WHO:
Wilmington Hammerheads, 6-5-6, 23 points, 10th place Eastern Conference
WHAT:
Game 19 on Louisville City’s USL schedule
WHEN:
Sunday, July 17, 2016, 6:00 PM Eastern
WHERE:
Legion Stadium, 2131 Carolina Beach Rd # B, Wilmington, NC 28401. It has a pool and a dog park! I didn’t know that until today.
WATCH:
It’s away so you have myriad options for this one! The club is having its watch party at Great Flood Brewing Co. on Bardstown Road, Saints will have the game on, and if you’re braving Forecastle, Against the Grain will have it as well. If you can’t make it out because of that pesky state-sponsored bracelet on your ankle, then you can watch it on YouTube here:
WHO, AGAIN?
The Weirdo Sharks! They’re still as bad as they were when we last played them, or maybe even worse. They’re on a -1 goal difference for the season, batting .500 for the season, and will have to start scrapping for points if they want to make the playoffs. Bruno Caldini Perone is their leading goalscorer with (gulp) 4 on the season. Kyle Parker and Ashani Fairclough are right behind him with 3 each. The Hammerheads actually have a pretty decent defense, only giving up 22 goals on the season, but obviously it’s offense they struggle with.
Wilmington’s also playing on pretty short rest, having lost to Bethlehem Steel 3-0 on Thursday in Eastern PA. So they SHOULD be ripe for the picking. Louisville City needs these three points. The Red Bulls II are right on City’s heels and won in Charlotte last night to get within a point of first place with a game in hand. As Louisville’s m.o. tends to be to play like the home team no matter where they are, they should be able to open up space between Wilmington’s lines and make some hay. Wilmington probably won’t sit back behind the ball at home. At least we should hope not.
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS OF DUBIOUS VALIDITY:
I think we’ll be keeping Wilmington’s keeper busy. Shots on goal this season: Wilmington 58, Louisville City 91.
AIRTIGHT PREDICTIONS:
1-2 to Louisville City. LET’S DO IT.
COME ON, CITY!
