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PHOTO/CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE Charlotte Independence center back Henry Kalungi (25) returns from the 2015 squad to bolster the back four on defense.

WINGATE—Defensive continuity enhances the Charlotte Independence’s potential for success.



Two weeks before the USL season opener against Louisville, the Independence have a solid back four in center backs Bilal Duckett and Henry Kalungi, as well as outside backs Patrick Slogic and Jack Metcalf.



“It helps a little bit with the continuity with having Bilal and Henry together,” Charlotte coach Mike Jeffries said. “They played together some last year, so that helps, obviously. Slogic was with us and a part of it as well.”



Said Kalungi: “It gives us a good stability to build on. We have a lot of good players—Pat on the left, me, Bilal, and then Jack. We’ve worked together for a long time, so we know each other. We communicate well. We respect each other, and we know what we want to achieve as a team. It’s not only about us in the back four—the midfielders and the forwards. We work together as a team, to make sure we defend well.”



With road friendlies at Davidson March 13 at 2 p.m. and the Charlotte 49ers March 19 at Transamerica Field at 6 p.m., Charlotte stands 2-1-1 in preseason after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the NASL Carolina RailHawks. Until the 81st minute when RailHawks midfielder Matt Watson scored the game-winner, Charlotte played composed in back and limited Carolina’s scoring opportunities. As the game went on, Charlotte made numerous substitutions, including the back four.



“I think that does help with the continuity of being able to play out of the back,” Jeffries said. “I thought the back four did a pretty good job defensively throughout the game, and really didn’t give away too many chances. I thought they were very, very solid.”



Said Duckett: “I’m pleased with the way our back four did. The goal we gave up was probably a combination of tired legs and a little bit of inexperience, two guys who haven’t played together a lot.”



While Kalungi did not join the Independence until midseason last year, he saw action in 15 matches. Duckett played in 26 games (one goal), Slogic 25 (three goals), and Metcalf 19.



“Last year was my first year as a professional,” said Metcalf, who played at Clemson. “I think I was getting to grips with it—training at a higher level, playing at a higher level. The guys here all made me feel welcome, and brought me into the swings of being a professional from day to day, and their experiences—it’s helped me this year. Moving forward this year I’m available and I can play a bigger role if needed.”



Said Jeffries: “He’s a little more confident. He’s been sharp coming up and down the lines. He’s been good for us playing out of the back, and he held up very well defensively. I thought he had a good day.”



Said Duckett: “It’s coming along quickly for him, but getting that partnership between him and David [Estrada, midfielder/striker] is going to be very big for us. Today they started to sort out some of those two-versus-two, two-versus-one situations. Who is going with runners, those split second decisions that define whether or not [the opposition] gets a whipped ball in without pressure or we’re picking the ball off and going 60 yards the other way.”



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