CHICAGO (Feb. 5, 2008) – South Charlotte U-17/18 kept its undefeated record intact over the weekend, topping Empire, 3-2, in a back-and-forth battle.

South Charlotte opened the scoring in the game in the 30th minute when an individual effort from Nick Hernandez led to game’s first goal. Hernandez ran onto a ball and brought it down off of his chest and fought through an Empire defender and the goalkeeper to put the ball away.

Less than a minute later, Austin Meier evened the score for Empire, leveling the game at one-to-one heading into halftime. In the 65th minute, South Charlotte’s Stefano Cardin put his team back on top with a long-range shot that hit the post before finding the back of the net.

Empire continued to battle, and in the 80th minute, the score was even again after Max Eberhardt beat South Charlotte goalkeeper Robert Probst. However, in the final minute of a lengthy stoppage-time period, Will Kamani got behind a loose ball after a corner kick and put it away to give his team a last-second goal and the win.

Head coach Derrick Leeson and his team improved their Development Academy record to 5-0-3 leading into their first Academy Showcase next weekend in Frisco, Texas.

U-15/16 AGE GROUP

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Home                                                                        Away
AFC Lightning – 0                                  v.              Concorde – 3
Birmingham United – 0                       v.               Sockers FC – 2
Bridge FA -3 (Watson, Savage (2))    v.               Carmel United – 1 (Anthony)
Irvine Strikers – 5                                   v.              Colorado Rush – 0
(Antonissen, Sundly, Wolfrom, Matchett(2))
Pateadores – 1 (Valenciano)              v.               Real Colorado – 5 (Rodriguez(3), Lacouture, Portillos)
VA Rush – 0                                            v.               Empire – 0

Sunday, February 3, 2008
Home                                                                          Away
Irvine Strikers – 0                                  v.                 Real Colorado – 1 (Rodriguez)
Pateadores – 2 (Abolfathi, Tejan)      v.                 Colorado Rapids – 2
South Charlotte – 1 (Nelli)                  v.                 Empire – 1 (Baker)


U-17/18 AGE GROUP

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Home                                                                              Away
AFC Lightning – 1 (Yang)                    v.                     Concorde – 7
Birmingham United – 1 (Bowden)     v.                     FC Milwaukee – 2 (Genovesi(2))
Bridge FA – 1 (Hurtado)                       v.                     Carmel United – 2 (Thatcher, Keyler)
Pateadores – 0                                     v.                      Real Colorado – 1 (Greenman)
VA Rush – 2                                           v.                     Empire - 0

Sunday, February 3, 2008
Home                                                                                Away
So. Charlotte – 3 (Hernandez, Cardin, Kamini)  v.   Empire – 2 (Meier, Eberhardt)
Pateadores – 1 (Ponce)                     v.                        Colorado Rapids – 2
Irvine – 0                                                v.                        Real Colorado – 1 (Rosales)