Charlotte Eagles News Release -- www.charlotteeagles.com

Friday, June 8, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On the heels of Open Cup success and a week off of league play the Eagles will be back in action this Saturday night against the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium at 7:00 PM. While buzz from TheCup.us called the Eagles the "Kings of Texas", they are still in need of an identity in the USL PRO. With just two wins this season the Eagles are hoping that the momentum gained in the open cup will produce positive results in league play.

Sitting in eighth place with a record of 2-7-2 the squad still has expectations of squeezing into post season play, but will need to change their ways for that to happen. Richmond, though off to a slower start than usual with a record of 3-2-5, consistently field dominate teams who find themselves in the playoffs year after year.

This will be the first meeting between these two long standing rivals in the 2012 USL PRO season. Both teams are celebrating their 20th season anniversary as a club. These teams share a long and rich history in American soccer. Despite their success in professional soccer, the Eagles have consistently struggled to gain the upper hand against the Kickers.

With an all-time series advantage going to the Kickers of 19-9-9, the Eagles' extensive rivalry dates back to the club's inception in 1993. In addition to heated regular season matches, the perennial Championship contenders have a long history of battling in high stakes games. 

The two clubs met in the 2007 USL-2 Semifinals when the Kickers came away with a 2-1 overtime win, boosting Richmond to their third consecutive appearance in the finals. In 2006, the Kickers hosted Charlotte in the championship when the same scoreline fell to the home side in regulation, granting the Kickers their third league title in franchise history. Three years later, the rivals met again in the title match, when the Kickers rallied from a one-goal deficit to reclaim the USL Second Division crown, 3-1, in 2009.

The next Eagles home game is on Saturday, June 16 against the Richmond Kickers. Be sure to catch all the action at Charlotte Christian Stadium, part of a doubleheader, with kickoff set for at 8 p.m.

Next month, the two teams face off in back-to-back matches on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28, to conclude the season's four-game series.

For tickets check out www.charlotteeagles.com, or call 704-841-8644 for group information.