Preseason Powerhouse

With just over a month until the kickoff of the USL Pro season, the Charleston Battery are in fine preseason form, stringing together several convincing victories over their opponents.  Following their dramatic 2-1 coup over the Houston Dynamo in the final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup, Charleston are undefeated in preseason play.  Here are recaps of the fixtures so far:

College of Charleston 0-3 Charleston Battery

Dane Kelly only just missed the target in the opening stages of the match.  The Battery were in the driver's seat from the get-go and Quinton Griffith found the net midway through the first half with a rocket shot from a good ways out.  Ryan Richter and Dane Kelly combined just before the break to give the Black and Yellow a two goal advantage.  Pressing that advantage further, Richter and Kelly co-oped another goal as a fine run by Richter was neatly finished with headed goal by the Jamaican forward.

Clemson University 0-5 Charleston Battery

The Tigers were tied as the Battery overpowered Clemson, providing a goal-scoring clinic free of charge.  Ryan Richter sparked a run in the first half, allowing Jose "Chiva" Cuevas to tally first for Charleston.  A second half onslaught saw Austin Savage (a Clemson grad and former Palmetto FC Bantam), Battery vet and Columbia native Zach Prince, and trialists Gibson Bardsley find the net.  The final goal was earned by Jarad van Schaik, who netted a volleyed shot from a corner kick as the Lowcountry Boys dominated their northern neighbors.

Charleston Battery 4-1 Georgia Southern

Cuban newcomer, Evier Cordovez tapped home Charleston's first strike, assisted by van Schaik about ten minutes on.  Cuevas, who initiated the first goal poked in the second with some help from Zach Prince at the half hour mark.  Scoring an unlikely goal, Taylor Mueller found the net moments after when we whiffed a long ball down the field.  As the GS keeper moved the squelch the pass, a gust carried the ball just over his head in to the net.  Shortly after the break, the Battery put one in their own net, owing now thanks and blame to the blustery conditions on the pitch at Blackbaud.  An errant header from Cody Ellison snagged the breeze and sailed into the Charleston goal at 50 minutes.  Trialist Gibson Bardsley nabbed another Battery goal at 61 minutes with some excellent individual effort to finish the windy night's scoring.

Charleston Battery 2-1 Coastal Carolina

The Battery jumped ahead early as Jose Cuevas found the mark at 10 minutes, slotting home from a goal front scramble begun by Cordovez.  Charleston were content to absorb large amounts of pressure from the Chanticleers but protected the clean sheet till the break.  Dane Kelly was unlucky as his sprinting shot was muffled just before the half.  Refusing to bow out, Coastal's efforts were rewarded on the hour as Klasila was beaten by a powerful shot from close range.  Responding immediately, the Battery were able to stem the tide and restore their lead ten minutes later.  It was Cuevas again, who single handedly slipped his pursuers, passed to himself, and ignited the net, leaving Charleston a goal to the good.  Coastal Carolina proved a more determined foe than the Battery's previous college fixtures, but even on an off night, the boys got the right result.

Who's Next??

The Pride of the Lowcountry travel to Cary, NC to challenge the Carolina Railhawks Thursday at WakeMed Park.  The NASL season kicks off April 6 and the Railhawks have enjoyed a few good preseason results already.  In addition to facing Charleston twice in the coming weeks, Carolina have added a fixture with Mexican giants Pumas UNAM.  Similar to the Battery, the Railhawks preseason preparations involve ties with predominately local university squads.  Its safe to say the fans can expect a highly competitive match and even if the results don't matter, Carolina will be keen to continue to please the home crowd as the Railhawks look to be strong contender for the next MLS expansion team.

After the Railhawks, the Battery will host C of C and the Wilmington Hammerheads at Blackbaud.

Having reached the midpoint of our preseason fixtures, it looks to be another promising year for the Charleston Battery.  We have an unusual number of returning veterans and probably more fresh talent than will fit on the final roster.  Goals seem to be coming from everywhere but the man involved with nearly every one is Jose Cuevas.  I'm very excited about our Cuban acquisitions with Odisnel Cooper between the sticks, Evier Cordovez up front, and the magic of Mikhail Chang yet to be seen.  The international flavor of Charleston's lineup will also be peppered with the ridiculous speed and power of Quinton Griffith of Antigua.  I'm also pleased that we're drawing on local talent with the likes of Austin Savage (Palmetto FC Bantams) and Ralph Lundy Jr. (C of C).  And even though these preseason matches don't count, I'm already pumped for the regular season kickoff!!




(photo credit: Charleston Battery & Carolina Railhawk's facebook page)

Battery Show Fight in CCC Goalfest

Braving the bitter cold, Battery fans were treated to a ten goal double feature exhibition Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the opening round of the Carolina Challenge Cup.  And although Charleston fell 3-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps, the boys have plenty to be proud of as the home played with spirit and determination against their MLS foes.

Vancouver opened the scoring early led Kekutah Manneh.  The rookie might have had a hat-trick, but his first attempt on goal in the second minute was adjudged offside.  Not to be denied, Manneh secured the first goal only two minutes later.  The Whitecaps made a strong showing offensively, belying the fact the game was a preseason friendly.  In the opening stages, Charleston were disorganized at the back and were it not for the reflexes of Kevin Klasila, the carnage could have been greater.  Manneh would score again in the 27th minute, burning down the left flank and searing the net with another well placed shot.  Regaining some composure, Charleston mounted an attack just before the break, but Jose Cuevas' shot slumped just wide of the far post.  

At the restart the 'Caps continued pouring it on and in the 50th minute Daigo Kobayashi volleyed home a strike that seemed taken from one of Ronaldinho's Nike videos.  I honestly think it was one of the most impressive goals I've seen at Blackbaud.  Even with the three goal deficit, the Battery were able to regroup and finish the match with admirable form.   Returning veteran Nicki Paterson rallied the troops and the charge, producing a goal in the 71st minute.  The Scotsman picked out the surging Dane Kelly who advanced to the final third.  Kelly chipped the ball to trialist Gibson Bardley who shrugged the defense and threaded it back to Patterson.  It was clinical finishing as Patterson's one-touch shot burried the ball into the roof of the net.  Charleston nearly doubled their tally six minutes later but was thwarted with a fine save from Vancouver's Brad Knighton.  However, Dane Kelly continued to make his mark on the match, ripping another Battery goal ten minutes from time.  Shouldering through the backline, the Jamaican expertly placed a magnificent goal.  Unfortunately, the whistle came at the wrong time for the boys as Charleston were unable to recover from Vancouver's early lead.  

The Battery have been training for just over a week, and considering the fact that the MLS regular season kick off is just around the corner, I think this is a fine result for Charleston.  Now there's plenty of room for improvement, especially concerning defensive solidarity, but that will come naturally as chemistry grows and the final roster is ironed out.  

Preseason Continues

With only days before the Carolina Challenge Cup, training camp is in full swing for the Charleston Battery.  Here's an inside look as the defending USL Pro Champs dust off the cobwebs and get set to play host to some talent rich MLS squads:WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Remember, Charleston will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second match on Saturday.  The 'Caps are captained by EPL legend Jay Demerit and Vancouver just recently signed former Battery striker Tom "Wildman" Heinemann.  And since Charleston has been paired with the Houston Dynamo for a few matches this season, it will be good have a look at our MLS competition.

In the meantime, have you been following the Disney Pro Soccer Classic??

So far, its been an excellent showcase of up-and-coming talent, with lively preseason matches between MLS, USL, and NASL teams.  All the games are being streamed live on MLSsoccer.com.

An incredibly sharp Columbus Crew steamrolled the Philadelphia Union 4-0 earlier this afternoon.  Philly fielded several USL vets called up from Harrisburg, but the Union were no match for the Finlay & Finley show as Dominic Oduro played his part in dismantling the opposition as well.

Can't catch the games live?  No problem, highlights and full replays of every match are right here.

Also, the Desert Diamond Cup kicks off tonight as the Seattle Sounders take on the New England Revs.  Look for former Arsenal back Mikael Silvestre to feature for Seattle since the Premier League vet was only just snatched up from the Portland Timbers training camp.

Not enough for your football fix?  I heard some tidbit about an epic Champions League match or something like that...but if that won't do ya, then you'll just have to wait til Saturday!

(And if for some reason you can't make it to the 'Baud, those games will be streamed live on UNATION!!)

Cheers!

Big Changes for Charleston

Lots of changes are swirling around the Battery as the club begins to gear up for the Carolina Challenge Cup and the 2013 USL Pro season.  Camp begins tomorrow and the CCC kicks off in just over a week, so I'm sure we can look forward to news of the latest signings and returning players over the next several days.

Patterson Re-ups 

Perhaps the biggest news this week is that Nicki Paterson has agreed to terms, returning for his third season with the Charleston Battery.  The Scottish international has notched 20 goals and half a dozen assists playing for Charleston, earning over 50 caps for the Black and Gold.  Paterson is currently training with the New York Red Bulls, but is excited about his return to the Lowcountry.  He is expected to be available for selection in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

There are eleven other players currently listed on Charleston's 2013 roster.  They are as follows:

Micheal Azira  

Jose Cuevas    

Cody Ellison

Colin Falvey

Kevin Klasila

JC Mack

Taylor Mueller

Ryan Richter

Amadou Sanyang

John Wilson

Mark Wiltse

New Website

In case you haven't noticed, the Battery have just unveiled their entirely redesigned website.  The new page not only looks sharp, but it has a sleek design and an interface that's easy to navigate.  The site boasts several new features and links, including a detailed photo roster, simplified ticket purchasing, and my personal favorite Battery TV!

New Kit 

This year the club has moved from Umbro to Nike as the official provider of team apparel and gear.  The switch will encompass everything from training uniforms, player gear, and the official kit used by the Charleston Battery.  The new kit will be revealed February 15 in the press conference preceding the Carolina Challenge Cup.

New Sponsor

The team also has a new lead sponsor SPARCET.  SPARCET is a software company whose applications are used to recognize and engage employees across a network with the overall goal of boosting morale and productivity.

(photo credit: Charleston Battery facebook)

Carolina Challenge Cup & An Offseason Update

Its time again to break the offseason silence and with the dawn of the New Year unveil the fresh hopes and aspirations of 2013.  The past year was certainly a prosperous one for the Charleston Battery.  Despite the cancelation of an exhibition with Nottingham Forrest, the Black & Gold provided an entertaining season of football with riveting league play, hosting the New York Red Bulls in the Open Cup, and perhaps the club's most memorable playoff run to date.  Advancing to the Championship match by besting the Rochester Rhinos in penalties, Charleston would go on to win their forth league title, defeating local rivals the Wilmington Hammerheads at Blackbaud Stadium to lift the USL PRO trophy.

Looking forward, this year's Carolina Challenge Cup will showcase more Major League Soccer talent than ever before! The Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, and Vancouver Whitecaps all participated in the MLS Playoffs and the Dynamo finished runner-up to the LA Galaxy.  Estonian international Joel Lindpere was recently acquired by Chicago from the Red Bulls and should be present at the CCC.  Also worth noting, the American legend Jay Demerit, captain of the Whitecaps and USMNT regular, will make his Blackbaud debut when the 'Caps do battle with the Battery in the first round of the tournament.

Concerning league news, the USL PRO has added two new teams for 2013 season and announced a Sacramento expansion side slated for the following year.  VSI Tampa Bay FC and Phoenix FC will liven up the league and provide some fresh challenges for the Pride of the Lowcountry this year.  Sadly, Kyle Hoffer, a defensive lynchpin in Charleston's 2012 Championship squad was the first signing for VSI and Phoenix FC have poached defender Devin Grousis from the Charlotte Eagles.

The Battery Coaching staff completed their yearly scouting visit to Jamaica in mid-December and could likely pepper Charleston's provisional squad with more Caribbean flavor.  The final set of open trials will be held this weekend as players from across the state and across the country will vie for a contract or provisional roster spot with the Battery.  As in years past, this has proved to be a great opportunity to enlist local talent from the Palmetto State as well as prospects from further afield.

Speaking of local talent, there's even more good news for fans of the Beautiful Game in the Midlands.   South Carolina's PDL side, the SC United Bantams (formerly Palmetto FC), have teamed up with the SC United youth soccer program for the 2013 season.  This means the Bantams will split playing home fixtures between Lander University and USC.  The collaboration will now provide a natural avenue for athletes to progress from youth soccer to the college level, and then on to amateur development and professional football.  And who knows?  With a rich crop of collegiate footballers, we may see a few Bantams move up to join the Battery before long!

So here's to the Battery's USL PRO title defense and an incredible year of football in 2013!!

Weekend Washout & What's Ahead

The weather stole the show over the weekend...well, actually the weather drowned the show, as the final two CCC match-ups were called on account of monsoon-like conditions.  Hope our guests packed their swim gear; it was nasty out there!!  But as disappointing as Saturday's fixtures turned out, the good news is that there's still plenty of preseason action on the way!

A dismal night at the 'Baud

The Battery will face Coastal Carolina University Thursday (3/8) at Blackbaud, and then travel to Georgia Saturday (3/10) to face the Atlanta Silverbacks.

A week from Saturday the boys take on Clemson (3/17) and finish out the month with ties against Coastal Carolina, our division rivals the Wilmington Hammerheads, and possibly our old league foes the Carolina Railhawks.

With more players coming into town, the Battery will be able to firm up and sort out the 2012 roster.  Expect to see several more new faces this year as well as some familiar heros.  Best of luck to the boys; we're looking forward to some entertaining matches in the next few weeks!

United lift Coffee Pot Cup

The Charleston Battery had another strong performance against D.C. United during Wednesday's game in the Carolina Challenge Cup.  Having beaten Chicago 1-0 in the opening match, D.C. have all but lifted the CCC trophy for the third straight year with a 3-1 win over Charleston.  With a win or draw this Saturday, the Eagle's will have taken the Cup three years running.

The stands were not nearly as crowed as last Saturday's match, but the Battery faithful still managed good numbers and a great atmosphere for both games.  In the early fixture, Chicago edged out the Crew 1-0.  Frederico Puppo's late strike put the Fire on top late in the second half.  A good game for sure, but most fans were waiting for the battle over the Coffee Pot Cup.  D.C. United first played against the Charleston Battery in the Third round of the 1999 Open Cup.  Charleston shocked D.C. with a thrilling 4-3 upset in extra time to oust them from the competition.  The US Soccer Federation hailed it as 'one of the biggest upsets ever seen in American soccer history ...'  So these MLS big shots were so frustrated that they trashed the visitor's dressing room...the most notable damages were crimes committed against a certain coffeepot.  Hence the Coffee Pot Cup was born!!  Each time the two teams meet, the victor is awarded this fan trophy.  But on to the match...

The game was lively enough as there are usually some fierce on-field battles when the two collide.  United made the scoresheet first when Maicon Santos found the net in the 13th minute.  Boskovic with the assist, let him strike near post giving the visitors the lead.  Despite the deficit, Charleston played with authority, by no means surrendering their home-field advantage.  The Battery held possession for much of the first half and had several good opportunities on goal.  Charlie Romero provided great offensive impetus with some dangerous crosses and powerful shots of his own.  It also seems that the Battery has found a new midfield maestro in likes of Jose Cuevas.  Scoring in the 28th minute, the latest addition to the squad now has two goals in as many matches for Charleston.  Mark Wiltse threaded his cross into the box, allowing Cuevas to smash home the goal.  D.C. responded quickly and netted a header goal to preserve their lead going into the break.

The second half saw several Battery substitutions and the run of play was more back and forth.  Former Battery GK Andrew Dykstra debuted for his new club and was largely responsible for blanking the Battery in the second half.  Charleston's ambitions were dealt a blow when Wiltse was sent off in the 77th for a dangerous tackle.  Reduced to ten men, the Battery held on but succumbed to another United goal only three minutes from time.  So D.C. took the CCC and the Coffee Pot Cup...but maybe we'll see a rematch later this summer!

In spite of the scoreline, this was yet another promising display from the Battery.  The offense looked incredible in the first half and its obvious that our returning players are working well with the new recruits.  There were a few defensive lapses in the second half, but considering the number of subs, the red card, and conditioning this early in the preseason, there's no cause for alarm.  Also, I believe we've seen no less than three keepers so far in goal for Charleston.  Who will lead the team between the sticks??  The Carolina Challenge Cup concludes Saturday as United square off against the Crew in the early game.  Then the Battery will attempt to put out the Fire and finish the Cup in second place!!  We're only three games in and Charleston's preseason in heating up!!  Go Black and Yellow!!