Courtesy of Charlotte Eagles

2009/04/25
Charlotte, NC - Dustin Swinehart scored two goals in the second half as the Charlotte Eagles battled the heat and the Wilmington Hammerheads to a 2-2 draw at Charlotte Christian earlier today. Jamie Watson and Aaron King added goals for Wilmington.

On a hot afternoon in Charlotte where the temperature on the turf reached just under 100 degrees, the Eagles renewed their rivalry with Wilmington. The teams did not disappoint as the game quickly became a physical match.

After failing to make the playoffs in 2008, Wilmington came into today's match a vastly improved squad from a year ago as the Hammerheads challenged Charlotte from the first whistle.

While Wilmington came out aggressive from the start, Charlotte appeared surprised by the Hammerheads' play even though the game's first scoring chance came in the 5th minute for Charlotte's Dustin Swinehart.

After clearing the ball out from the back, Charlotte quickly got the ball to Jacob Coggins who sent a pass through to Dustin Swinehart. Swinehart did take long to put a shot on goal, as the 2008 MVP fired a 20 yard shot that blasted off the crossbar.

However, after that shot, it was all Wilmington during the first half. The Hammerheads continued to pressure Charlotte's flanks who were caught off guard at times by Wilmington. The Eagles were not sharp on the ball, and a turnover by the Eagles cost them dearly in the 27th minute.

After being played a ball from Chris Lemons, midfielder Darren Toby turned the ball upfield but was met by a more physical Kenny Bundy. Although Charlotte pleaded for the call, the referee allowed play to continue as Bundy sent the ball in to an unmarked Jamie Watson who turned the ball toward goal.

Although goalkeeper Kevin Trapp made two spectacular saves, Watson finally took the third shot off Trapp's rebound and tapped the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead. Wilmington took the lead into the half as Charlotte appeared uninspired going into halftime. That did not last for long.

From the start of the second half whistle, Charlotte looked like the defending regular season champions as the Eagles immediately settled in and finally found their rythm.

It took Charlotte just 3 minutes to quickly turn the game around. Colombian Jorge Herrera worked with Jacob Coggins and Dustin Swinehart to put heavy pressure on the Hammerheads as the Eagles came out firing.

The Eagles quickly earned a number of corner kicks as Wilmington could only clear the ball away just to have Charlotte put it right back at them. The Eagles' play quickly paid off as Herrera's corner kick in the 48th minute found the foot of Dustin Swinehart. Swinehart's one-time volley beat Wilmington keeper Sattler as the game quickly took a turn for Charlotte.

The Eagles did not let up and with the magnificent play of Diego Martins the Eagles found themselves up 2-1 12 minutes later. Ben Johnson played a quick ball to Jacob Coggins who flicked the ball into Jorge Herrera. Herrera quickly found Diego Martins in the middle.

With two men on him Martins calmly flicked the ball with his heel to a sprinting Swinehart who chipped a beautiful shot over Sattler for a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute.

Unfortunately, the lead didn't last long as a mix up in the back for the Eagles lead to a goal against the run of play for Wilmington just 4 minutes later in the 64th minute. The Eagles left two men unmarked as Murray played a quick ball across to Aaron King who placed a hard shot to the corner past Kevin Trapp to earn the 2-2 draw.

The Eagles continue play next Friday night at Winthrop University for a special game in Rock Hill, SC. Charlotte hosts Crystal Palace Baltimore for a 7pm Kickoff.

Tickets for the Eagles game against Baltimore are on sale now at www.CharlotteEagles.com. Kickoff is slated for 7pm. Gates open at 6pm. All tickets at the gate are $10/adults and $7/students (ages 6-18). Kids 5 and Under are always FREE.