Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Real Salt Lake Preview

Over the past few week the Hammerheads have struggled to find their rhythm. Today they are on the way to Utah in preparation for tomorrow's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup matchup against a very strong opponent, Real Salt Lake. The altitude could have the most significant impact on the Hammerheads because I'm not expecting a huge turnout from the fans.  You'll likely see only certain sections open up to the public which should help the Hammerheads feel more comfortable than a normal MLS opponent.

Real Salt Lake are a team with a load of talent and a great coach to go along with them in Jason Kreis. He was a dominant player in MLS for years and now he's starting to prove his talents as one of the best up and coming coaches in the league. Jamison Olave was recently named Defender of the Year and numerous players just spent time with their respective national teams.  Alvaro Saborio plays for Costa Rica, Alturo Alvarez plays for Honduras, Will Johnson plays for Canada and GK Nick Rimando was third on the depth chart for USA. All three field players saw significant time with their respective national teams.

Opta and MLS have been working together to give the fans more in-depth analysis on how every player contributes during each game.  Take a look at the link below and play around with the chalkboard program.  Each player has a heat map graphic that shows their activity on the field throughout the game.  You can breakdown a single player, multiple players, or the entire teams output into 7 categories; distribution, shots, set-pieces, defense, ball possession, fouls and goalkeeping.  These 7 categories can then be broken down individually by the separate actions that make up each category. For example, the distribution category is made up of successful passes, unsuccessful passes, through balls, flick-ons, lay-offs, headers, crosses....and the list goes on and on. It's extremely rare that you get to see so much information for free and it's something that can help a lot of teams study their future opponents.

MLS Chalkboard - Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC

Real Salt Lake players discuss the upcoming US Open Cup game


BREAKING DOWN REAL SALT LAKE...

I've been analyzing RSL for the entire season thus far and its safe to say that they work extremely well together both on and off the ball. Kyle Beckerman is their captain and their rock.  He's good with the ball at his feet and is very consistent when it comes to his pass completion rate.  Jamison Olave is a physical beast at defense and Nick Rimando is arguably the #1 goalkeeper in all of Major League Soccer at the moment. They like to maintain possession and push the attack slowly througout the game, unless of course they're down, then they really pour it on. Now lets break them down by position.

CENTER MIDFIELDERS

I don't see RSL coming out with their regular lineup after playing two games in the 4 days.  However, they're coming off a strong 3-1 win in which Beckerman contributed on all three goals.  He is a workhorse so I expect him to start almost every game no matter what.With Beckerman occupying the holding midfield position in a diamond formation, Collen Warner or Andy Williams will most likely get the start at the attacking center mid position. Williams is a deadly set-piece specialist so beware for him to shoot anytime there's a free kick within distance. The Hammerheads should be physical with RSL as a whole, but especially with their central midfielders.

Javier Morales, likely the teams best player and early MLS MVP favorite is still out after breaking his ankle in a match earlier this year.  He was a significant player in the teams success during the beginning of the season and he has been hugely missed since going down.

OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS

Ned Grabavoy and Will Johnson usually run the outside midfield positions, but since the loss of Javier Morales to injury early in the season, Grabavoy and Johnson have both spent time in the center of the pitch.  Johnson is more of a holding/roaming mid and his freedom allows him to push up the field or receive the ball deep and pick out the forwards making runs.  Grabavoy is a workhorse as well and is more likely to make those overlapping runs than Johnson.  Expect them to switch sides throughout the game and creep into the center of the field more frequently than not. Beckerman and Johnson take most set-pieces from midfield going forward, but Johnson can shoot from distance so the Hammerheads would be wise not to give him much space when he has the ball.

Luis Gil, a 17 year old U-20 USA National team product has had quite a bit of playing time lately so if he's on the field come kickoff time the Hammerheads should put relentless pressure on him. Gil is the most inexperienced player on their team, so it would be beneficial to make him as uncomfortable as possible.   He normally plays in the midfield, but started at forward last week because injuries have really limited RSL's attacking options on the depth chart. 

FORWARDS

Fabian Espindola was injured this past weekend so expect him to miss Tuesday's game.  Alvaro Saborio and Arturo Alvarez are both back after spending time with their National team for the 2011 Gold Cup and Saborio had a strong showing this weekend, netting two goals in his return to Real Salt Lake. RSL is short on strikers now so expect Saborio and Alvarez to get some playing time on Tuesday if they're healthy. Another player that has seen quite a bit of playing time at forward this year is Jean Alexandre. Jean is a big physical presence and was drafted by RSL in the first round(12th overall) of the 2009 MLS Superdraft. He is strong on the ball, with quick feet and a powerful shot to say the least. If he's match fit expect a lot out of him in the attacking third of the field.

Richard Jata and Jean were two of the nine rookies showcased in the 2009 series, Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick, along with a few other up and coming MLS players in Steve Zakuani, AJ Delegarza and Chris Pontius.

OUTSIDE DEFENDERS

Just like any pro team, expect these outside defenders to make deep overlapping runs and carry the ball all the way up the field.  Chris Wingert is primarily the starting left back, but Tony Beltran has also spent time their this season. They're both predominantly left-footed, but Beltran can also play on the right.  Robbie Russell shares starts with Beltran at right back and is the most physical of the three.  These defenders can dive in too early at times, leading to deep free kicks for opposing teams.

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers are the starting central defenders for RSL, but it's quite possible the Hammerheads will see Chris Schuler and Rauwshan McKenzie. All of these players are big, tall and aggressive.  They're deadly in the air and should be tightly marked on set-pieces and corner kicks. At defense, these players don't have exceptional speed so they can be beat on through balls.  If they play their back line high enough, the Hammerheads should focus on some good of-the-ball runs that put players in a one-v-one with the keeper. Don't expect much success from corners and crosses as RSL is one of the best defensive teams in the league. They aren't lazy when it comes to clearing the ball out of their own 18 and they mark up really well when it comes set-pieces and corner kicks. I think the key to getting past RSL is to play as quick as possible, leaving them as little time as possible to set up their defense.

KEYS TO SUCCESS...

If Wilmington wants to win this game they have to play a smart, physical and high intensity game.  They cannot give RSL any free space to create opportunities which means every player has to have each others' back throughout the ENTIRE game. I'm expecting a lot of possession and pinpoint distribution from RSL, so the Hammerheads should have their attacking core pressing at all times. You do not want to give their midfielders any extra time on the ball. I would also avoid playing to high of a line in the back because their experience and accuracy will cause problems for the Hammerheads defense.

As far as the attack goes for the Hammerheads, test the keeper as much as possible.  Corners and free kicks lobbed into the box are likely to be weeded out.  Wilmington should take their chances on shots outside the box from the 20-35 yard range.  If Rimando is in goal, he will be hard to beat no matter what, but the Hammerheads have players who can strike the ball from distance and that's when things can happen. Parried saves and shots off the post/crossbar should be pounced on immediately. If we can get an attacker or two close to goal during these opportunities, I think they'll have a chance to put in a loose ball or rebound. The likelihood of scoring on one of the best defenses in all of MLS is slim, so Wilmington need to make every opportunity count if they want to come out victorious.

For ticket information and another preview of Tuesday night's game check out this link.

Hammerheads Grab Crucial Points In Each Road Match

The Wilmington Hammerheads had success in both of their road games this past weekend.  Friday night's game had some late drama due to the harsh weather conditions. The referee stopped played in the 79th minute and called the game shortly after.  Unfortunately for Wilmington they gave up an equalizer just after they took the lead early in the second half. Still, managing to grab a point in Rochester with some many things not going your way, is a great achievement.

Saturday night the Hammerheads faced off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in another rematch from earlier in the season.  Both teams were limited to just a few chances on goal and neither were able to capitalize.  The game ended in a scoreless draw and Wilmington headed home for some much needed rest before their next match against Orland City(7-1-2).

Orlando City has kept a somewhat low profile this season, but just recently leapfrogged the Richmond Kickers(6-2-2) to grab the #1 spot in the American Division.  The Hammerheads are facing stiff competition week in and week out, but their home field has proved to be a significant factor thus far in the season.  The game coming up against Orlando City will take place on Saturday, June 4th at Legion Stadium so come out and show your support.

In a side note, Ivan Becerra was recently named to the USL PRO Team of the Week for his efforts in the two road ties this past weekend. He's been both a goal scorer and shut down defender so far this season. His leadership has proved to be very influential in the teams success to date.

Richard Jata is still nursing a shin/knee contusion, but it's quite possible he could return to action in the teams next match against Orland City.

Wolfe Shines In Professional Debut - Hammerheads win 3-0

The Wilmington Hammerheads notched another win this weekend moving them into 4th place in the American Division.  The Charleston Battery were outmatched for most of the game, but managed to keep the game close until Battery defender and captain John Wilson received a straight red card. Luke Mulholland netted his 2nd goal of the season in the 27th minute and when the Battery were reduced to ten men, he struck again, netting his 2nd goal of the night and 3rd of the season in the 85th minute.

A crowd of over 4,700 came out for the interstate rivalry and they made their presence felt.  In the 90th minute, Hakop Aveyson put the nail in the cofen off an assist from Tanner Wolfe. Wolfe got his first minutes ever as a professional, when he was subbed on right around the 86th minute mark.  It's been a long time coming for Tanner Wolfe and Richard Jata, who both starred as high school seniors on the same varsity team.Both had very successful college careers for their respective squads and it's great to see them playing alongside each other at the professional level.

Current USL PRO Power Rankings - Hammerheads On The Rise!!

Injury & Weekend Update: Jata received some treatment on his leg today so hopefully he can rebound in time for the teams double header next weekend.  The Hammerheads will take on the Rochester Rhinos Friday night and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night. Both teams will be out for revenge after losing earlier in the year at Legion Stadium in Wilmington,NC.  Hopefully the games will be shown on usllive.com, so have a look as the weekend draws near.

Hammerheads vs. Battery - Official Match Recap (Star News Online)

Post Game Notes & Highlights - Hammerheads Blog

For another recap of Saturday night's game against the Charleston Battery and quotes from the players and coaches, check out the official Hammerheads Blog by Tom Grady of the Star News.

Revamped Divisons Make For A Tough Road Ahead

With the removal of three teams from USL PRO, the International Division has been removed.  Since Antigua Barracuda FC(6-4-0) and the Los Angeles Blues(4-2-2) have been moved to another division, in order to fix the fixture layout, the American Division just got even tougher.  With a 6-4-0 record Antigua jump straight into second place, right behind the still undefeated Richmond Kickers.

The Wilmington Hammerheads currently sit in 5th place of the American Division, but they've only played four games.   Their record is 3-1-0 and they are averaging 2.0 goals per game, while only giving up 1.0 goals per game. The Hammerheads and Harrisburg City Islanders have played the least amount of games so far.  Antigua Barracuda has played ten games and 3 other teams have played eight.

If the Hammerheads are victorious today over the always talented Charleston Battery, they will jump ahead of them into fourth place of the ever so competitive American Division.

Injury Update
Chris Spendlove - Doubtful
Jamie Scope - Doubtful
Richard Jata - Questionable

Jata has been out for the last two weeks with a shin/knee contusion.  The extent of the injury is uncertain at this point, but while practicing a bit here and there, he has struggled to get back to 100 percent. I'm fairly confident Jata will sit out again for today's match and not sure at what point in the season he'll make his return.

Key Additions
With Jata sitting out the last two weeks, Chris Banks has stepped up to give the Hammerheads an extra attacking weapon. He notched two goals in last weeks' win and I'm looking for him to step it up again to help keep their undefeated streak at home alive.

Hammerheads Blog - Quotes, Divisional Format, Upcoming Schedule and the Southern Derby Cup

Watch The Game Again Thanks To usllive.com

Usllive.com gives you the option to watch the Hammerheads vs. Riverhounds game from last Friday free of charge. If you weren't able to catch the game in person or online, or you just want to see the last few minutes again, check out the video below. For goal times and a write-up of the game see my post from April 29th.

Jata Says F50's Work Great On The New Turf (Videos)

Since the brand-new artificial turf was laid down at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, NC, the Hammerheads are undefeated at home. However, some of the players have decided to go with a different boot because the surface presents various challenges when striking the ball.  Soreness in the bones and muscles are also a concern due to the rigidity of the field. It's a comfort thing, so those with more experience playing on fake grass might not be affected as much.


For more on this video, along with quotes from Head Coach David Irving and forward Alex Grendi, check out this article by Tom Grady of the Star News. He write the Hammerheads Blog as well.

The main difference between a normal boot and one that's made for artificial turf is the length of the cleats. Shorter cleats help with both the plant foot and the foot striking the ball.  The plant foot tends to get stuck in the surface with longer cleats so this can be essential for corner kicks and set-piece specialists. The length of the cleat also helps the player get under the ball and control the lift. Another major difference between the F50 Aidzero and other cleats is the lightweight design.  The F50's are only 5.6 ounces, making them one of the lightest boots on the planet.  Imagine what a lighter boots does to help a player on the field. The less weight you have on your foot should make for a quicker and more powerful strike.  Chasing opponents down and off the ball runs should improve as well.

Arguably the best soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi, has chosen to play with the F50 Adizero cleats and it looks like they're working out just great for him. He is the quickest and most controlled dribbler I've ever seen. Honestly, he'd be great playing in any cleat, but I'm sure he chose the F50's for a reason. I've heard that they actually help the ball stick to the cleat, allowing for better overall control when dribbling. Messi keeps the ball so close to his body making defenders look silly when they try to swipe at it. Will the F50's help Richard Jata do the same? We'll see, he sure looked quick last game.

Two Late Goals Propel Hammerheads Past Riverhounds 3-1

In the first half of the match on Friday night the Wilmington Hammerheads dominated possession, but failed to find the back of the net. Their best opportunity came from a nice flick-on by Andres Cuero that left Richard Jata open for goal, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds remained on the defensive side of the ball for the most of the half and came away with little success at all going forward.

In the second half, the Hammerheads stepped it up a notch and found themselves attacking the Riverhounds rather easily once again.  Just like their first match, the Hammerheads came away with an early goal in the second half by Andriy Budnyy on a nice pass from Luke Mulholland. The goal came in the 56th minute and from then on the game really opened up.

Richard Jata was subbed out for Alex Grendi around the 65th minute and 15 minutes later the Riverhounds got their equalizer.  Wilmington was clearly dominating the possession battle up until this point, but after a great cross and header combination in the 79th minute, the game was tied 1-1.

Justin Evans, Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, fed up for most of the game, was cautioned in the 82nd minute after the Riverhounds were whistled for a foul at midfield. The following free kick was sent into the box, but a failed clearance by the Riverhounds found the foot of Paul Nicholson just outside the box on the right side. He took a few dribbles and blasted a shot to the near post low and hard for what would prove to be the game-winner. At this point it put the Hammerheads back up 2-1, but there was still some more action left to be seen.

In the 92nd minute the Riverhounds goalkeeper came all the way up for a corner kick, but a quickly cleared ball by the Hammerheads fell right to Chris Banks who took the ball up-field in a hurry.  He had an open teammate near midfield with a sure chance of putting a shot on goal. Unfortunately an unsuccessful touch gave the ball right back to the Riverhounds, without any shot attempt on goal.

Not even a minute later the Hammerheads put the nail in the coffin.  After a couple consecutive shot attempts by Jyler Noviello, one off the post, an unmarked Alex Grendi tapped in a free ball near the 6 yard box to get his first goal of the season. The Wilmington Hammerheads remain undefeated for the season, and at home(2-0), but the true test will come next weekend when they travel to Virginia to face a deadly Kickers squad. Attendance for today's game was just under 3,000.

Scoring Summary

WLM: Andriy Budnyy (Luke Mulholland) 56'

PITT: Jeremy Deighton 79'

WLM: Paul Nicholson 83'

WLM: Alex Grendi 93'

Cautions

PITT: Kyle Veris 84'

The next game is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th against the Richmond Kickers, with kickoff set for 7pm. The winner of this game will be the only remaining undefeated team within the American Division, unless the Kickers lose tomorrow night against the Dayton Dutch Lions. It should be a great game regardless, with the winner of the match coming away as the only undefeated team in the entire league besides the Los Angeles Blues.

Anaylsis: In-Depth Look At Game 1 (Video & Key Events)

The Hammerheads had a significant amount of rest between their first and second games, so I can only expect a well-rested and well-prepared team come Friday night.  I just finished watching the game again on usllive.com and there were many things to take away from their performance.

The midfielders and forwards were always moving around, making it very hard for the defense to keep track of them. Our defense remained calm on the ball for the most part and the team really controlled the entire first half without much attack from the Rhinos.  The mids and forwards put constant pressure on the Rhinos back line even when they weren't in possession of the ball, forcing the Rhinos into several turnovers and giveaways.

ANALYSIS ON THE PLAYERS:

Paul Nicholson distributed the ball well, while maintaining the defensive midfielder role for most of the game. Luke Mulholland and Richard Jata looked solid offensively, creating opportunities when they had the ball deep in the oppositions half. Gareth Evans likes to stretch the field with the long ball.  Dylan Riley got forward and made good overlapping runs from time to time. Chirs Spendlove played a full 90 minutes at left back and had a strong showing. Ivan Becerra consistently switched the field and seemed very confident running the back line. Andriy Budnyy struggled to get anything going in the first half, but had a good individual scoring opportunity in the 25th minute and contributed to goal that was eventually called back early in the second half. Manny Guzman and Andres Cuero were quiet offensively, but helped force the Rhinos into committing several mistakes. Brock Duckworth wasn't tested much at all in the first half, but came up big in the second half to preserve the shutout. Alex Grendi looked sharp offensively in the second half and helped create some good scoring opportunities.

I've posted the full game below along with key events and the times in which they occurred.

Key Events - Shots, Saves, Fouls, Cards, Tackles, Free Kicks, Missed Chances, etc.

6:45 - Corner Kick by Richard Jata, Header Shot by Chris Spendlove (Saved by GK)

23:45 - 6 Consecutive passes leading up to an Andres Cuero Shot (Saved by GK) - Excellent long ball by Ivan Becerra opened up the field and allowed the players to get some free space

24:38 - Blocked pass by Andriy Budnyy and a follow-up pass by Cuero sprung Budnyy for a 22-yard shot from the left side that just misses the near post - (low, strong)

32:50 - Foul suffered by Luke Mulholland leading to Free Kick taken by Richard Jata from 30 yards out. Shot sails just wide of the far post - (low, one bounce)

36:40 - Throw-in by Dylan Riley ends up finding the foot of Paul Nicholson, who eventually feeds Richard Jata at the top of the box. Jata cuts back and shoots a bending left-footed Shot to the far post. GK makes a diving save to keep the Hammerheads off the board

41:45 - Dangerous Corner Kick by the Rochester Rhinos eventually cleared away

HALFTIME SUBS: Alex Grendi(IN) - Manny Guzman(OUT)

1:08:45 - Rochester Rhinos Shot On Goal - Great Cross, Weak Header

1:11:10 - Header Clearance by Ivan Becerra, Cleared again by Alex Grendi springs Andriy Budnyy on a nice run up the field. A quick one-two then springs Grendi into the box. His low cross is played perfectly to Luke Mulholland, but Cuero gets in the way of the shot and it hits off his back. Mulholland finishes the ball into the back of the net, but the linesman calls offsides on Cuero. Goal Nullified.

1:12:30 - GOAL - Cross by Dylan Riley just misses the head of Budnyy. Mulholland slides and gathers the ball before the Rochester keep can get to it. Gets up all in one motion and finishes the ball into the back of the net with a strong finish(High, Center). Awesome Celebration!

1:16:15 - CARD - Yellow Card issued to Paul Nicholson for Hard Foul from behind. Smart Foul because it could've led to a goal-scoring opportunity for the Rhinos.

1:23:50 - Shot Attempt near the penalty marker. Big chance and good scoring opportunity for the Rhinos. Shot Saved by Brock Duckworth.

1:44:10 - Dangerous cross sent in from the right side, cleared away nicely by Ivan Becerra

1:51:15 - Another dangerous cross sent in finds the head of a Rochester player just inside the 6-yard box, but Brock Duckworth is there to make a great diving save.

1:52:15 - Hard Shot from the top of the box is saved by Rochester GK (Near post, High)

1:55:10 - Cross sent in finds an open Rochester player who misses wide. Game Over!

Video Highlights From Hammerheads 2011 Season Opener

If you missed The Wilmington Hammerheads first game of the 2011 USL PRO season this past Sunday, here are some of highlights.  There's a couple good scoring chances for the Hammerheads - one by Richard Jata - before the goal by Luke Mulholland.  I missed a couple key saves made by Brock Duckworth in the closing minutes, but they have that on tape as well. Check it out below!

Local Wilmington blogger, Tom Grady, has started a new series called "Hammerheads Notebook". It contains in-depth interviews with various players from the team. In his first exclusive he talks with starting forward, Richard Jata.



The Hammerheads next game is at home(Legion Stadium) on April 29th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm!

Hammerheads Victorious In Season Opener 1-0

When I found out that the season opener for the Hammerheads was pushed back until 2pm on Sunday I was stoked.  Unfortunately, I would've missed the whole game had it been at it's original time, but as it turned out, I got to see nearly 80 minutes of uninterrupted play thanks to usllive.com. The starting lineup was very similar to the one I posted in my previous article and things seemed to work pretty well for the most part.

Richard was battling a bad cold, but managed to get an extra half-day of rest with the postponement, proving most helpful when it came to gametime.  He had a strong showing with several forced turnovers, a couple good corner kicks, a very close free kick from the left side just outside the box and a left-footed shot from the top of the 18, in which the GK made a diving save to prevent a sure goal.

I was genuinely impressed with the cohesion of the entire team, especially with their composure at the back.  It seemed like the defenders were very confident on the ball and unafraid to make a move and carry the ball forward before dishing it off to the mids/forwards.  The defense took normal launches/clearances and distributed them nicely, avoiding a kickball mentality that a lot of teams resort to when being pressured.  In the first half, I wouldn't be surprised if the possession battle was 65% - 35% in our favor. The back line was superb!

In the first half our offense was just as effective.  Off the ball mids and forwards pressured the Rhinos into making several bad passes and numerous turnovers.  The entire midfield, led by Luke Mulholland, got down and dirty without hesitation.  The Hammerheads committed a few fouls, but overall their tackling was on point.  When the second half came around, I knew we were going to get a goal....it was simply just a matter of time!

After Wilmington's first goal was waved off for offsides in the 51st minute, Luke Mulholland made an all-out dash, beating the Rhinos keeper to a ball coming from right to left across the front of the goal.  When Luke slid he was near the corner of the six-yard box going away from goal.  He gathered the ball and retained possession all in one swoop right before the diving keeper could get his hands around it.  I was simply amazed that he came up with the ball so cleanly. Luke got up and took a touch before finishing the ball with ease for the first Hammerheads goal of the season! Right after the goal, a fantastic celebration followed! Mulholland ran towards the corner flag near the Home crowd side and took out the corner flag with a flying double leg kick! It was Awesome!! Shortly after that the rest of the team piled on him, making it an incredible moment for all Hammerheads fans!

Richard was subbed out in the 77th minute and shortly after that the Rhinos had a crack at goal.  Brock Duckworth remained strong in net and helped keep the clean sheet for the Hammerheads.  The 1-0 victory is a great way to start the 2011 season, especially in front of the home crowd!

Complete Stats - Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Rochester Rhinos (4/17)

The Hammerheads next game is on April 29th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  Kickoff is set for 7:30pm at Legion Stadium.  Come out and support the team!

For more news on today's game including quotes from the players and Head Coach David Irving check out Tom Grady's (of the Star News in Wilmington) blog!

2011 USL PRO Season - Wilmington vs. Rochester Pregame

On the eve of the Wilmington Hammerheads first game since being dropped from the league, a lot has to be on the mind of both the players and Head Coach David Irving.  Ivan Becerra and Paul Nicholson have been named team captains for the 2011 season and Nicholson had some great things to say about the mindset of the team going into their first game - you can here more from Becerra and Coach Irving here.

4/16 - Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Rochester Rhinos - 7pm @ Legion Stadium

Tickets: $10 of adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and $6 for children

Watch the game free online at www.usllive.com

Want to meet the players, but don't have time to check out a game yet. Take a look at the finalized roster along with player bios and pics below. The Hammerheads organization looked at hundreds of trialists and feel like the squad they have, even though they're young, are quite ambitious and talented enough to compete with the best in the league.

2011 Wilmington Hammerheads - Player List and Bios

Expect Head Coach David Irving to implement a 4-3-3 lineup which he's used quite frequently in the preseason. After the recent signings and final preseason match against Hurricanes FC I've come up with a lineup I think we could see tomorrow night, with a few minor tweaks here and there. Obviously Jyler Noviello had an impressive preseason so if he's healthy you might see him inserted somewhere at the attacking end.  Luke Mulholland has a cast on his right hand so if he's cleared to play expect to see him on the field, but if he's not, you might see Richard drop back into a central midfield role where's he's played most of his career. I think GK Kyle Pollack will miss the first game so look for Brock Duckworth to get the start in goal. Other notable players that will probably see some playing time are: Alex Grendi, Tanner Wolfe, Tom Taylor and Chris Banks.

F - Andres Cuero (10)   F - Andriy Budnyy (11)   F - Richard Jata (9)

M - Manny Guzman (6)   M - Paul Nicholson (19)   M - Luke Mulholland (8)

D - Chris Spendlove (3)   D - Ivan Becerra (5)   D - Gareth Evans (23)   D - Dylan Riley (17)

GK - Brock Duckworth

The whole organization is looking forward to an exciting and successful season.  With the brand-new turf field recently installed at Legion Stadium and a lengthy selection process of developing a solid squad, I'm expecting good things to come for the city of Wilmington. I hear that the anticipation for tomorrow's match is quite high and emotions from fans, players, coaches and owners should make for a very entertaining environment.  I really wish I could be there to see it all transpire, but I can't, so I have some friends checking it out for me.  Hopefully I'll have some great pics(possibly some video clips) to share with you on Sunday or early next week sometime.  From what I understand there's a special treat planned for the fans who attend tomorrow night's game.

FOX Soccer Channel & USL PRO Agree to 3-Year Deal

FOX Soccer and USL PRO have announced a deal that will bring 10 games directly to your living room in 2011.  This is really good news to me because I doubt I'll be able to make it to any of Richard's game this year. The schedule below lists the "Games of the Week" that will air on the most popular soccer channel in the world.  Along with these games, FSC will also televise the PDL(August 13th) and W-League(July 31st) Championship. From the schedule listed below it looks as if Wilmington and Rochester will have the most games(3) televised this year.

2011 USL PRO - FOX Soccer Schedule (Eastern Times)

Rochester v Harrisburg - Saturday, June 11 (5:30pm)

Orlando v Wilmington - Saturday, June 18 (7:30pm)

Wilmington v Sevilla FC P.R. - Friday, June 24 (8:00pm)

Charleston v Puerto Rico United - Friday, July 1 (8:00pm)

Richmond v Charlotte - Friday, July 8 (8:00pm)

Los Angeles v River Plate P.R. - Friday, July 15 (11:00pm)

Orlando v Rochester - Saturday, July 16 (6:30pm)

Rochester v Pittsburgh - Friday, July 22 (8:00pm)

Wilmington v Dayton - Friday, August 5 (7:00pm)

Charleston v Charlotte - Friday, August 12 (8:00pm)

USL Breakaway, the feature show highlighting teams and personalities throughout United Soccer Leagues will return for its sixth consecutive season. The first episode of 2011 is scheduled to air in May. CEO Alec Papadakis had this to say about the show; “We are going to raise the bar on production levels for our 30-minute magazine-style show, USL Breakaway, as well as our game broadcasts, providing fans with a greatly enhanced product to enjoy. (USL Breakaway) is the key avenue to showcase the players and teams that make our leagues successful and it will reach unprecedented levels during the course of the agreement.”

Open House @ Legion Stadium - Meet & Greet

UPDATE: The Hammerheads lost their April 2nd battle against the Carolina Railhawks 1-0, but Coach David Irving still noticed a lot of great things.  He had this to say about the match; "We had more chances than them. All in all, if it was a boxing match we would’ve probably won on points. But unfortunately, you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net."

After suffering their first loss of the preseason, the Wilmington Hammerheads finished strong, crushing the Hurricanes FC Club Team 5-1.  Goals came from Andriy Budnyy, Andres Cuero, Chris Murray and Alex Grendi. The Hammerheads had a dominant preseason run, but it's going to take a lot more than that to be successful this season.  I think the players know that and cohesion seems to be setting in.  I think the players are becoming more familiar with each others style of play and I can't wait to see what the stating lineup is going to look like.


Be there to see it all unfold on 4/16 @ Legion Stadium.  It's going to be a great show!

MLS - Looking Ahead (Informative Opta Update)

Week 3 in the MLS should be another great week, full of awesome goals, hard tackles and controversial coaching decisions! Unfortunately, both the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake have off this weekend, so my main responsibilities will be the Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy. I haven't done the Dynamo yet, but seeing as how I just finished the post-match analysis on the Houston vs. Seattle game yesterday, I feel confident taking them this week. When you do post-match analysis you get to know both teams extremely well because you spend so much time looking at every single player. Knowing this, I'd definitely feel comfortable doing the Seattle Sounders FC as well. When doing live-game analysis, some teams are harder to do than others and there are many factors that play a role in how good the analysis turns out.  A lot of networks have camera views far away from the field and this generally makes the players much harder to identify.  Jersey color can also play a factor. When you have shirts and shorts that match in color, it can be hard to tell if the player has his shirt tucked in.  Also, most numbers are barely visible from the views we have so our focus has to be on everything else.  After this weekend I'll have done, Chicago, LA, RSL and Houston. Our training was done with the Colorado Rapids so I know them too. By the end of this season, it's quite possible that I'll have done analysis on practically every team in MLS.

All in all, the 2011 season is certainly living up to the hype. MLS is really taking things up a notch this year and its been a lot of fun being apart of it. The website is better than ever and their article content is extensive. If you haven't checked out the Podcasts yet, I suggest doing so because they can be really informative and new guests are on the show all the time. Matchtracker is running at a high level and every piece of data we enter in our matches is updated instantly to the web. Every game this year has video highlights posted during the game, and if you're into Apple products, the app for the iPad/iPhone is great for checking in on all the action.

Wilmington Hammerheads Continue To Roll - (Turf Field Update)
Last night the Hammerheads took on UNC-W in a wet and challenging environment, but came out as the victors yet again. The team boosted it's preseason record to a promising 6-0 start. The final was 3-1 with Jyler Noviello scoring two goals to lead the way.  He's the teams leading scorer this preseason and a likely starter at forward on opening day.  Richard took the night off with a minor hip injury, but should be back in time for the teams next preseason match. From what I understand only 14 players took part in the game so it looks like a quite a few were sidelined with injuries as well.

Good news coming from Wilmington is that the new turf field at Legion Stadium is finished.  Coach Irving said that the field will definitely take some getting used to and that it's going to play really fast for the time being.  He knows that the more they play on it, the better it should feel to the players and the more it should settle. I've never really played on turf, but I'm assuming it can be quite different for some of the players. The Hammerheads next match is scheduled for this Saturday against the Carolina Railhawks of the NASL.

Wolfe & Seabrook Add Goals vs. UNC-Pembroke

The Hammerheads traveled to UNC-Pembroke for their 4th preseason game on Tuesday night. There were both old and new contributors this time. The final score was 4-1, with the Hammerheads finally giving up their first goal of the preseason. Chris Banks and Jyler Noviello scored again, but Jordan Seabrook and the recently acquired Tanner Wolfe also put the ball in the back of the net. Right now it looks as if Wilmington will have several threats at the attacking end. They extended their preseason goals scored total to 12, while holding all 4 opponents to just 1. The team will have one week off before playing their next game against UNC Wilmington on March 30th. This game should be fun for some of the players who played their college ball at the local college. Jordan Seabrook played his college ball at USF and participated in the 2009 Adidas MLS Player Combine alongside Richard. He was selected 51st by the Colorado Rapids, but was released before the start of the season. Tanner Wolfe played his college ball at Stetson University, consistently battling Richard year in and year out for the top spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference. While at college, Tanner tallied 33 goals and 18 assists leaving him 5th all-time in points at Stetson. Richard and Tanner are longtime friends and played high school ball together their senior year for Ridgewood High School in Port Richey, Florida.

UPDATE - It looks as if Seabrook's glory will be short-lived because most of the trialists are heading home. Tanner Wolfe, however, is staying put!

THIS JUST IN - Tanner Wolfe, Kyle Polak and Diego Barrerra were officially added to the roster, pending USL and USSF approval. Each of these players had a successful college career and played either semi-pro or pro ball in recent years. Wolfe has scoring potential at either outside mid or forward, Polak will most likely assume the backup GK role and Barrerra should fit in somewhere towards in the middle/back. I'm assuming the team is nearing 20 players by now, so it will be interesting to see how much more they can do based on funds. I'm also not sure if Alex Grendi has, or will be signing in the near future.