Charleston Battery forward Nick Markanich put himself above the rest in the USL Championship record books by scoring his 26th and 27th goals of the year, setting the league’s new goalscoring record on September 21 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Patriots Point.
Additionally, Markanich’s 27 goals tie the Battery’s single-season overall goalscoring record (all competitions), placing him alongside Paul Conway’s 27 scored in 2001.
At the end of the weekend, Markanich is the top goalscorer across all American professional domestic leagues, and it’s not even close. No other player in the United States has even scored 20 in league regular season play yet.
History was made in the 37th minute when Markanich scored goal No. 26 to officially break the USL Championship record. The play was initiated by Jay Chapman, who sent a long ball into the box to MD Myers. However, Rowdies defender Eddie Munjoma headed the ball right to Markanich in the box. From there, Markanich struck the ball off the volley with his left foot for a clinical finish, burying the shot and securing the new league record.
Markanich extended his league record at the hour mark. Myers and Markanich combined inside the box with Myers playing the ball across to Markanich on the left side. Markanich then took one touch to get a look on goal and fired his shot across to the far post.
The goal carried two pieces of history. One, it tied the Battery’s all-time club record for most goals in a single season (all competitions). Two, it brought Markanich and Myers’ combined goal total to 40, setting a new Championship record for most goals in a single season by an attacking duo.
Markanich will have a chance to add to both individual records with an entire month of regular season play, plus the playoffs, remaining.
Watch both goals, and more from the victory over Tampa Bay, in the match highlights below:
