So It All Comes Down to This: Charleston-Charlotte Preview

Well the Battery have had a long season. They've had a five game goal-less streak, they've traveled high and low, they've played two games in two nights, and it all comes down to one match. One match with a familiar foe: the Charlotte Eagles.

The Battery have played the Eagles twice this year, winning both matches 1-0 at home and 2-1 away. This is also a Southern Derby match, even though that will take a backseat to the race for the playoffs that the two sides are in.

This will be a very interesting match, because no other match in the league has this kind of do-or-die position. The added intensity of this rivalry also just adds coal to the fire.

Starting XI:

Dykstra

Marples Falvey Wilson Zaher

Peverley Paterson Caskey Armstrong

Kelly Coleman

In my opinion, this is the strongest line-up by far. This accumulates everyone's season performances, and their current form, and I really think this would be a winning combination. But will just have to wait and see.

This is all the Battery could ask for in the end: Control of their own destiny.

Here are the previews from the Battery, and No Quarter.

The match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel, and first kick is set for 8:00 at Blackbaud Stadium. You can also follow the Battery on Twitter @Chas_Battery, for constant updates from the match.

If you need to contact me, e-mail me at SCSoccerblog@gmail.com. Also follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/scsoccerblog. 

Back to Business: Battery Win One, Drop One, and Mexico Wins the Gold Cup

First off, sorry for the lack of posts lately, having no internet connection will do that to you. I'll try to get back to posting more often guys, its just been hard to lately.

Anyways, the Battery were very busy this weekend. They started with a trip up to Wilmington in a match to be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel. This was a chance for the Battery to make a statement.

And a statement was made. Seedy Bah and Dane Kelly got the goals in a 2-0 victory for Charleston in front of 5,117 fans at Legion Field in Wilmington. Shout out to Wilmington for the great atmosphere.

This was an enjoyable match to watch. Despite the lack of domination of possession, shots, and scoring chances in general, it was great to see the boys pull one out with their backs against the wall.

Man of the Match: Dane Kelly
Kelly gets the nod from me. After a good showing in recent matches, Kelly showed why he is our #1 forward right now. His goal was beautiful. Great pass, great move, great finish. He's playing active and smart football, and that's all you can ask.

In the second match, we had a bit of a let down. No rhythm was ever established, and the Battery looked tired in a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Goals from Matt Tuttle and Shintaro would lead to Charleston's dismantling in front of 3,965.

Man of the Match: N/A
Nobody had a standout match for the Battery. Everyone looked tired and the team had trouble finding good scoring chances.

In International Soccer we had the Gold Cup Final in Pasadena, California. The USMNT faced Mexico in the final and it started off well for the Yanks.

Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan would give the US a 2-0 advantage before the 25th minute mark. Then El Tri came marching back and would win the match 4-2.

Let me say this, it came down to that Steve Cherundolo injury early. When Bornstein came in, we had two players playing unfamiliar positions in the back, and our fate was pretty much sealed.

If you need to contact me, e-mail me at SCSoccerblog@gmail.com. Also follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/scsoccerblog.

Charleston Holds On for Second Road Win of the Year

It's not easy to win on the road. Any player in any sport can tell you that. It doesn't matter what team you play, how good they are, how good you are, it's just an uphill battle.

So when the Charleston Battery went down early to a team they've already beaten this season, that team scored their first goal, and they were on the road; you'd think that their confidence would be dashed right?

They would lay down and die, and they'd be ready to pack up and hit the road back to Chucktown for their match the next night.

But that's not how this team has been playing.

Charleston has found an uncanny ability (considering Charleston has an unbeaten streak at home dating back to 2009) to play quality soccer on the road this season.

A 2-1 win against Dayton in their first match as a professional team, a 2-1 loss against Richmond, which looks to be the best team in the league, and now another 2-1 result, this time a victory for the Battery over the Charlotte Eagles.

In the 21st minute, Josh Rife headed in a goal off a short Sallieu Bundu cross to give the Eagles their first goal of the season.

11 minutes later the Battery answered with Gambian, newcomer Seedy Bah. Bah connected on a corner after a scramble in the box.

Nicki Paterson would do Bah one better. He curled in a free kick from just outside the 18 to give Charleston a 2-1 lead in the stoppage time of the first half.

Keith Wiggans played excellent, recording 5 saves with one being a game-saver in the 66th minute. Wiggans made a one handed save on a Bundu shot from just 5 yards out.

Well played Keith, well played.

This was an important win for the Battery. This was a must win against a much weaker opponent, and its nice to see that they kept their composure after giving up the early goal. Their is still a whole season in front of them, but early success is never a bad thing.

Charleston has a match with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, and will be at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday and will be available on USL Live. The match kicks off at 7:30, and it is the Battery's "Kick for a Cure," so make sure to go to the 'Baud and support the Battery.

If you need to contact me, e-mail me at SCSoccerblog@gmail.com. Also follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/scsoccerblog.

Charleston Adds Three to Roster

The Charleston Battery have added three new players for the upcoming USL Pro season; goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, defender Graham Dugoni, and forward Seedy Bah.

Our first new addition, 25 year old Andrew Dykstra, is coming off two seasons as back-up goalkeeper for the Chicago Fire. He made 17 appearances for the Fire, making this save during his two seasons with the club. Dykstra played in college for Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dykstra comes in as one of only two keepers that are signed with the Battery, the other being Keith Wiggans. We will see who gets the starting position for this upcoming season.

Defender Graham Dugoni was one of the trialists for the Battery, and played in the Carolina Challenge Cup. He played for Duke University and with the 2010 PDL Champion Portland Timbers U23. He also played with MjÃndalen IF in Norway.

Here's a quick highlight of Dugoni.

The third and final signing of the day is Gambian forward Seedy Bah. Bah has played in many of the Battery's preseason scrimmages, scoring a goal in the match with Clemson.

He also played for the Gambian U17 team, as he grew up in Bakau, Gambia.

Bah is only 18 years old, adding to the Battery's young set of forwards. The front needs some development, but our midfield is strong and experienced enough to score while our young front line gets adjusted.

These three players bring the Battery's roster up to a total of 19 players, and more signings are sure to be coming in the next couple of weeks.

The Battery kick off their 2011 USL Pro season on April 9th at home to the Charlotte Eagles.

If you need to contact me, e-mail me at SCSoccerblog@gmail.com.