Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
Thursday, September 6, 2012
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads are set to head south to encounter their coastal rivals, the Charleston Battery, at Blackbaud Stadium this weekend to compete for the title of 2012 USL PRO Champions. Saturday's USL PRO Championship Game, set to kick off at 7:30 p.m., can be viewed on USLNation.com for those not able to attend in person, as the Hammerheads try to claim the second championship in the club's history.
The Hammerheads held a 1-1-1 record against the Battery in regular season play, with the tallied one loss and one tie being at Blackbaud Stadium. This is the same record the Hammerheads held with Orlando City during the regular season before they faced off in the semifinals of the USL PRO Playoffs at the Florida Citrus Bowl last Friday. Advancing to the final with a 4-3 victory over regular-season champions Orlando, the Hammerheads are geared up for their shot at their first championship since 2003, when they won the USL Second Division championship.
This is the first time that the Hammerheads and Battery will meet in a post-season playoff match.
The Battery picked up their semifinal victory in Rochester last weekend in a penalty shootout against the Rhinos after a stoppage-time by Tony Donatelli sent the match into extra time tied 1-1. The game remained scoreless through the extra 30 minutes, and they were forced into a shootout that ended up going seven rounds. The Battery came away with the winning goal through JC Mack in the seventh round, after a save by Andrew Dykstra, that earned their advancement into the final.
Among the Hammerheads' key players this year is forward Corey Hertzog, who has been on loan from Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls since late May. Missing the first seven matches of regular season play, Hertzog has appeared in 17 games and has successfully made it to the top of the USL PRO rankings. He is one of the three finalists for USL PRO Most Valuable Player and was named to the 2012 USL PRO All-League First Team. Along with Hertzog, Hammerheads midfielder Bryce Taylor is one of the four finalists up for the USL PRO Rookie of the Year award and was named to the 2012 USL PRO All-League Second Team. Award winners will be announced at Friday’s media luncheon.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Tickets for Saturday’s match are available for $10, youth and adult, through the Charleston Battery ticket office. The Blackbaud Stadium Box Office will be open from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. prior to kickoff.
For the Hammerheads fans that have purchased tickets through the Wilmington Hammerheads office, a reminder that your tickets will be available for pick up at Hammerheads Will Call on the East side of the stadium on Saturday.
For more information about this weekends match, travel, and tickets, please call (910) 777-2111.
