. Galaxy II and Sacramento.
