Charlotte Independence USL League Two Team Add Caio Brandao, Felipe Mendonca, and Matheus Pereira.

May 3, 2022

All three players play at Queens University of Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 3rd,2022) - The Charlotte Independence USL League Two Team announced today that they have added Midfielders Caio Brandao, Matheus Pereira, and Attacker Filipe Mendonca for the 2022 USL2 season. All three players attend and play for Queens University of Charlotte Men’s Soccer team.


“We are grateful for our relationship with coach Oliver Caracas at Queens to help us secure the addition of Caio, Matheus, and Filipe. They all bring something different to the table, but all fit very well into the Independence game model,” said Charlotte Independence USL2 Head Coach Daniel Ridenhour. “Very special to get Filipe back into the club as he was with the program last summer and knows what the league is all about. He is a proven goal scorer. Caio and Matheus will help solidify and strengthen our midfield. They have qualities which will allow us to get the ball when needed but also provide us really with the ability to get forward. Relationships are at the heart of the group and the staff, and I look forward to building those we these three good young men.”


During the 2019/2020 season, Caio was named SAC All conference team and All Southeast Region Team. He will be a redshirt senior for this coming season. In 2016, Caio’s High School team, Montverde Academy, won the National Championship his junior year. 


“I’m really looking forward for my first season with Charlotte Independence,” stated Caio. “I hope we can accomplish great things and perform really well as a group.”


Matheus will look to bring his USL2 experience and share it among the team. In 2021, he played for the Green Bay Voyageurs and in 2019, he played for Tormenta FC 2 where they were crowned conference champion. Before heading to Queens to play for the 2022 season, Matheus played at Marquette University & Marshalltown Community College. During Matheus Junior year at Marquette, the men’s team were Big East Tournament Champion and appeared in the Sweet-16 Nationals. His freshmen and junior seasons at Marshalltown Community College included: 2X Regional Champions, District Champions, 2018 All-Conference Second-Team, 2019 All-Conference First-Team, and 2019 MVP Offensive Player.


“I hope to perform well to help our team and accomplish great things both collective and individually,” stated Matheus on returning to the Independence for another season. 


Filipe Mendonca is from Salvador Brazil and a returning member of the Charlotte Independence Second Team. While playing at Queens, Filipe was named SAC Conference Top Scorer, SAC Conference leader in points, SAC Conference leader in goals per match, Conference leader in points per match, Nationally ranked 9th Top scorer, Nationally ranked 10th in points All- Conference first team, D2CAA All- Southeast Region first team. Like Matheus, Filipe has one more season with the Royals and will graduate December 2022. 


With Charlotte Independence 2 I’ll have the opportunity to play among many talented players that will help me make to the next level,” stated Filipe. 


The Charlotte Independence Second Team kickoff their 2022 season on Sunday, May 15 at 7:00 PM (ET). The Jacks will host Charlotte Eagles at Manchester Meadows.

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