FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2011
Charlotte, North Carolina – The W-League Piranhas (5-4-0) have just missed post season play. The Charlotte Lady Eagles (6-2-2) beat the Piranhas 3-0 Friday night at Charlotte Christian Stadium and won the fight for the second playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. A win for the Piranhas would have meant a ticket to the playoffs - a tie would have postponed the decision until Saturday‘s match up with the first placed Atlanta Silverbacks.
The game started with a jump start for the Eagles. With three minutes on the clock Ashley Aragona used an assist by fellow forward Christine Rife to give her team the lead.
Shocked by the early setback, it took the Piranhas some time to recover. Twenty-five minutes into the game they first threatened Charlotte’s goal, Emily Kittleson’s shot however went wide. Seven minutes later Alyssa Wombwell got another chance to equalize, but her shot went right past the post.
At the other end of the pitch Piranhas keeper Victoria Johnson kept her team in the competition, blocking a rocket of a shot by Samantha Huecker in the 14th minute and another spectacular save two minutes later.
Twenty minutes later, a pass by Ashley Braam to midfielder Janel Schmitt produced a shot that proved to be too much for the Piranhas keeper - the Eagles were up by two.
Eager to catch up before half time, Piranhas midfielder Samantha Hare took a hard shot from distance, but her strike in the 39th minute deflected off the crossbar.
In the second half the Piranhas battled hard to rebound but found themselves defending against a Charlotte team that was in full attack.
It matched the course of the game that a shot by defender Ashley Swinehart from 30 yards out found its way in the back of the net to finally decide the match in the 77th minute.
The Piranhas play again tomorrow night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park against No.1 seed Atlanta to finish the 2011 W-League season. Kickoff is at 7:30.
“They just outplayed us from the time the whistle blew to start the game,” said head coach Wendy Waddell. “We didn’t show up to win. We have the talent to play that team and beat them but we had an off game and unfortunately it was for the game that mattered most. Unfortunately, tomorrow we will be playing our last game of the season but we will be playing with pride - to not only beat the number one team in our division but to end our season with a winning record.”
For more information on the 2011 Virginia Beach Piranhas, including tickets, sponsorships or to volunteer, please visit www.vbpiranhas.com or call 757-572-1592.
Scoring Summary 1 2 FT
Virginia Beach 0 0 0
Charlotte 2 1 3
Charlotte: Ashley Aragona 3 (Christine Rife)
Charlotte: Ashley Braam 37 (Janet Schmitt)
Charlotte: Ashley Swinehart 78 (Laura Novikoff)
Starting Lineups:
Charlotte: RebekahNiedermayer, Blakely Mattern, Hannah Gmerek (Amanda Naeher 80), Carrie Lorenz-Himes, Laura Novikoff, Kelsey Fenix (Shelley Lyle 72), Samantha Huecker, Janet Schmitt (Michelle Moll 75), Christine Rife (Erin Wingo 70), Ashley Braam (Ashley Swinehart 67), Ashley Aragona (Lourdies Merrill 73)
Game Statistics:
Shots: VBP 7, CHA 20; Saves: VBP 6, CHA 5; Fouls: VBP 5, CHA 1; Offsides: VBP 0, CHA 5; Corners: VBP 2, CHA 8; Cautions: None; Ejections: None; Officials: David McPhun, Doulas Hartermann, Behzad Vagar; Attendance: 492 ; Weather: overcast .
Sebastian Fischer
# # #
