Referee: Ronnie Canales Assistant Referees: Chip Boatwright, Mike Vogel Attendance: 1,184 Weather: Hot 80
Saturday, July 5, 2003 - Virginia Beach, Battery Loses To Mariners
RETURNS HOME FOR TUESDAY CLASH WITH RICHMOND Virginia Beach, VA. The Charleston Battery lost to the Virginia Beach Mariners by a score of two goals to none tonight at the Sportsplex in front of 1,184. With the loss Charleston drops to 10-3-3, 33 points but remains in first place in the A-League Southeast Division. Virginia Beach improves 7-5-2, 16 points good for third place.
Charleston had a good early chance in the 7th minute. Forward, Paul Conway directed a header neatly into the path of his strike-partner, Seamus Donnelly. Donnelly swiveled as the ball came across but his shot was smothered away by a Virginia Beach defender.
The Mariners scored their first goal from a corner-kick in the 18th minute. Midfielder, Roland Aguilera whipped the ball in from the near touchline. Striker, Dante Washington ran onto the cross and powered a header past Battery goalkeeper, Dusty Hudock.
Hudock made a good save five minutes later after Battery defender, Rick Titus was forced to scramble the ball away at the near post. The ball came at him sharply and as he attempted to clear it deflected toward his own goal. Hudock got back quickly and managed to punch the ball over the cross-bar.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, Charleston nearly tied it up. Midfielder, Ted Chronopoulos sent a swerving corner-kick into the middle. Battery rookie midfielder Chris Goos lunged at the ball but his goal-attempt was saved by Mariners goalkeeper, Joe Larson, diving to his left.
In the 73rd minute Battery defender Mark Watson was sent-off for a second bookable offence leaving Charleston a man short for the remainder of the game.
Five minutes later, the Mariners took advantage of the extra man as Washington scored a second goal. After blocking down a Steve Klein clearance he ran into the area with the ball. As Hudock approached and Klein forced him wide he slipped the ball through the gap and into the goal.
The Charleston Battery returns home Tuesday for a 7:30 pm match versus the Richmond Kickers.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Virginia Beach Mariners
Washington (Aguilera)
18
Virginia Beach Mariners
Washington
79
Team Summary
Virginia Beach Mariners
Players
Joe Larson, Steve Danbusky, Kevin Knott, Russell Hutchinson, Richard Mahoney, Jacob Fenger (Daniel Alvarez 77), Jeff Bolyk (Jeff Moore 82), Roland Aguilera, Hamisi Amani-Dove, Dante Washington (Carlos Garcia 89), Roy Lassiter (Gary Brookes 70)
Players
Dusty Hudock, Fred Degand, Mark Watson, John Wilson, Rick Titus, Ted Chronopoulos (Bryan Hoy 77), Steve Klein, Chris Goos (Kevin Jackson 54), Blair Scoullar (Andrew Lewis 80), Paul Conway, Seamus Donnelly (Dino Maamria 63)
Players Not Used - Chris Doyle, David Lara, Josh Henderson
