Written By:  Hayden Reis
Photography By: Landry Bledsoe

 

 

CHARLOTTE EAGLES DEFEATS FC PRIDE IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE DURING WPSL CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMIFINALS

Stillwater, Okla-  The 2024 Central Region and South Region Champions battled on neutral ground Friday, June 19 at Oklahoma State’s Neal Patterson Stadium for a spot in the WPSL Finals. North Carolina’s Charlotte Eagles secured the chance to defend its 2023 WPSL Title after Indiana’s FC Pride gave up two goals in the first five minutes of the second half.

In the first half, possession was key. Both teams possessed the ball eloquently in the first 45 minutes. With back and forth chances across the field, both teams were determined to score. FC Pride’s Abby Jenkins (Ball State) and Charlotte’s Emma Wakeman (UNC Charlotte) kept the opposing side scoreless in the first half with some excellent saves. 

Charlotte Eagles faced FC Pride in Opening Match of WPSL Championships Semifinals; 2024 Photo by Landry Bledsoe

In the second half, the Eagles took advantage of the Pride’s keeper change and Meredith King (Ole Miss) touched around the goalie and defender and found the back of the net. Two minutes later in the 48’ minute, with a right footed rocket cross from King outside the 18-yard-box, Lauren Walter (John Brown) volleyed the ball into the goal to double the Eagles’ lead. This was King’s fourth goal of the season and Walters third. 

Hoping to generate more offense, FC Pride switched to a three in the back for the remainder of the game for its first goal. After a relentless battle with both teams never giving up, the game finished 2-0, for the Eagles.

 

Charlotte Eagles faced FC Pride in Opening Match of WPSL Championships Semifinals; 2024 Photo by Landry Bledsoe
 

FC Pride’s Head Coach Jamie Gilbert called the matchup with the Eagles a “learning moment” in what was the biggest game of the club’s WPSL tenure. Gilbert hopes to use this playoff experience as fuel for next season and “something to build on.”


“Our first half, I thought we were really, really good. We came on strong in the end, but that five minutes to start the second half killed us,” Gilbert said. “We’re a very young team. Coming out of halftime we showed our age and we got caught, but I’m incredibly proud of how much we did this season.”
 

 

The Eagles advances to the WPSL Championship for the second year in a row where they will meet 2022 WPSL Champions, California Storm. No team has repeated as league champions in the WPSL’s 26-year history. The Storm beat New York’s Clarkstown Soccer Club in the second semifinal game on Friday. With both teams familiar with the WPSL Championships, history will be made on Sunday.


“It was an unbelievable battle. Pride was fantastic and we knew coming in that they had some of the best players,” Tiff Rice, Charlotte Eagles head coach, said. “We saw their last game in film where they came back in the 90 minute and overtime to get here, so we knew we were gonna battle. And in the end our girls showed up and fought all the way through.”

 

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Charlotte Eagles: 4-3-3: Emma Wakeman; Jordan Blair, Sallie Garner, Kelly Flanders, Lexi Smith; Briana Myers, Faith Adams, Merideth King; Lauren Walter; Chenaty Warens, Hailey Johnson

 Substitutes: Gabby Kouzeelos, Blair Andreas, Ava Myers, Marilia Nieves, Skyler Shults, Christy Rife, Elise Boma, Emma Rice, Miranda Curraso

 

FC Pride: 4-4-2: Abby Jenkins; Emily Karr, Carly Gilbert, Dominae Butler, Gretchen Mallin; Dejanae Butler, Summer Fishel, Paige Miller, Gracie Dunaway; Kayla Budish, BreceBass.

 Substitutes: Hailey Wade, Lily Wilson, Cassie Rodriguez, Tatum Coleman, Gretchen Mallin, Lida Dodge

 

Charlotte Eagles / FC Pride

Shots: 9 / 9

Shots on Target: 7 / 5

Corner Kicks: 2 / 7

Fouls: 7 / 6

Offside: 1 / 0

Saves: 5 / 4

Yellow Cards: 0 / 0

Red Cards: 0 / 0