RECAP: CHARLOTTE EAGLES WIN SOUTH REGION TITLE

Written By:  Tyler Trent | WPSL Correspondent

Photo By:  Reily Rogers

The South Region Final between Nashville Rhythm F.C. and the Charlotte Eagles started with a bang on Sunday as Alex Jennings (George Mason grad) scored within the first three minutes of the match to put the Eagles up. The fireworks didn’t stop there as Charlotte ultimately went on to win an exciting 5-4 match in extra time to become South Region Champions. 

After Jennings opened the scoring, the Eagles continued to press high up the field looking to add to its lead. Julie Mackin (Clemson) set up Meredith King (Ole Miss), who forced a save from the Nashville goalkeeper, Zoe Clevely (Pepperdine University).

However, Nashville, fueled by the flair of Yuki Watari (Tennessee Martin), began to work itself into the game. Flair soon came to fruition in the 12’ minute of play when a nice ball was played over the top of the Eagles’ defense by Adaira Nakano (Southern Mississippi) to Watari, who scored with a strong finish to even the match up. The opener for Nashville was Watari’s 13^th goal of the season.

After some back-and-forth action between the two teams, the Rhythm’s Maddie Padelski put the pressure on the Eagles’ defense that forced a turnover and a one-on-one opportunity versus the goalkeeper. Padelski easily rounded the goalkeeper to bring the Southeast Conference Champions from 1-0 behind to 2-1 up in the 21’ minute.

Nashville took no time to extend its lead when Katie Collins won a corner after some strong dribbling in the box. From a short corner Watari played a ball across to the far post where Grace Morris (Cumberland University) connected sweetly on a volley to make the match 3-1 in favor of the home side. The Rhythm continued its offensive push when Seika Ikezoe (West Virigina) played an excellent through ball to Collins, who chipped the keeper to make it 4-1.

However, when most hope would start to dwindle, the Eagles fought back. With a corner in the last minute of first-half stoppage time, Charlotte’s Blaire Anderes (Appalachian State grad) scored to close the gap with a two-goal deficit. The first half ended with the ball in the net after an exciting six-goal, first-half thriller. 4-2.
 

Photo By:  Reily Rogers
 

Charlotte started the beginning of the second half the way it did the first - with a quick goal in the first three minutes. After winning an early corner kick, Faith Adams (Lipscomb University) played the ball into the box where Captain Emmi Dunn (Lenoir-Rhyne grad) scored to make the match 4-3.

The match continued with chances back and forth between both sides. Possibly the best opportunity from the Rhythm came with multiple shots in the box after a scramble, but the Eagles’ goalkeeper Sydney Jones (Lipscomb University) blocked the first one then her defenders helped clear the danger. 

In the 83’ minute of play, Mackin made a run into the box with the ball and was brought down by a Rhythm defender to win a penalty and a chance to equalize the game after going 4-1 down in the first half. Charlotte’s captain, Dunn, stepped up to take the penalty and placed it cooly into the back of the net to complete the comeback and score her second goal of the match.

The two teams exchanged small blows before regulation ended and prepared to play 30 more minutes with everything on the line in a match no one could have predicted.

Kelsey Perrell (High Point grad) continued the Charlotte Eagles’ trend of scoring quickly into the start of a new half with a sensational back-heel goal to complete the comeback and go ahead 5-4 in the 93’ minute of play. The first half of extra time came to a close with a couple of small chances for each team, but Charlotte retained the 5-4 advantage with 15 minutes left to play.

Photo By:  Reily Rogers
 

In the second half of extra time, Padelski forced Jones to come up with a massive save in the 114’ minute of play. Padelski found herself open in the box and got a nice shot away, but Jones was equal to it. In the 119’ minute of play, Padelski once again found herself in the attacking third and running at the Eagles’ defense before being fouled to win a free kick. Nashville came close to creating an opportunity, but it ultimately went harmlessly over for a goal kick.

Nashville won a final set piece in the 123’ minute of play right outside the box after a handball - Collins stepped up and put the shot just over the bar.

In a game of chaos, Charlotte ultimately knocked off the sixth-ranked Nashville Rhythm in one of the most exciting games of the WPSL season. There was little between them on the night with both teams showing their offensive capabilities throughout the match.

This season, the Rhythm was responsible for five of the nine goals conceded by Charlotte. Meanwhile, the Eagles tallied five of the 11 goals conceded by Nashville this season.

With the victory, the Charlotte Eagles will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the Championship Series against the East Region Champion, the Rhode Island Rogues on July 22.