We're Almost There!!

As the preseason draws to a close, the Charleston Battery have been busy doing what they do best: winning.  Sometimes the preseason can be a false indicator of how your team performs when the games begin to count, but if the Battery performs even half as well as they have in the past month, we've got nothing to worry about.  With many returning veterans and new recruits quickly gelling in the squad, this Charleston outfit might just be the best we've ever seen! (Lamar Hunt Cup, anyone?)

 Since the USL PRO season officially kicked off a few weekends ago, its a good thing the Battery performing like they're in mid-season stride.
Here are the latest results:

Carolina Railhawks 1-2 Charleston Battery

The Battery were on the board in less than twenty minutes, owing largely to the pace and precision of Jose Cuevas and Jarad van Schaik.  The two combined, sliding down the right half and allowed Quinton Griffith the ball and space to work with.  The thunder-footed Antiguan wasted no time rifling home the opening goal from a difficult angle at 18 minutes.  On the half hour, Micheal Azira scored an opportunist's goal, seizing on an errant clearance and burying a volley from twenty yards out.  Reclaiming one goal at 70 minutes, the Railhawks pressured the visitors for the equalizer, but the Battery stood their ground and saw off their NASL foes at WakeMed Park.

College of Charleston 0-0 Charleston Battery

The Cougars gave our boys a good run for their money in a scrimmage at Patriots Point.  If the woodwork could be awarded man-of-the-match, that would have been the case, as the Battery were denied by the post at least twice, if not more.  The Battery set the tempo, finding several opportunities in the first half as Cuevas, van Schaik, and Kelly took turns barraging C of C.  However, the finishing was lacking as each shot skipped wide or was literally "on frame."  The defensive Cougars were emboldened after the break sought the scalp of their professional neighbors.  Late in the match, Colin Falvey stole a march on defenders, surging down the pitch, but his would-be assist was fired wide by Zach Prince.  However, Falvey was soon called on about 10 minutes from time, and his stretching goal-line clearance proved to be the decisive play in the game.  

Charleston Battery 2-0 Wilmington Hammerheads

Charleston bested Wilmington in a classic rematch of the 2012 USL title game.  Griffith and Kelly nearly found the mark in the first half, but fans were forced to wait until the 69th minute for the breakthrough.  Having just arrived from the Vancouver Whitecaps, Ben Fisk latched onto a through ball from Jose Cuevas and neatly finished to score the game's first goal.  Returning the favor, "Ben 10" served Cuevas five minutes later and Charleston's "Chiva" ripped home a low shot into the right corner of the net.

Coastal Carolina 0-2 Charleston Battery

Visiting the Chanticleers' stomping grounds in Myrtle Beach, the Battery repeated their result from the weekend, trumping this resilient university side two-nil.  Perhaps the best news from this game was Nicki Patterson's return to action.  Linking with Cuevas on a set piece, the Scotsman's precision was the decisive factor Charleston's first goal.  Sounding a bit a like a broken record, Jose Cuevas led the team and scored midway through the second half.  Taylor Mueller put the result beyond doubt moments later, scoring from a fine overlapping run down the left flank.

Charleston Battery 1-0 Carolina Railhawks

Rounding out an unusually busy preseason, the Battery recorded a dominant performance, grounding the Railhawks for a second time in as many weeks.  Patterson and Cuevas combined for the goal, coming early in the first half.  Quniton Griffith also logged an impressive individual effort, keeping the Railhawks on the back foot for the better part of the match.   

HERE WE GO!!!

Of course, "all's well that ends well,"  but this is only the beginning.  Charleston have finished their preseason matches unbeaten in the last ten outings.  The boys netted an incredible 26 goals in only 12 games.  Eight of those are accredited to the 2012 USL Rookie of the Year Jose Cuevas, and as exciting as that is, its worth noting that twelve other players found the net, most of whom have already agreed to terms with the Battery.

Experience is key to the unity and effectiveness of any given squad, but especially considering the high turnover rate of talented players in lower division football.  And while Alec Kann and Ryan Richter will surely be missed (transfered to Chicago Fire and Toronto FC, respectively), Charleston have retained the majority of their 2012 roster, practically unheard of in a Championship year.  Some of these guys have been kicking around together for three years now and when you combine that with the swell of fresh talent signed this season, the Charleston Battery are going to be tough to beat.

This season will bring lots of new excitement and changes.  It will be interesting to follow the development of the young partnership between MLS and USL and the crossover matches with the MLS Reserves are sure to liven up the table this year.  The addition of two new franchises introduce new blood and more unique soccer culture with Phoenix FC and VSI Tampa Bay debuting in USL in 2013.  Improved venues (i.e. Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium) will ensure that the  USL drama will unfold on the finest of stages.  An expanded schedule adds more length to the season, and what kind of fan could take issue with more matches??`

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)

Open Cup Update: Fourth Round Recap

Another exhilarating installment in this year's Open Cup drama saw half of the fourth round fixtures finish in extra time, and three of the eight games were decided by late penalties.  At this stage in the tournament, there were some predictable results but a record three lower division teams (all USLPRO) have made it into the quarterfinals.  Here are the latest results from the Cup:

Chivas USA 2-1 Carolina Railhawks
The Railhawks were brought to earth in heartbreaking fashion, losing the match to a penalty decision deep into stoppage time.  This game was strangely similar to Carolina's encounter with the Galaxy last week.  The Goats held nothing back, fielding a strong first team and the result was a goal in the 31st.  The Railhawks looked more confident after the break and after an impressive attacking burst found their equalizer with eleven minutes in regulation.  It seemed overtime was in the cards, but a handball decision was called in favor of the Chivas and Juan Pablo Angel buried the PK to end the fixture in stunning fashion.

The Chivas will host the advancing Charlotte Eagles June 26th at the Home Depot Center.

Charlotte Eagles 2-1 San Antonio Scorpions

                       (Final after Extra Time)

The Eagles are officially 'Kings of Texas' after routing three different opponents in their Open Cup tour of the Lone Star State, as Charlotte continue their impressive run in the tournament.  Their latest victims, the NASL's San Antonio Scorpions, were finally beaten with a penalty kick at the end of extra time.  Charlotte asserted their dominance early, making the most of their chances and netting in the 28th  minute.  However, a flagging Scorpions unit clawed their way back into the match, scoring a goal with a quarter hour left on the clock.  San Antonio had chances in extra time, but a handball in the box brought things to a bitter end for the hosts.  

The Eagles have conjured their best cup run to date, defeating the El Paso Patriots, FC Dallas, and now the Scorpions.  The win earns Charlotte a draw with Chivas USA at the HDC.  Interestingly enough, their second best OC performance, in 2005, was a win at El Paso and then an hotly contested 3-2 overtime loss to the Chivas.  

New York Red Bulls 1-3 Harrisburg City Islanders
                       (Final after Extra Time)
Harrisburg scored early in the 13th minute against the run of play.  However, it was New York who bossed the match, owning nearly every minute of regulation.  A heavy spell of pressure after the restart gave the Red Bulls a goal in the 59th.  The game proceeded to extra time and Harrisburg found the net almost immediately in the 94th.  The Islanders were then subjected to a New York onslaught but held on and even bagged one more goal just before extra time ended.

Harrisburg move on to face the Philadelphia Union in the Quarterfinals.  Oddly enough, the Islanders will have a chance to feel out their opponent in an exhibition match with their MLS affiliate on June 12 before their Open Cup date two weeks later.

Philadelphia Union 2-1 DC United
                       (Final after Extra Time)
In a lively tangle between the two Eastern Conference foes, Philly got the better of United but needed extra time to do so.  Both teams scored in first half stoppage time, the Union notching the first goal and DC responding hardly a minute later.  The match was a scrappy one and there were send-offs for each side in the extra period.  But more importantly, there was a Philadelphia goal that came just after that extra time started.

Dayton Dutch Lions 2-1 Michigan Bucks
                       (Final after Extra Time)
For a team with little to no league success, the Dayton Dutch Lions are making Open Cup history.  Coming off a massive win against the Columbus Crew, the Lions advanced with a dramatic victory, visiting the PDL's Michigan Bucks.  Unfortunately for the Bucks, it will be remembered as a match they "could have won", as they dominated play but failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.  Dayton struck first in the 13th and the teams continued to exchange shots in minor skirmishes.  Michigan leveled the game just after half time, but could not find the game winner.  Despite an audacious surge by the Bucks in extra time, they conceded a penalty and Dayton's Joel DeLass stamped the Lions ticket to the next round.

The Dutch Lions will challenge Sporting KC at LiveStrong Park in the Quarterfinals.

Colorado Rapids 0-2 Sporting Kansas City
Sporting were the beneficiaries of a Colorado own goal in the 29th minute.  A free quick took a turn off the keeper, then the post, then keeper again on its way into the net.  A CJ Sapong header put the game beyond doubt in the 79th minute.

Cal FC 0-5 Seattle Sounders
Crushing the dreams of the would-be Cinderella Cal FC, the Sounders thrashed their opponents with a torrent of five goals in a twenty minute span.  To their credit, the visitors kept Seattle at bay for the entirety of the first half, but the floodgates were opened shortly after the break.  As in the Silverback's fixture, Alonso led the way, scoring from the spot in the 50th.  Freddy Montero delivered a brace and Andy Rose found the net again in the 65th minute.  Combining once more with Caskey, Alsonso bookended the scoring with a brace of his own, thus completing Cal's epic Open Cup run.

Minnesota Stars FC 0-1 San Jose Earthquakes
It took them eighty-five minutes to do so, but the Quakes finally managed to unlock a stubborn Minnesota defense.  Still relishing the footballing lesson they delivered to RSL a week before, the Stars engaged San Jose with confidence.  They opted to play defensively, coming out of their shell on incisive counterattack runs.  And although the Stars did shine, Lenhart's late goal was just enough to sink the NASL squad.

More Results, More Recruits!

With only days before the start of the USLPRO regular season, the Charleston Battery has been hard at work fine tuning the squad with preseason fixtures and player signings.  If you missed any news, here's all the latest:

Preseason Match Results

Coastal Carolina 0-1 Charleston Battery

In a midweek scrimmage at Myrtle Beach, the Battery outdid the likes of CCU winning one goal to nil.  Charleston scored just before halftime as Charlie Romero converted a corner kick from teammate Jose Cuevas.  The two have combined nicely several times throughout the preseason and look to be a feisty scoring tandem in the upcoming season.

Charleston Battery 0-2 Wilmington Hammerheads

The Low Country boys suffered a defeat against their derby foes from just up the road.  The Hammerheads struck early capitalizing on an early chance inside the six yard box.  Wilmington netted again in the second half with a deflection from a Battery defender.

Carolina Railhawks 0-1 Charleston Battery

One goal at the quarter-hour mark was enough to clip the wings of the Railhawks at WakeMed Stadium Thursday afternoon.  Midfielder Amadou Sanyang cleaned up a Cuevas corner to put Charleston ahead. The Battery survived a second half surge from the Hawks and our defense stood tall.  Kyle Hoffer managed a critical headed save to keep the Battery in front.  Coach Anhaeuser was very pleased with the squad's performance in their final preseason tangle, commenting on a solid backline as well as plenty of energy upfront.

New Player Signings:

Bundu at Blackbaud to stay

Sallieu Bundu
Coming from Sierra Leone, Bundu is a gifted striker with fantastic USL experience.  Debuting for the Cleveland City Stars in 2008, he scored the game winner in the USL-2 Championship match.   Moving up, Bundu joined the ranks of the Railhawks the following year.  After several years with the Hawks, he spent the past season on loan with the Charlotte Eagles.  Fleet of foot and smart in front of goal, Bundu will prove a valuable asset to the Battery's strike force.  Paired with the quickness of Dane Kelly, who knows how many goals the two will tally this year!


Alec Kann

Kann makes a save in the CCC

This goalkeeper comes to Charleston from Furman University.  A four year starter between the sticks, the lad looks a promising talent and good addition to the line-up.

Kevin Klasila
Another keeper fresh out of college, the LA native was picked up by Coach Anhaeuser at the Ventura County Fusion Combine earlier this year.  With an impressive trial in Charleston, Klasila's steady hands will add depth to a loaded Battery defense.  

Tony Donatelli
With a rich experience throughout the continent, Donatelli will bring a commanding presence to Charleston's midfield.  He is no stranger to trophies having won the '06 USL-1 title with the Vancouver Whitecaps.  Donatelli was traded after three years to the Montreal Impact, and subsequently led his team to victory, scoring as Montreal defeated his former club, the Whitecaps, in the '09 USL-1 Championship match.  Earning a call up from the San Jose Quakes in 2011, the Pennsylvania native eventually signed with the Rochester Rhinos.  With the departure of Mike Zaher (to the Rhinos, in fact) Donatelli will add composure and experience in the middle of the pitch.  

Donatelli in action for the Impact

Ryan Richter
Richter was drafted last year by the Philadelphia Union but made his professional debut for the Harrisburg City Islanders.  Featuring against the Battery last summer, the midfielder has since changed allegiances and joined Charleston.


Cody Ellison
Teammate of Jose Cuevas with the PDL's Fresno Fuego, Ellison joins the Battery midfield after impressing after an invitation to player trials.  

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!