CHARLOTTETOWNE HOPS FC DEFEATS GREENVILLE UNITED 4-0 IN SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE PLAY
Written by: Robert Morrison
Drew Hansen celebrates 3 goal performance with Hops teammates Ayman Maadir, Tucker Kern, and Willie Cardona.
Photo by CJ Hellner.
Charlottetowne Hops FC welcomed NPSL newcomers Greenville United to the CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC on Friday night for the Hops’ second home match of the season. The Hops were looking to rebound from a tough 1-0 loss in their home opener last week and did so with aplomb.
The home side took a little while to get into the match as the visitors came out on the front foot, trying to force the issue against a team that struggled to finish last week against Hickory. But it didn’t take long for the Hops to get a foothold into the match.
Hops midfielder Jamie Diluzio took the ball away from Greenville defender Immanuel Akpeme and found a streaking Drew Hansen in the 12th minute on the left-hand side and the winger confidently slotted it home to give Charlottetowne an early lead. It was one they would double only seven minutes later as Diluzio and found Hansen again, who slid the ball past Greenville goalkeeper Tripp Kidd to double the lead.
Things really got out of hand for United ten minutes later, as Diluzio played a nice through ball to Hops’ striker Tyler Trimnal, who danced past Kidd but was ultimately taken down by the goalkeeper, who was shown a straight red card and left the game in the 29th minute. Hops’ winger Gabi Lopes scored on the ensuing free kick to run the Charlottetowne lead to 3-0 just half an hour into the match.
Drew Hansen would earn his hat trick nine minutes later on a good cross from Lopes, giving the home side the 4-0 lead just 40 minutes into the match. Two late-in-the-half Charlottetowne yellow cards–one to Trimnal and the other to centerback Dawsom Malcolm–didn’t deter the positive vibes for Charlottetowne at the half.
The second half saw the 10-man United side hold their own. However, they still saw opportunities from Charlottetowne, particularly with the introduction of substitute James Kelly in the second half, who made a menace of himself along the left side. In the end, both sides emptied their benches, although Greenville was unfortunate to finish the match with just nine men due to a late injury to substitute Jorger Lemus. Still, nothing came either before or after the away side losing yet another player.
In the end, the Hops won the match by the first half score with Drew Hansen leading the scoring with his hat trick. The win will move Charlottetowne into second place in the NPSL Southeastern Conference with six points in three matches, although Appalachian FC will play on Saturday with a chance to overtake the Hops after three matches.
Charlottetowne travels to Apotheos FC on June 1 for their next match, while Greenville United, who have yet to secure points in two matches this season, will take on Hickory FC at home that same night.