Statistical Snapshot Broadcast Information
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Eagle Field (1,800) | May 11th, 2017 | 7:00 PM ET charlotteindependence.com #CLTvNY Charlotte Independence (1-2-2) vs. New York Red Bulls II (3-2-2) Charlotte (N.C.) — The Charlotte Independence (1-2-2) look to take on the New York Red Bulls II (3-2-2) this Thursday at Eagle Field on the campus of Winthrop University at 7:00 PM ET. After a tough loss to the Rochester Rhinos and an idle week, the Independence seek their second win early in the season. The Independence last played on Saturday, April 29th in Rochester and left reeling after a 4-0 loss. Having not lost any game by multiple goals in 2016, the team is ready to getting the last game off their minds. "We want to get back out on the field and compete," said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "The guys probably wanted [to play] a game the next day, just to get it out of their system a little bit." Jeffries' squad will look to 2016 United Soccer League MVP finalist, Enzo Martinez and the Independence offense to jumpstart an attack that is averaging less than one goal per game. Martinez is the only player with multiple goals this season and Jeffries has put emphasis on scoring during the idle week. "That's been the focus for the last ten days," said Jeffries. "Some of the thing's we've tried to focus on are being a little more dynamic in the final third. In the end, it comes down to guys making plays." The Independence will next take on the a Red Bulls II side that is coming off a 3-1 home victory over Harrisburg City Islander last Saturday. The Red Bulls are on a three game unbeaten streak and are the 2016 USL defending champions. "For us, the beginning part of this stretch was just about being competitive and going back to the things that have been successful for us," said Jeffries. "Having the extra time to work on somethings that didn't go well for us is a plus." The Thursday, May 11th game vs New York Red Bulls II will be broadcast over the USL's Match Center via YouTube. For ticketing information to attend the game, please visit charlotteindependence.com or call 704-206-1515. Statistical Snapshot Broadcast Information *2017 Stats Charlotte New York Antenna TV Network (OTA channel 18.2) will Leading Scorer(s) Enzo Martinez (2) Vincent Bezecourt (5) broadcast all 24 Saturday evening Independence home and away games throughout the 2017 season. Leading Assister(s) Alex Martinez, Yann Justin Bilyeu (3) Ekra (1) Local Providers of Antenna Network: Goals Per Game 0.80 2.00 Spectrum (Time Warner Cable) - Channel 1261 Over the Air – Channel 18.2 Saves Per Game 2.40 1.86 Charter - Channel 199 Comporium - Channel 117 Goals Against Average 1.80 1.57 Fibrant (Salisbury, NC) - Channel 44 Shots Per Game 7.20 9.43 MI Connection - Channel 105 Skyline/Skybest - Channel 262 Shots on Target Per 2.40 5.29 Truvista - Channel 82 Game All games are streamed live on the USL’s youtube channel, and on the USL.com’s game center. Game 3 Storylines Slow Start The Charlotte Independence relinquished a 4-0 loss to the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday April 29th, the largest loss margin since the US Open Cup loss to the Carolina Railhawks on Wednesday, June 1st 2016. The Independence did not lose a game by more than one goal in all of 2016, but have already lost twice by two goals or more through five games. Luckily, the Independence have three games in hand and are only four points out of playoff position. Hitting the Mark The Independence boast the third-best pass completion percentage (79%) in the league. Eight Independence players have passing accuracies above 80%. Through five games, Lewis Hilton, Luke Waechter, Bilal Duckett, Alex Martinez and Joel Johnson all have more than 200 passes completed. Six Independence players have a passes per ninety average above 50. Road Warriors Starting April 22nd, five of seven games for the Independence will be on the road. The Independence captured all three points in Saint Louis last week. The Independence boasted a 6-2-7 road record last season. Rookie Excellence Charlotte has started rookie defender Luke Waechter in all five games this season. Waechter was named Conference USA Defender of the Year in 2016 for UNC Charlotte men’s soccer. Colorado Connection This offseason, the Charlotte Independence renewed their affiliation with the MLS’ Colorado Rapids. Current loaned Rapids players include; Defender Dennis Castillo. Goal Keeper Cody Mizell signed a short term deal with the Rapids at the beginning of the season. Moving to Matthews This will be the second-to-last home game the Independence plays at home not in their new home stadium. On June 17th, the Charlotte will christen the brand new facility Injury Report Kyle Renfro (knee) - Questionable Jacob Bender - Out Jared Odenbeck - Out Zev Taublieb - Out Last Game’s Starting XI Forwards: Yann Ekra Midfielders: Alex Martinez, Enzo Martinez, David Spies, Lewis Hilton, Jun Marques Davidson Defenders: Dennis Castillo, Bilal Duckett, Luke Waechter, Joel Johnson Goalkeeper: Cody Mizell Last Time They Met Charlotte’s Records vs New York Red Bulls II All-Time Record: 1-1-2 Home Record: 0-1-1 Away Record: 1-0-1 Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries Coaching Experience: 24 years Independence: 3rd Season Independence Record: (28-20-20) Jeffries was named the first Head Coach in Independence history on Dec. 5, 2014. In two season, he has led Charlotte to a USL playoff game, a 5th place regular season finish, and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over the MLS side New England Revolution. Jeffries’ squad missed the playoffs in the inaugural season by just one point. Before making the move to the USL, Jeffries spent two seasons with the Des Moines Menace of the Premier Development League, where he had a combined regular-season record of 18-7-3. He was named the 2014 PDL Coach of the Year after guiding the Menace to the league’s regular-season championship. The Menace collected its first postseason win in five years and built an 11-match unbeaten streak before falling in the PDL quarterfinals to eventual champion the Michigan Bucks. Jeffries also led the Menace to a combined 3-2 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Jeffries, 54, is a former member of the U.S. Men’s National Team and NCAA player of the year. Jeffries has ties to the game at the international and collegiate levels. His first MLS gig was as an assistant to Bob Bradley during the Chicago Fire’s first three seasons. The inaugural Fire team won the 1998 MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup titles, repeating as Open Cup champion in 2000. Jeffries then served as head coach for the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) from 2001-03, reaching the MLS Playoffs in each of his first two seasons. He was nominated for MLS Coach of the Year in 2002. Jeffries spent the next four years coaching at the collegiate level, before returning to the Fire as an assistant coach from 2008-10, and as Director of Player Personnel from October 2010 through September 2011. He also served as a scout for the USMNT in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, assisting Bradley and his staff in South Africa. The Bethesda, Md., native is a graduate of Duke University, where he earned the 1983 Hermann Trophy as a senior. Jeffries’ junior season ended in an epic national title match, an eight-overtime 2-1 loss to Indiana. Between 1984-85, he earned three caps as a member of the USMNT. From 1984-88, Jeffries played professionally in the top U.S. indoor and outdoor leagues. In the final season of the original North American Soccer League he scored two goals in 10 matches for the 1984 Minnesota Strikers. Jeffries, the first pick of the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Draft, played for the reincarnated Minnesota Strikers from 1984-87 and for the Dallas Sidekicks in 1988 before a torn ACL ended his playing career. The first stop in Jeffries’ coaching career was with the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, a member of the former USL A-League. He served as an assistant coach from 1993-94 and as head coach from 1995-98. Coaching History 2014- Charlotte Independence Head Coach 2013-14 Des Moines Menace Head Coach 2008-10 Chicago Fire Assistant Coach 2006-07 Duke University Assistant Coach 2005 University of the Incarnate Word Head Coach 2004 Southern Methodist University Assistant Coach 2001-03 Dallas Burn Assistant Coach 1998-00 Chicago Fire Assistant Coach 1995-98 New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers Head Coach 1993-94 New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers Assistant Coach Charlotte Independence Coaching Staff Troy Lesesne Assistant Coach Lesesne spent the 2014 season with the Vancouver Whitecaps, serving as an assistant coach and liaison with the Charleston Battery as part of their MLS/USL affiliation. The Battery finished the 2014 campaign fifth in the regular season standings, which clinched a playoff spot for the club. Prior to joining the Battery, Lesesne spent 10 years as an assistant coach at the College of Charleston (2005-14). During that time, he helped the program compile an 82-76-14 record, along with a Southern Conference regular season championship and second round NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010. He was named one of the top-20 assistant coaches in the nation by CollegeSoccerNews.com in 2011 and 2013, and also was selected to the inaugural NSCAA “Top 30 Under 30” coaches program in 2013.