The Charleston Battery triumphed 2-0 over Rhode Island FC in Week 30 of the USL Championship regular season at Patriots Point on Saturday. Emilio Ycaza bagged a brace in the second half to lift the Battery past Rhode Island in front of a buzzing crowd at Patriots Point. Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio notched the clean sheet in his first game since August. The victory pushed Charleston closer to clinching a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference to clinch home field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Action kicked off at Patriots Point with the Battery looking to atone for the previous defeat against Rhode Island back in April.
Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio, back in the lineup for the first time since August 15, was tested early. The shot-stopper made a crucial punch against a dangerous Rhode Island cross in the 8th minute and recorded his first save of the night in the 16th minute, a routine denial of Stas Korzeniowski.
Camilo Sánchez appeared to break the game open in the 28th minute with a perfect header that found the back of the net, however the referee’s flag was raised for an apparent offside to cut celebrations short. Jeremy Kelly provided the service from the free kick, and the assist would have been his 11th of the year, both setting a new single-season career high and matching the club’s single-season record, but that achievement was also nullified for the time being.
Charleston almost took the lead before the break when Sánchez connected with Laurent Kissiedou for a glancing header in the box, but the attempt went just wide of the target.
The Battery and Rhode Island went into halftime scoreless. Both sides had two shots on target while Charleston held the majority of possession (57.8%).
Saturday’s clash resumed in the second half with all still to play for in the Lowcountry.
Zamudio came up with a clutch save in the 67th minute to deny Korzeniowski again on a fast break. Despite the dangerous moment, Charleston began to turn up the heat on the other end in search of the game’s first goal.
Charleston found a golden opportunity to take the lead when Emilio Ycaza won a penalty in the 75th minute after being fouled in the box by Nick Scardina.
Ycaza stepped up to the spot and converted from the spot in the 76th minute to put Charleston ahead, 1-0. The captain struck his shot to the right side with enough power to send the ball past goalkeeper Koke Vegas, despite the shot-stopper guessing correctly.
The goal was Ycaza’s seventh of the year.
Charleston kept their foot on the gas pedal, and the pressure paid immediate dividends again.
Vegas was sent off with a straight red card in the 81st minute for a last-man foul against Colton Swan in the 81st minute, reducing the visitors to 10 men for the rest of the evening and forcing Khano Smith to use his final substitution.
Once the dust settled, Ycaza was the man of the moment again to double the Battery’s lead in the 84th minute, 2-0. Miguel Berry went for goal off the free kick and newly-introduced goalkeeper Jacob Castro made the save, but the ball wasn’t cleared out, and Ycaza knocked in the rebound for the brace.
The goal brought Ycaza’s season total to eight, and marked his second brace of the year.
Up a man and two goals, Charleston maintained their grip on the game to see out their revenge against Rhode Island.
The Battery secured the 2-0 victory over Rhode Island to notch their first win in the series since March 2025.
Charleston’s win advanced their record to 14W-8L-4D (46pts), placing them second in the Eastern Conference table.
Luis Zamudio ended the night with five saves and one punch en route to his sixth clean sheet of the year.
Joey Akpunonu posted a team-best six duels won, two interceptions and five clearances.
In addition to the two goals, Emilio Ycaza also recorded five duels won, five recoveries and one interception.
Coach Pirmann on his overall assessment of the match…
It’s a good game. Rhode Island are a very talented team, well coached. For me, one of the more athletic teams that we tend to struggle with, their power and their strength at times on the duels. And I thought we really controlled things tonight. They had a good scheme going to block the middle and force us into their traps, but we were brave. We played through it, and it took us a while to get the goal, but you could see it coming. You could see some chances going. I think maybe Miguel [Berry] had a breakaway, Maalique [Foster] got in. We had two or three things that were ticking over for us.
I’m proud of this group. You’ve got to be willing to suffer. Rhode Island makes you suffer. But it’s a tough game.
We had a great crowd. The staff did a great job preparing the boys. More importantly, our players played with courage and a belief that no matter what happens, we go for it. On the next play, constantly, time and time again, they just kept going for it. I was proud of them.
It took everybody. You know, some changes, some fresh legs there in the 60th minute, kept pushing some things for us, and I think we deserved to win the game.
Coach Pirmann on Ycaza scoring a brace…
Scoring goals is very difficult. He drew the penalty, he finished it off, he got the rebound on the second goal. On Thursday, we did a finishing drill activity, and he was flying. He scored four or five goals. And I went and met with the staff after training, and I said he’s going to get one this weekend. So, great job for him. You’re right, I don’t care who scores, as long as we’re scoring.
Ycaza on the importance of the win over Rhode Island…
Massive. I think it’s been a big matchup that we’ve had between Rhode Island and us. We had a tough result over there earlier in the season, but I think we’ve really hit a rhythm. We’ve started to get on a little bit of a run, so to score two goals here at home was a statement win. So, to win 2-0 tonight, with a bye week, sitting nicely on the table, we’re proud of it.
All these games can be head-to-head, right? To get three points now and have next weekend off, there’s a little bit more comfort and relief when other teams are playing and we’re not.
Ycaza on what was working so well on the attacking side…
Overall, it was just a great performance from everyone. We were able to hold the ball in the attacking third, create chances, and then pick up the second ball. So I think it was a really tough day for [Rhode Island].
Charleston’s next match will be home vs. Louisville City FC on Sat., Oct. 10, as the club recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Patriots Point. Tickets for the game are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups and Scoring Summary
Lineups
CHS: Zamudio, Messer (Houssou, 62’), Akpunonu, Smith, Martínez, Kelly, Kissiedou (Allan, 73’), Ycaza, Blackstock (Foster, 62’), Berry (Suber, 87’), Sánchez (Swan, 62’)
RI: Vegas, Sanchez (Tsukada, 78’), Nodarse, Yao, Stoneman, Herivaux (Bacharach, 46’), Klein (Foyo, 69’), Afonso, Shapiro-Thompson (Rovira, 69’), Scardina (Castro, 84’), Korzeniowski
Scoring Summary
CHS – Emilio Ycaza, 77’
CHS – Emilio Ycaza, 84’
