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It’s like you’re in the stands! While the boys are away, follow along with tonight’s Match Day program. See the latest stats, standings, and what to watch for as the boys hit the pitch against The Miami FC.
It all comes down to this. Thirteen games so far. That’s 1,170+ minutes played. Six clean sheets. And twenty-one goals scored by nine different players. Now, just two matches remain as the Battery fight for first place and the 2020 Championship Playoffs sit on the horizon.
The boys depart this week and head to the Sunshine State for the final two-game stretch. The Battery take one last look at The Miami FC on Wednesday before closing out the regular season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. Taking 3 points against an eliminated Miami side would be welcome news for the Black and Yellow as they shift their focus towards the regular-season finale on Saturday.
One could say it’s been a tough inaugural USL Championship season for Miami. Head Coach Paul Dalglish probably expected a different result for his mostly veteran squad, but their presence was nonetheless felt in Group H with Miami working draws against both the Battery and Rowdies this season. Elimination or not, they have two games remaining on the season, both at home, and will look to further impact Group H by trying to spoil the Battery’s unbeaten streak on Wednesday.
The Battery will face an adaptable Miami roster that’s deviated between 3 and 4 defenders on the back line, sending 4 midfielders up the last two times they faced Charleston. Wednesday’s match will be just the second for the Battery this season played on artificial turf. In the draw on September 5 at Riccardo Silva Stadium, Charleston had some trouble early retaining possession due to the playing surface, but they’ll look to adapt this Wednesday and come out stronger in the first half. Keep an eye out for more to come as we break down the keys to winning in Miami in our Match Preview later this week.
Fifty-nine days have passed (as of posting) since the Black and Yellow last visited St. Petersburg where the Rowdies bested the Battery 2-0. Since that loss nearly two months ago, the Battery have gone unbeaten, amassing 21 points in 6 wins and 3 draws through the months of August and September.
Tampa Bay will enter Saturday’s final game on a full-week’s rest while sitting atop both Group H and the Eastern Conference. The Rowdies are one of a pair of USL teams with only 2 losses through 15 games. And we don’t have to note who handed the Rowdies both of those losses this season. With the series currently favoring Charleston 2-1, the Battery will look to keep that series lead and sustain momentum into the playoffs.
For now, there’s business to take care of in South Beach on Wednesday night. But it’s going to be a wild week, no matter how you look at it. So buckle up and be sure to follow along here at www.charlestonbattery.com, on the Battery App (download here!) and on social!
Twitter: @Chas_Battery
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And don’t forget to sign up for our Match Preview newsletter so you’re up to date on key storylines leading up to the matches!
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The USL Championship announced Friday that Loudoun United FC will cancel the remainder of their 2020 USL Championship season. The decision comes following multiple positive COVID-19 cases within the Loudoun United FC organization and the lack of rescheduling windows available in advance of the 2020 Championship Playoffs.
The Charleston Battery’s match against Loudoun United, originally slated for September 26, will not be rescheduled. The Battery will complete the regular season with fifteen total matches.
The USL Championship continues to work with the league’s Competition Strategy Committee on how playoff seeding, and the right to host future playoff games will be affected. At this time, the team awaits additional information from the league as to how seedings in Group H will be affected and will provide further updates to the public as it becomes available.
Charleston clinched the playoffs on September 20 after their 2-0 win over The Miami FC. The top two teams in each of the league’s eight regional groups qualify for the USL Championship Playoffs. The Battery currently sit 3 points behind the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Group H. Both teams play Miami FC in the next week before facing each other in the regular season finale at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL on October 3.
Thirteen matches into the season, Leland Archer has been the Battery’s workhorse as the only player to start all matches this year and logging a team-leading 1,140 minutes so far.
Leland joined Luke Mauro on Charleston ESPN Radio’s “Middays with Mauro” and talked about coming to play in Charleston, preparing for the final stretch of the season and looking ahead to the playoffs. Catch the full interview below!
The Charleston Battery are pleased to announce the re-signing of Wando High School standout, Evan Posnanski, to an academy contract with the club. The contract allows Posnanski to continue gaining valuable experience with the Battery while maintaining eligibility for his collegiate career at Brown University.
Posnanski committed to Brown last February before the Coronavirus pandemic cancelled college sports seasons across the country through the spring semester. While preparing to begin his freshman season for the Bears this summer, the Ivy League cancelled the fall sports seasons on July 8, 2020. “Going into the summer preparing for the Ivy League as a freshman, I was going through the training sessions,” Posnanski said. “I was talking to players and coaches to figure out what I needed to get done to work on my fitness level. And everything stopped.”
With the Ivy League cancelling fall sports this season and Brown University not permitting incoming freshmen on campus to start the school year, Posnanski reached out to Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser and began training with the squad. He signed his academy contract before the league’s roster freeze on September 17.
“It’s as good as a backup plan can get,” Posnanski said of his return to the Charleston roster. “Coming back to the Battery has been great. The guys have been super welcoming, teaching a lot. Playing at a high level like this, it’s a great opportunity to get even more adapted to the high level of speed that’s required at the college and professional level.” On his eventual return to Brown University’s campus and team, he added, “whenever I do go, I think I’ll be more than prepared to take on the team and take on the Ivy League.”
While playing for the Battery through the remainder of the 2020 season, Posnanksi’s academy contract allows him to continue his academic studies at Brown and retain his NCAA eligibility. He currently is taking a Logic course online through the university.
This is the second academy contract for the Wando High School standout after joining the team at the end of the 2019 season. He did not see playing time for the Battery, but was on the roster as an available substitute in the Battery’s final regular season match against Ottawa Fury FC. Posnanski enjoyed a successful high school career for the Warriors including three straight state champions at the 5A level from 2017 – 2019 before signing with the Brown University Bears in 2020.
Set for Sunday, November 1, Final marks league’s first appearance on ESPN.
Charleston Battery clinched their thirteenth consecutive berth to the postseason on Sunday, September 20, after a 2-0 defeat of The Miami FC.
ESPN+ to carry all other matches for the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs.
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced the 2020 USL Championship Final is set to take place Sunday, November 1 and will be the first game in league history to air on ESPN. For a second consecutive year, the game will also be simulcast on ESPN Deportes. Kickoff is currently scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
“This is a historic way to finish our 10th anniversary season,” said USL Executive Vice President Court Jeske. “This has been a deeply challenging, but ultimately successful year for our league and we look forward to another exciting Championship Final. We are thrilled to showcase the league’s greatest teams across the country on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.”
The 2020 Championship Playoffs will begin the weekend of October 9-11, featuring a single-elimination, 16-team bracket. Under the revised season format, four group winners in each conference will earn hosting rights for the Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals. Following the opening round, hosting rights will be determined by regular season record. All playoff matches will stream live on ESPN+, the the industry-leading sports streaming service.
Information on additional games to air on ESPN networks will be announced in the coming weeks. For complete information on the full 2020 USL Championship Playoffs structure and schedule, visit uslchampionship.com.
2020 USL Championship Playoffs Dates
Conference Quarterfinals – October 9-11 (ESPN+)
Conference Semifinals – October 16-18 (ESPN+)
Conference Finals – October 23-25 (ESPN+)
USL Championship Final – Sunday, November 1 (ESPN & ESPN Deportes)
The USL Championship announced Tuesday that the Charleston Battery’s previously scheduled match against Loudoun United FC on September 26 has been postponed.
Proceeding with an abundance of caution, the postponement comes after covered persons in the Loudoun United FC organization tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals have been immediately isolated at home and are in good spirits under the care of team physicians.
Due to the duration of the regular season, the league along with both clubs will examine how and when to move forward with the rescheduled match. More information will be announced as it is made available.
Fans who purchased tickets for Saturday’s previously scheduled match will be contacted directly by the team regarding options for redeeming their tickets for a rescheduled or future match. Questions regarding purchased tickets can be sent to tickets@https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com.
The Battery punched their ticket to the postseason for a thirteenth consecutive season after a 2-0 victory over Miami FC Sunday night at Patriots Point. While brushing off a shaky start against a Miami side fighting to avoid elimination, the Battery took full control of their home pitch by the 20th minute, completing a sixth shutout win for the season and a berth to the USL Championship Playoffs.
Sunday’s win clinched the Battery’s 13th appearance in postseason play. The streak far outpaces any current USL Championship clubs and stands for the second longest postseason streak in professional North American soccer.
Coming off of, arguably, the Battery’s strongest first-half performance against Tampa Bay on September 11, the Black and Yellow may have put the pressure on themselves in trying to replicate that start as it was a shaky start in the opening minutes. With three offsides flags in first 16 minutes, the Battery opened up opportunities for the Miami attack to put pressure on early. But the Charleston unit quickly changed course as they turned the early pressure into strong defense to quickly launch the counter attack.
That game plan came to fruition in the 18th minute as the team pushed forward and Battery defender Leland Archer floated a ball from just inside the Miami zone to Zeiko Lewis pushing forward on a route up the middle. Lewis settled the ball with one touch before chipping the finish into the top-right corner of the net past a charging Mark Pais, the Miami keeper.
“The guys were moving the ball well and we put them under pressure and that’s what we were trying to do. I’ll tell you, that first goal really made the difference,” Coach Mike Anhaeuser noted.
Miami responded almost immediately as Vincent Bezecourt fired a shot from the penalty area that bounced off a teammate. Bezecourt fielded his own rebound with a header that went just wide right. And as it looked like both teams were settling in for a back and forth battle, the Battery broke through again a minute before halftime as Nicque Daley intercepted an attempted defensive pass back to the keeper. Miami keeper Mark Pais got a hand on Daley’s initial chip shot before the Battery forward took a narrow angle shot off the rebound to put the Battery up by two.
Facing elimination, Miami had an early opportunity in the second half as Tomas Granitto fired a heater over the crossbar. And Prince Saydee, subbing in for Miguel Gonzalez, the only player to have scored on Joe Kuzminsky this season, took a shot a tough angle only to be deflected by the Charleston keeper . But for much of the remaining 45’ it was the Battery limiting Miami’s chances with the back pushing the ball forward for the midfield to contain in the attacking end.
On the thirteenth year in a row making the postseason, Coach joked, “It’s a lucky number, huh?” Further adding, “Thirteen years in a row, it’s an incredible accomplishment. But this is about this team. The team’s playing well and we’re not done yet. We’re shooting for that top spot. We want to come out next week in our last home game here and hopefully have a playoff game at home. We want to keep it rolling. I’m proud of the guys for doing it, at the beginning of the season there were people thinking we wouldn’t finish in that top two.”
Sitting three points behind Tampa Bay in Group H, the Battery return to the pitch Saturday, September 26th for the final home game of the regular season in an out-of-group match against Loudoun United FC before hitting the road for their final two against Miami FC and Tampa Bay. With wins in the next two matches, the final match of the season on October 3rd against Tampa Bay Rowdies could prove to be the deciding factor for first place in Group H.
