Charlotte Eagles
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina
, United States
. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division
, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
.
The team plays most of its home games at the stadium on the campus of Charlotte Christian School, where they have played since 2008, but has played larger friendlies at the 4,000-seat Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica Field
on the campus of UNC Charlotte. It is expected that the club will move to play its home games at the 6,000-seat Matthews Sportsplex
upon its completion. The team's colors are orange, white and black. Their current head coach is Mark Steffens.
of the USL First Division, the Wilmington Hammerheads
(with whom they compete in the North Carolina Derby
) and the Richmond Kickers
of the Second Division; the fans of the Northern Virginia Royals
also maintain a rivalry with Charlotte, despite them playing a division lower.
The Eagles are a division of Missionary Athletes International (MAI), an organization which undertakes sports ministry
to share the message of Conservative Christianity
through the environment of soccer. They are a sister organisation of the USL PDL side Southern California Seahorses
, and also field a women's team - the Charlotte Lady Eagles
- in the USL W-League.
- Assistant Coach Kevin Sephton - Assistant Coach Steve Shak
- Assistant Coach Ryan Souders - Goalkeeper Coach Allan Courtright - Director of Operations
Nelson Akwari
Desmond Armstrong
Jeff Bilyk
Jeff Duback
Chris McClellan
Darío Muchotrigo
Caleb Norkus
Steve Shak
Dustin Swinehart
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
.
The team plays most of its home games at the stadium on the campus of Charlotte Christian School, where they have played since 2008, but has played larger friendlies at the 4,000-seat Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica Field
Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica Field
The Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica Field is a stadium located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Finished in 1996, the stadium is home to the 49ers soccer and track and field teams....
on the campus of UNC Charlotte. It is expected that the club will move to play its home games at the 6,000-seat Matthews Sportsplex
Matthews Sportsplex
The Matthews Sportsplex is a proposed 13 field sports complex in Matthews, North Carolina. The centerpiece of the complex will be a 2,700-seat stadium which can accommodate professional soccer that the Charlotte Eagles, Charlotte's United Soccer Leagues Second Division team may be able to rent for...
upon its completion. The team's colors are orange, white and black. Their current head coach is Mark Steffens.
History
Founded in 1991 as the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club, the team turned professional when it entered the USISL in 1993. The Eagles enjoyed a brief spell in the A-League before financial troubles caused them to return to the lower level. The club's local rivals include the Carolina Railhawks and Charleston BatteryCharleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL First Division, the Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads is an American professional soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
(with whom they compete in the North Carolina Derby
North Carolina Derby
-External links:* * * *...
) and the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the Second Division; the fans of the Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
also maintain a rivalry with Charlotte, despite them playing a division lower.
The Eagles are a division of Missionary Athletes International (MAI), an organization which undertakes sports ministry
Sports ministry
A Sports Ministry is any competitive or non-competitive "activity that takes place during leisure time with the stated purpose or intention of helping people become aware of their need for a relationship with God, his daily role in their lives and their place in his kingdom work." Sport is an...
to share the message of Conservative Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
through the environment of soccer. They are a sister organisation of the USL PDL side Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses
Southern California Seahorses is an American soccer team based in La Mirada, California, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home...
, and also field a women's team - the Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
- in the USL W-League.
Stadiums
- Patten Stadium (at Charlotte Latin SchoolCharlotte Latin SchoolCharlotte Latin School is an independent, coeducational, non-sectarian, college-preparatory day school, founded in 1970, serving 1,391 students in transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade and located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
); Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
(1998-1999) - Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica FieldIrwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica FieldThe Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/Transamerica Field is a stadium located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Finished in 1996, the stadium is home to the 49ers soccer and track and field teams....
(at UNC Charlotte); Charlotte, North Carolina (2000-2002) - Stadium at E. E. Waddell High SchoolE. E. Waddell High SchoolIn the mid-1990s, responding to phenomenal growth in the southern parts of Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board decided to build a new high school between South Mecklenburg and Olympic high schools. The new school was to open for the 2001-2002 school year...
; Charlotte, North Carolina (2003-2007) - Panthers Stadium (at Providence High SchoolProvidence High School (North Carolina)Providence Senior High School is a Charlotte Mecklenburg School District high school located off of Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Providence serves southern and southeastern Mecklenburg County...
); Charlotte, North Carolina (2003) 5 games - Restart Field (at Charlotte Christian School); Charlotte, North Carolina (2008-present)
- Eagle Field (at Winthrop UniversityWinthrop UniversityWinthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
); Rock Hill, South CarolinaRock Hill, South CarolinaRock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
(2011) 1 game
Current roster
As of June 2, 2011.Staff
Pat Stewart - President Tom Engstrom - General Manager Mark Steffens - Head Coach Patrick DakaPatrick Daka
Patrick Daka is an Zimbabwean footballer who last played for Charlotte Eagles in the USL Second Division.-Early Career in Zimbabwe:...
- Assistant Coach Kevin Sephton - Assistant Coach Steve Shak
Steve Shak
Steve Shak is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division....
- Assistant Coach Ryan Souders - Goalkeeper Coach Allan Courtright - Director of Operations
Notable former players
- See also: All-time Charlotte Eagles rosterAll-time Charlotte Eagles rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Charlotte Eagles since the USL began keeping archived records in 2003...
Nelson Akwari
Nelson Akwari
Nelson Ndukwe Akwari is an American soccer player currently with Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and College:...
Desmond Armstrong
Desmond Armstrong
Desmond Kevin Armstrong is a retired American soccer defender and midfielder, who was a member of the United States national team from 1987 to 1994. He played three seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League, part of one in the Brazilian First Division, two in the American Professional Soccer League...
Jeff Bilyk
Jeff Bilyk
Jeff Bilyk is a retired American soccer player who spent three years in Major League Soccer.-Player:Bilyk attended Clemson University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1995 to 1999. In February 1999, the Columbus Crew selected Bilyk in the second round of the 1999 MLS College Draft...
Jeff Duback
Jeff Duback
Jeff Duback is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played in the Western Soccer Alliance, American Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. He also earned four caps with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:...
Chris McClellan
Chris McClellan
Chris McClellan is an American soccer player who currently plays for USASA amateur team CASL Elite.-Youth and College:...
Darío Muchotrigo
Darío Muchotrigo
Darío Muchotrigo is a former Peruvian footballer.-Club career:Muchotrigo played for a number of clubs in Peru, including Alianza Lima and Juan Aurich...
Caleb Norkus
Caleb Norkus
Joshua Caleb Norkus is a retired American soccer player who serves as a youth coach for the Carolina RailHawks. He played professionally in Germany, Chile, Puerto Rico and the United States...
Steve Shak
Steve Shak
Steve Shak is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division....
Dustin Swinehart
Dustin Swinehart
Dustin Swinehart is an American soccer player who currently plays for USASA amateur team CASL Elite. He spent virtually his entire professional career playing with the Charlotte Eagles.-College:...
Achievements
- USISL Pro League
- South Atlantic Division Champions (1): 1996
- USL D-3 Pro League
- Champions (1): 2000
- Atlantic Division Champions (1): 1999
- USL Pro Soccer League
- Southern Division Champions (1): 2004
- USL Second Division
- Champions (1): 2005
- Regular Season Champions (1): 2008
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | N/A | USISL | 8th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 3rd, Atlantic | Divisional Finals | Did not enter |
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 2nd, Atlantic | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 1st, South Atlantic | Final | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, South Atlantic | Final | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, Atlantic | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round |
| 1999 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 1st, Atlantic | Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, Southern | Champions | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Central | 1st Round | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 4th, Southeast | 1st Round | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 3 | USL Pro Soccer League | 1st, Southern | Final | 2nd Round |
| 2005 | 3 | USL Second Division | 2nd | Champions | 3rd Round |
| 2006 | 3 | USL Second Division | 2nd | Final | 2nd Round |
| 2007 | 3 | USL Second Division | 4th | Semifinals | 2nd Round |
| 2008 | 3 | USL Second Division | 1st | Final | 2nd Round |
| 2009 | 3 | USL Second Division | 4th | Final | 1st Round |
| 2010 | 3 | USL Second Division | 4th | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2011 | 3 | USL Pro | 2nd Round |