
Goals scored by Sutton Webb, Manuela Felipe and Serena Speight
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – (May 27, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence scored three goals, and kept a clean sheet, on Saturday afternoon defeating FC Carolinas 3-0 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The women are on the road next Saturday, June 3 at UNC Asheville. The Independence take on Asheville City at 7:30 p.m. Fans can live stream the match for free on Eleven Sports.
It was a wet and gloomy day at American Legion Memorial Stadium as the Independence looked to extend their win streak following a 1-0 victory on Wednesday against Greenville Liberty.
The match got off to a quick start. It was Charlotte who earned a corner kick in the 2nd minute. #21 Caroline Peters stepped up to take it but sent the service wide right and out of play for a FC Carolina goal kick.
In the 7th minute, Peters took another corner kick for the Independence. This time, the cross was sent into the box and met by the head of #5 Zoe Susi. She put it back into the mix but it was ultimately cleared up and out of play by the FC Carolina defense.
Charlotte found their first goal of the match from the foot of #13 Sutton Webb. A cross was floated into the box from the right side. She took a touch to settle the ball and chipped a shot over the FC Carolinas goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The Independence went up by one.
FC Carolinas looked to flip the script in the 28th minute. It was #8 Shannon Studer who charged into the box on the dribble, but a heavy touch intrigued Independence goalie #1 Maddie Howard to come off her line and collect the ball.
In the 34th minute, FC Carolinas was on the attack again with a dangerous ball in behind, but it was ultimately called offsides.
Halftime: Charlotte Independence 1 – FC Carolinas 0
The Charlotte Independence dominated the second half finding their way over, through and around the FC Carolinas defense, attacking from all angles.
In the 52nd minute, Charlotte’s #16 Jacey Rase sent in a cross to #5 Zoe Susi on the back post. She dove for the ball trying to get something on it, but the it raced by and skipped out of play.
Minutes later, #14 Kennedy Jones went the distance of the pitch and dribbled her way to the top of the box. She took a right footed shot that started to bend towards the back post, but the FC Carolina goalkeeper read it all the way in.
Susi sent a through ball to Jones in the 68th minute. She played a lofted cross towards the top of the 18 yard box where #7 Manuela Felipe was there to receive. She took one touch then volleyed a shot which ricocheted off the crossbar and went out of play.
The Charlotte Independence scored their second goal of the game in the 83rd minute by way of Felipe. She scored off a cut back cross from #10 Serena Speight, putting the Jacks up by two.
The third and final goal came in the 87th minute with. It was Speight, on her own this time, hitting a right footed shot from inside the box. It rifled towards goal with enough power to push it past the FC Carolinas goalkeeper.
Charlotte Independence goalkeeper #1 Maddie Howard secured her second clean sheet on the afternoon.
FINAL SCORE: Charlotte Independence 3 – FC Carolinas 0
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence USL W League team is off for their first road trip of the season. The women will take on Asheville City at UNC Asheville on Saturday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. Fans can live stream the match for free on Eleven Sports.