Charlotte Lady Eagles Press Release

July 22, 2010

The Charlotte Lady Eagles (5-3-2) will play the Washington Freedom Futures (10-1-1) this Friday in the Eastern Conference Semifinal at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. The winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Final Saturday at 7:30 against the winner of the Atlanta Silverbacks (7-2-1) versus the New Jersey Wildcats (7-4-1). The Eastern Conference Champion will then advance to the Final Four in San Clarita, California starting July 29th.

The Lady Eagles have a grudge to settle with the Freedom Futures who have knocked the Ladies out of the playoffs the past 2 seasons. In the 2008 Conference Semifinals, the Freedom Futures outlasted the Lady Eagles in a fierce battle that ended in a 6-5 victory in extra time for Washington. Last year, the Lady Eagles defeated the Silverbacks to face the Freedom Futures in the Conference Final but fell 2-1 to the eventual W-League runner-ups.

The Freedom Futures are the reserve team of the Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom won one championship in the defunct Women's United Soccer Association in 2003 before moving to the W-League and winning the W-League Championship in 2005. In the first season of Women's Professional Soccer, the Freedom finished in 3rd place.

The Freedom Futures' lone draw on the season was against New Jersey. The Wildcats were 0-1-1 against Washington this season while 2 out of their 3 other losses came against the regular season champions, Hudson Valley, who earned an automatic berth into the Final Four.

The Silverbacks barely edged out the Eagles to win the Atlantic Division after beating the Lady Eagles in the final game of the regular season. The Lady Eagles, however, were responsible for both of Atlanta's losses on the season.

The Lady Eagles' goalkeeper, Alyssa Whitehead, took home the regular season award of Goals-Against Average Champion with an amazing average of .410 goals per game. The Lady Eagles allowed the fewest goals out of all 29 teams in the W-League.

Meanwhile, the Eagles' next regular season game will also be this Friday against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The Eagles (5-6-5) currently lead the Riverhounds (4-4-6) by 2 points in a battle for 3rd place.