Randi Patterson scored in the 30th minute to lift Charleston into first place
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Match Summary
Half 1
Half 2
OT 1
OT 2
Final
Charleston Battery
1
0
0
0
1
Puerto Rico Islanders
0
0
0
0
0
Referee: Skye Arthur Banning Assistant Referees: Alan Schectman, Eric Proctor Attendance: 4,681 Weather: Clear, 90
Thursday, June 25, 2009 - Charleston, SC Battery beats Islanders to go top in USL-1 CHARLESTON, SC. The Charleston Battery halted its two-match losing streak Tuesday night topping the Puerto Rico Islanders 1-0 at Blackbaud Stadium. Randi Patterson netted the game’s only goal, his fourth on the season, catapulting the Battery over the Islanders to the top of the USL-1 table with 27 points.
Dusty Hudock faced nine shots, making four saves on the night including a flurry of shots in the final ten minutes of the match to a league-leading nine clean sheets on the season.
“We got the early goal and put them under pressure early and Dusty did a great job keeping them off the scoreboard,” said Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser.
Playing in front of a national television audience, the Battery featured an all black kit to pay tribute to Battery COO Betsy McAdams, who lost her battle with brain cancer last Thursday. The commemorative jerseys were part of a silent auction during the match raising more than $10,000 for the Betsy McAdams Memorial Endowment to benefit the Costal Community Foundation. McAdams worked in the Battery organization from the club’s inception in 1993.
Facing the Islanders for a third consecutive match—dropping two games last weekend at Puerto Rico, both by 1-0 results on late goals—the Battery knew what to expect coming in.
“You know their strengths and they know your strengths, so it just comes down to who gets that goal and who has the grit to hold on,” Anhaeuser said.
After end-to-end play in the opening half hour, Patterson finished a tidy Kenji Treschuk flick inside the six-yard box off a cross from defender Frankie Sanfilippo. Unmarked on the far post, Patterson had time to settle the ball and pick his spot at the far post past a helpless Bill Gaudette.
With the Islanders pushing hard for a goal in the second half, Darren Spicer nearly put the game out of reach, connecting nicely with Scott Buete down the middle of the park only to push the ball just over the crossbar.
In the final minutes of the match and Puerto Rico pushing numbers into the penalty area, tempers boiled over and a melee in front of the Battery goal ensued.
The win moves the Battery to 7-2-6 (27 points) in league play.
The Battery host MLS side CD Chivas USA in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night Blackbaud Stadium. Chivas currently holds second place in the Western Conference at 8-4-3. It is the first meeting between the two clubs.
The Battery does not return to league action until its July 5 fixture at Montreal.
Kickoff for Tuesday night’s Open Cup match is at 7:30. Call 843-971-GOAL or go to www.charlestonbattery.com for ticket information.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Charleston Battery
Patterson
30
Team Summary
Charleston Battery
Players
Dusty Hudock, Frankie Sanfilippo, Matt Bobo, Nelson Akwari, John Wilson, Chris Williams, Tyler Hemming, Kenji Treschuk (OBrian Woodbine 68), Scott Buete (Yeniel Bermudez 89), Darren Spicer (Dan Antoniuk 77), Randi Patterson (Tom Heinemann 89)
Players Not Used - Keith Wiggans, Nigel Marples, Stephen Armstrong
