SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums College, Pro & International Soccer Troy Lesesne Loaned to Wilmington Hammerheads

Charleston Battery midfielder Troy Lesesne has been loaned to the Wilmington Hammerheads for the remainder of their season.

Hammerheads Add Midfielder
Friday, July 22, 2005 - Hammerheads Press Release

With the deadline for adding players drawing near, Coach Irving adds more fire power to the Hammerheads roster. Midfielder Troy Lesesne from the Charleston Battery will join the Hammerheads as they take on the Charlotte Eagles.

Lesesne was the Battery�s second round draft pick in the 2005 US First Division College Player Draft. A four year starter at the College of Charleston, Lesesne enjoyed his best-ever season in 2004 leading the Cougars in both assists (10) and shots on goal (30). Lesesne�s four-year totals for the Cougars include 78 games played with 10 goals and 15 assists. In 2004 Lesesne was named to the NSCAA All-American second team.

The first place Hammerheads (10-5-1) head to Charlotte Saturday to take on the third place Eagles (9-4-2).

This is a good move for Troy, I posted over on the Battery forum months ago that they should loan some of the rookies to Wilmington if they weren't going to get much PT with the Battery. Coach Irving is a very good coach and Wilmington is a great club, they routinely get 3,000+ fans to their games.

I spoke with Troy yesterday and he seemed pretty content about this situation as he knows he can get more playing time with the Hammerheads.

He'll be in Charlotte tonight with Wilmington.

Wilmington needs to pick up 3-5 points in their last four matches to clinch a playoff spot.

Wilmington beats archrival Charlotte last night 3-0 in the last match of the regular season. Troy gets at least one, maybe 2 assists (depending on the generousity of the statman.)

Wilmington vs. Charlotte Match Report

The Knuckleheads start the playoffs with a home match this Wednesday night @ 7:30 pm. I may have to make the trek up there. Wilmington is a very fun stadium to watch a game. Over 4,000 last night.

Charlotte will host Harrisburg on Saturday night.

WILMINGTON, N.C. � The Wilmington Hammerheads put an exclamation point on an undefeated home season by defeating the Charlotte Eagles 3-0 on Saturday evening before a boisterous Legion Stadium crowd of 4,197.

More important, the Hammers (12-6-2 overall, 9-0-1 at home) move into postseason play with momentum and another auspicious home match. By virtue of its victory against Charlotte (13-5-2), fourth place Wilmington denied the Eagles a shot at the league title and instead will play the Western Mass Pioneers on Wednesday at Legion Stadium. The Pioneers are regular season champs with a record of 13-3-4. Second place Charlotte plays third place Harrisburg in the other semifinal matchup.

For the second time this season, the Hammers outplayed their arch in-state rivals, this time with several key players watching from the sidelines. After an evenly played first half, Wilmington scored 3 times in a span of 16 minutes, a dominating stretch that seemed to demoralize the Eagles.

Wilmington distinguished itself by beating Charlotte to balls, applying tight defensive pressure, and executing a strategic and patient offense to perfection. Meanwhile, the Eagles were reduced to an ineffective and desperate long ball tactic.

�It was a great win to end the season on,� said Coach David Irving, who pointed out that Charlotte also had some keys players missing.

Once again, Wilmington demonstrated how deep its team is, a fact that has become apparent as the season has progressed. �It�s not just 11 players,� said Coach Irving. �We have 23 players and that�s going to win a championship.�

Whatever Coach Irving said in the locker room at intermission paid dividends shortly thereafter. Just 2 minutes into the second half, energetic forward Phil Hufstader took a throw-in from the right side and promptly booted a shot off the crossbar. Kenny Bundy was there for the rebound and a 1-0 advantage.

Just 8 minutes later Troy Lesesne, dribbling up the left side, sent a sizzling cross into the box. Bundy headed it over to Kevin Nylen, who calmly deposited it into the net.

In the 61st minute Lesesne again raced up the left side and crossed a beautiful ball for a waiting Hufstader, who headed it in for the final score.

he is definately helping the team out a lot. hopefully he will be able to keep it up.