PLAYOFFS: CHARLOTTE EAGLES, FUTBOLERA SELECT

Written By: Hayden Reis

REIGNING WPSL CHAMPIONS FACE LEAGUE DEBUTANTS IN SOUTH REGION SEMIFINALS
Charlotte Eagles, Futbolera Select Meet in Opening Round of Regional Playoffs

Charlotte Eagles will face Futbolera Select in a highly anticipated and competitive match on Saturday, July 13, in Austin, Texas.

The Charlotte Eagles, after a 1-0 win against McLean Soccer, secured its spot in the regional semifinals. The 2023 WPSL Champions played a total of nine matches and saw eight wins for the regular season. The Eagles sat at the top of the Atlantic Conference- Carolinas Division standings for most of the season. 

Faith Adams (Lipscomb University), Ava Myers, and Meredith King (University of Mississippi) are all tied as top scorers for the Eagles with three goals each. Charlotte finished the regular season at No. 1 for the South Region Top 10 Power Rankings and seventh for the National Rankings. 

Futbolera Select, finishing third in the Lone Star Conference and secured a playoff berth as a wildcard. This is Futbolera's first season in the WPSL and the expansion side finished 4-3-3 after 10 matches. 

Most of its players come from the Houston area. Emily Jaimes (Houston Christian University) is the team’s top goal scorer with a total of four goals this season. Liliana Clase Baez (Texas Southern University) sits right behind her with three goals.

Offensively the two sides are fairly equal with Charlotte recording a total of 24 goals on the regular season while Futbolera scored 23. Defense could be the decider of this matchup. Charlotte has only allowed four goals this season with five clean sheets while Futbolera has conceded 14 with two clean sheets.

The winner will face either Austin Rise FC or FC PrimeTime in the South Regional Finals on Sunday. The South Region Champion will advance to the WPSL Championship series held the following weekend in Stillwater, Okla.