Preseason Progress

The Charleston Battery has been busy in preparation for the kickoff of the 2012 season.  The Pride of the Lowcountry just finished another round of preseason matches with some promising results.

Charleston Battery 2-2 Coastal Carolina University

It was a good show by the home side with plenty of tinkering in the lineup.  Charleston dominated play for most of the match and had some good opportunities on goal.   There were several new faces and lots of talent out on the pitch.

Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 Charleston Battery

Its always disappointing to fall to an old rival, but there's certainly more to the story here than simply the scoreline.  The apes went a goal up in minute twelve.  It seems the match got a little scrappy as both teams were reduced to ten men twenty minutes after the break.  The Battery's match report has precious little details, except that Charleston pressed the second half but found no equalizer.  A lone Battery fan who attended the match, made the case that it was indeed Charleston who controlled the run of play and also questioned the offense warranting Jose Cuevas' red card.  

Charleston Battery 1-0 College of Charleston

In a preseason double-header, the Battery took on the locals at C of C and also Clemson University later in the day.  Midfielder Matt Kassel, on trial with the Battery, scored in the eleventh minute after Jose Cuevas orchestrated the move towards goal.  A perfectly timed Cuevas cut-back allowed Kassel to rifle home, finding the net by means of the left upright.  No Quarter reports that primarily signed players took the field against C of C, whose counter-attack strategies did little to trouble the Battery defensively.  A BIG development was the on-field presence of Amadou Sanyang, former Seattle Sounder who featured for Charleston in a defensive midfield role.  Oh yeah, its gonna be a great season!!

The College of Charleston defeated Clemson 1-0 in between the two Battery fixtures.

Charleston Battery 2-0  Clemson University

Charlie Romero carried over his good form from the CCC and found the net again for Charleston.  Moses Aduny also tallied for the Battery in the win.  A host of unsigned players featured in the game, one of whom wore a different jersey for his last outing at the 'Baud.  Thanks again to No Quarter for the specs on Ryan Richter who scored against Charleston for DC United in the Carolina Challenge Cup.  The young talent looked impressive down the right flank and would add great depth to the Battery's midfield.  

All signs point to a fantastic anniversary year for the Battery!  They host the Wilmington Hammerheads March 24 at Blackbaud and don't forget the 2012 USLPRO season kicks off in Richmond April 7th against the Kickers in the Pioneer Cup!!