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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 6, 2023) – Following the conclusion of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup 3rd Round Draw, it is decided that the Charlotte Independence will travel to face USL Championship club Charleston Battery. Date and kickoff time remain TBD.

The Charlotte Independence defeated Appalachian FC 2-0 on Wednesday night in the 2nd Round match at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews in front of 2,564 fans. #90 Khori Bennett scored first on a penalty kick and #17 Clay Dimick scored second in the run of play. 

Before the 3rd Round Open Cup match, the undefeated Charlotte Independence host two USL League One home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium. First, they face Union Omaha on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Then, Central Valley Fuego FC comes to town on Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. BOGO tickets are on sale now at charlotteindependence.com.

#90 Khori Bennett and #17 Clay Dimick score their second goals of the season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 5, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence defeated Appalachian FC 2-0 in the 2nd Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C. This marks the Jacks first US Open Cup win since 2017. 

“I thought we handled the game well,” Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries said. “We came out with a good mentality, and for us, the Open Cup is just about getting a result, and we did that on the night. I thought Appalachian FC was very hard to break down.” 

Charlotte came out strong putting a lot of pressure on the Appalachian FC defense. In the 5th minute, #10 Miguel Ibarra sent a quality service in to #90 Khori Bennett who just narrowly missed his header wide. 

With his first start for the Independence, #27 Bachir Ndiaye made an immediate impact on the match. He got up for a header off a cross from #17 Clay Dimick but missed just wide of the net. 

Later in the half, the Jacks kept pushing their way into the Appalachian FC final third. Bennett took off on the dribble, passing several defenders. He was pushed in the back by an Appalachian FC defender drawing a foul and a penalty kick for Charlotte. Bennett stepped up to take the strike and scored in the bottom left corner. Charlotte took the lead 1-0. 

“The first goal kind of opened things up,” Bennett said. “It was very important, the timing of it, everything to kind of help us relax in the game. It was very important for the team and for me as well.” 

On the other side of the pitch, Appalachian FC broke through the Charlotte back line finding an open look at goal. #6 Omar Ciss wound up blocking the shot and cleared it upfield to find #7 Avionne Flanagan. He took space down the flank and crossed it into Bennett who just missed his shot wide in front of goal. 

Before the half, the Jacks found several more chances. Bennett passed to Ibarra who then found #14 Luis Alvarez with a chance from the wing but he was denied by the Appalachian FC Goalkeeper #1 Jacob Agnew. 

At the half, Charlotte Independence 1 – Appalachian FC 0.

To start the second half, Appalachian FC developed an attack down the pitch crossing the ball into the box but defender #4 Nick Spielman was there to clear it away. Seconds later, Appalachian FC forced a corner kick on the left side of Charlotte’s goal. Once the cross came in, Dimick jumped and headed the ball out of the 18-yard box. 

The Jacks transitioned down the field after an intercepted cross by Ciss. The clearance sent Charlotte down the pitch to #7 Avionne Flanagan on the wing who crossed it into the 18-yard box finding Dimick who just got a toe on it to tap it past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner of the net. 

“The atmosphere was awesome,” Dimick said. “Obviously I’ve been in Matthews before, I’ve been here five years so coming back was kind of fun and to see the crowd we got.”

Jeffries went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, bringing on forward #9 Dane Kelly and defender #8 Joel Johnson to replace midfielder #14 Luis Alvarez and #12 Brad Dunwell. Both Kelly and Johnson provided a kickstart for the Jacks creating many chances in the final third. 

“We got to rest a few guys so that’s a little bit of a plus going into Saturday,” Jeffries said. “It’ll be a quick turnaround and we have to work to get the guys that did play ready again and we’ll get on the bus Friday.” 

In the final minutes of stoppage time, #2 Fabrice Ngah and #32 Aidan Morrison receive their first minutes for the Independence.

Final score from Matthews, Charlotte Independence 2 – Appalachian FC 0.

The third round draw for the US Open Cup will take place on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. 

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence go on the road to face North Carolina rivals, NCFC at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Saturday, April 8th. First kick is set for 7:00 PM. Fans can live stream the match for free on Bahakel Sports. 

Capelli Sport to Become the Official Apparel and Equipment Supplier for Charlotte Independence

Capelli Sport is excited to announce a new partnership with Charlotte Independence Soccer Club. This long-term agreement will see Capelli Sport becoming the official equipment and uniform supplier for the Carolinas–based soccer club. Capelli Sport will supply all uniforms for every soccer program Charlotte Independence Soccer Club offers, from Charlotte’s USL League 1 pro team and USL W League women’s pre-professional team as their top offerings, to amateur, competitive and national programs, all the way to their recreational teams and inclusive programs.

Affiliated with the USL League One team and the USL W League women’s pre-professional teams of the same name, Charlotte Independence has quickly become one of the largest soccer clubs in the country since its inception in 2019. Their mission is to develop, promote, and administer the game of soccer using the key values of Character, Commitment, Community, Competition, and Communication as guiding principles. Charlotte Independence serves communities throughout North and South Carolina with soccer programming for players of all ages, gender, skill, and ability. The club competes in NC Youth Soccer, SC Youth Soccer, ECNL-RL, ECNL, and USL Academy on the youth level, USL League 2 on the amateur level, USL W League on the pre-professional level, and USL League 1 on the pro level.

President and COO of Charlotte Independence’s First Team, Tim Schuldt said:

“Capelli Sport not only brings innovative, high-quality technical products for our first team, they also equip us to customize our gear to really bring our Independence brand forward. This capability is going to allow us to strengthen our brand equity and provide our fans with exceptionally unique products we know they’re going to love! We’re excited to equip our team and fans with Capelli Sport’s fantastic competition, training, and lifestyle gear!”

CEO of Charlotte Independence, Thomas Finlay said:

“Independence Soccer is delighted to partner with the Capelli Sport Family. This new alignment will see our players play the beautiful game in one-of-a-kind soccer uniforms next year and beyond. The support of Capelli Sport extends beyond the soccer field with player and coach experiences both domestically and internationally through the Capelli Sport Plus+ program. This partnership is industry leading and we’re excited about the opportunity for today, tomorrow and beyond. The future is bright.”

President and CEO of Capelli Sport, George Altirs said:

“Charlotte Independence is one of the top soccer clubs in the country, and it is an honor to be partnered with them for the next decade. This is the perfect partnership between two organizations with the same vision for the growth of our brands and the game of soccer. We are excited that their teams, from U4 all the way to the pros, will be competing in Capelli Sport uniforms, and we cannot wait to be a part of their continued success in 2023 and beyond.”

About Capelli Sport

Capelli Sport is a global multi-sports brand based in New York City, specializing in team sports. Our passion for creating products from lifestyle apparel to footwear and performance match kits enables athletes and teams to maximize their success on the field and beyond. Capelli Sport supports all athletes through a unique global sports ecosystem with a focus on service excellence. Learn more at capellisport.com and find Capelli Sport on Instagram (@CapelliSport).

#17 Clay Dimick and #4 Nick Spielman scored their first USL League One goals.

RICHMOND, V.A. (April 1, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence rose victorious over the Richmond Kickers 1-2 on Saturday night at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia. The Jacks remain unbeaten in three games. Next, they’ll face North Carolina rivals NCFC for the first time in the 2023 USL League One season. That match kicks off on Saturday, April 8 at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

“I thought we started slowly,” Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. “I thought our first goal got us into the game, fantastic goal and fantastic play. We kind of manufactured the second goal, and from that point on I thought we held onto the game pretty well.” 

Goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack made an immediate impact on the match with a save in the 12th minute. #91 Owayne Omar Gordon for the Kickers received a pass from #32 Emiliano Terzaghi inside the Jacks 18-yard box. Gordon took the right-footed shot, and Pack, diving to his right, made a key block to keep it level.

Charlotte Independence Captain #17 Clay Dimick scored his first professional goal in the 12th minute to put the Jacks on the board first. After a high-pressing attack by Richmond, Charlotte broke in transition and found #6 Omar Ciss. Ciss passed to Dimick who pushed it up field to forward #11 Tresor Mbuyu. Mbuyu played a pass into and #9 Dane Kelly who laid it off to Dimick continuing his run into the box. First time, he hit the strike into the bottom right corner of the goal.

“This was a huge result for us early in the season,” Dimick said. “We knew it was going to be a fight and we were up for it. This team showed we can grind out a win in a tough environment and that’s always a good sign.”

The Jacks gained more confidence and started to press later in the half. Mbuyu put in a quality, low cross to #56 Gabriel Obertan. He took the shot from outside the 18-yard box. It curled towards the right side of the goal but was saved by Richmond’s keeper. 

Minutes later, Richmond attacked from the wing and served a cross into Charlotte’s box to find Gordan. He headed the ball into the left side of the net past goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack and leveled the score, 1-1. 

Just before half, the Independence high press forced the Kickers to make two big turnovers. First, it was Obertan who cut off a pass. He found Ciss at the penalty spot who missed wide. Then, it was Obertan who had the look at goal but was unable to convert. 

At the half, Richmond Kickers 1 – Charlotte Independence 1.

The Jacks continued to put the pressure on in the second half. In the 47th minute, Charlotte earned a corner kick. #10 Miguel Ibarra put up a service that led to a shot from outside the box. It was deflected and eventually cleared away by the Kickers.

At the other end, Pack made back-to-back saves including a punch away from a curling Richmond cross.

In the 61st minute, the Independence earned a free kick outside the 18-yard box. Ibarra stepped up to take the kick. He played a quality service into the mix and it fell to the foot of defender #4 Nick Spielman for the tap-in goal in the bottom left corner giving the Jacks the go-ahead goal. 

Spielman scored his first USL League One goal after just three games with Charlotte.

“It feels very good to get my first goal for the independence,” Spielman said. “I don’t score often so it’s always a happy moment for me. I’m just glad I could help the team get three points. It was a great game from everyone on the team and out focus now turns to Wednesday in the Open Cup.”  

Richmond continued to find opportunities in the attack. In the 63rd minute, the Kickers played a deep cross to the back post, but Dimick was there to clear it out of play for a corner kick.  

In the 82nd minute, the match entered a weather delay due to lightning in the area which lasted two and a half hours.

“We handled the weather delay really well,” Jeffries said. “It was nice to go into it with a 2-1 lead obviously with the break. We had good concentration, good mentality to come out and close the game out as we did. I thought we managed the last few minutes well. They threw everything at us but we didn’t give anything away.” 

Back on the pitch with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Charlotte worked hard to keep the ball up and away from their defensive third. As a result, they earned three corner kicks although unable to find the brace.

The final minutes ticked away as Richmond continued knocking at the door. Quick passes and combination play led to a cross from Gordon and a header by #99 Kharlton Belmar, but Pack again came up with the save. 

The Jacks held Richmond scoreless in the second half to earn a big 3 points on the road and hold their place at the top of the USL League One Standings.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence remain on the road taking on North Carolina rivals, NCFC at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Saturday, April 8th. First kick is set for 7:00 PM. Fans can live stream the match for free on Bahakel Sports.

Goals scored by #12 Brad Dunwell, #5 Shalom Dutey and #90 Khori Bennett

STATESBORO, G.A. (March 25, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence secured their first win of the 2023 season over South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday night at Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium. The Jacks scored their first three goals, and secured their first three points of the season.

Charlotte is back on the road next Saturday, April 1 for a rematch with the Richmond Kickers. Richmond will host this one after the club’s tied 0-0 during Charlotte’s home opener on March 18. Fans can watch the live stream for free on Bahakel Sports.

“The confidence of winning a game on the road really helps,” Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. “It took some time for us to do that last year. So, I think it’s a big plus to get the first road win and know that we can find a way to do it on the road.” 

In just his second match in a Charlotte Independence jersey, #12 Brad Dunwell scored the Jacks first goal of the 2023 season. The Independence pressed the Tormenta back line in the 6th minute of play. #6 Omar Ciss won it on defense and a couple quick passes led the ball over to Dunwell who was waiting at the top of the 18-yard-box. He curled a low strike into the bottom left corner of the net to give Charlotte the early lead. 

“It feels great to score, but it’s even better to be walking away with 3 points on the road,” Dunwell said.  

The Independence earned their first free kick in the 24th minute. #10 Miguel Ibarra sent a quality service into the box, but it was cleared away by Tormenta’s defense. 

Minutes later the Jacks earned another free kick. This time it was #56 Gabriel Obertan who stepped up to take the strike. He fired it directly into the wall resulting in an easy clear for Tormenta. 

Tormenta started to build momentum later in the half. After a couple shots were blocked by the Charlotte defense, a foul committed in stoppage time led to the tying goal. Tormenta’s #45 Mukwelle Akale hit a strike that went up and over the Independence wall and past goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack. 

At the half, South Georgia Tormenta 1 – Charlotte Independence 1.

“We came into the half tied 1-1 and I thought the guys showed a pretty good mentality,” Jeffries said. “We were able to get the goal and then I thought we managed the game pretty well when we had the lead and we closed the game out pretty well.” 

The Jacks came out strong in the second half creating a lot of chances in the final third. First, it was an early corner kick crossed into the 6-yard box. The service was cleared away before any Independence players were able to apply pressure. 

At the other end, defender #3 Hector Acosta made a sliding tackle to break up a Tormenta attack inside the box. 

Minutes later Tormenta defender #23 Preston Kilwien collected his second yellow card resulting in a red and the hosts dropped down to 10 men. 

In the 59th minute, the Jacks earned a corner kick which led to their second goal of the match. The service by Ibarra was fumbled by the Tormenta goalkeeper. In the right place at the right time was #5 Shalom Dutey to put it away and give Charlotte the go ahead goal. 

“The game was great, it was needed after the way our season ended last year falling short to them in the first round of playoffs,” Dutey said. “I believe in this team and I know we have more in us. We will continue to push for more wins.”

20 minutes later, Pack came off his line to disrupt a Tormenta break away by #17 Elijah Amo. 

It wasn’t long before the Independence were back on the attack. Ciss cleared a ball from Charlotte’s defensive half to find an open #8 Joel Johnson sprinting down the wing. Johnson lofted a contested cross to #90 Khori Bennett who headed it up and over the hands of Tormenta’s goalkeeper #1 Pablo Jara to get the brace for the Jacks. 

Pack ended the game in stoppage time with two big saves to keep the Independence victorious over 2022 defending USL League One Champions, South Georgia Tormenta FC. 

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence remain on the road at the Richmond Kickers’ City Stadium on Saturday, April 1st. First kick is set for 6:00 PM. Fans can stream the match for free on Bahakel Sports.

Myers Park High School student-athlete finding his path to the pros 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 23, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence announced today the signing of Charlotte Independence Soccer Club midfielder Isaac Scheer to his first USL Academy contract. 

“Isaac is a technical midfielder, capable of breaking down defenses individually or with a pass, and very clean on the ball,” Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. 

Scheer joined the Independence’s youth academy when he was 14, and was selected to the ECNL Boys National Selection Game in 2021. He currently attends Myers Park High School. 

“Since I joined the Independence, it was always my dream to make it up to the first team,” Scheer said. “Now, four years later, that dream has come true.” 

The Charlotte Independence are on the road this week to take on South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch the match for free at bahakelentertainment.com/sports.