by Marissa Blackman
Wilmington Hammerheads FC is about to play it's nineteenth match of the season against Louisville City FC.
The clubs have only played each other once before in a May match which resulted in a 3-0 win for Louisville.
The two clubs are statistically very different.
Louisville is third place in eastern conference standings and has won most of it's matches. Wilmington is twelfth place in standings and has lost the majority of matches. Louisville has scored 32 times (averaging 1.88 per game) while conceding only 15 times (averaging .88 per game). Wilmington has scored only 11 goals (averaging .61 per game) and conceded 24 goals (averaging 1.33 per game).
In the past month, Louisville defeated the Richmond Kickers, Charlotte Independence, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds. In the same time span, the Hammerheads tied St. Louis FC and lost to both the Harrisburg City Islanders and Charleston Battery.
There's no debating the fact that tomorrow's match will be one between an in form club and a club that hasn't been able to find it's form. Nevertheless, the match's result is still unpredictable. As displayed by the recent triumphs of FC Montreal, bottom of the table teams recognize the urgency of the remaining games and are capable of anything. The question remains: how much upward movement is really possible for any club at this point in the season? These last games will prove to be extremely interesting.
After maintaining a firm grip on eleventh place for several weeks, the Hammerheads have dropped down to twelfth, the bottom of the table. Victory in this match would certainly be opportune for the Hammerheads. The additional three points would boost the Hammerheads up two places.
There are ten games, including the upcoming match versus Louisville, left this season for the Wilmington club. Currently, thirteen points separate the Hammerheads from a playoff spot, and, in the best case scenario, the club can gain a maximum of thirty points. Six of the remaining games will be at home for the Hammerheads.
Only time will tell how this season will end.
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