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Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser earned his 200th win Saturday night as his side defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0, at MUSC Health Stadium.

The Battery started on the front foot, creating chances almost immediately. Patrick Okonkwo broke free down the right side and got to the endline in the third minute, but Dominic Oduro intercepted Okonkwo’s cutback and knocked it out for a corner kick.

Nothing came of the ensuing set piece, but the Battery opened the scoring a few minutes later.

Tah Brian Anunga won a strong header in midfield, nodding the ball to Ian Svantesson who slipped Okonkwo through down the right side. Okonkwo outpaced is defender and tucked the ball in off the far post to score his fourth goal in three games.

“It’s confidence,” said Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser of Okonkwo’s form. “Even in training sessions, he’s knocking in goals. He’s kicking it in with his right, his left, he’s knocking it in with his knee, his shoulder, his head… and that’s what you have to do as a striker. He’s on fire.”

The Rowdies’ best chance in the half came in the 35th minute from a set piece that ended with Leo Fernandes free just outside of the penalty area on the left side. Fernandes served a low cross that beat Joe Kuzminsky at the near post and fell to Sebastian Guenzatti’s feet, but the striker couldn’t turn it on frame from five yards out.

The Rowdies kept possession of the ball for a large majority of the second half, but rarely threatened Kuzminsky’s goal. Kuzminsky made three saves on the night to earn his 11th clean sheet of the season. Charleston did not concede a goal in three matches against the Rowdies this year.

The win temporarily moves the Battery into third place, one point above Louisville City FC whose match with FC Cincinnati was suspended in the 38th minute Saturday night.

“It feels amazing to get another win here at home,” said Okonkwo after the match. “We’ve really, really worked hard for the past couple of days. Coming into this day, we had a plan. That plan was to win and get the three points. I’m very grateful that we won and I’m very grateful that I got to score again. I think we’re going to come in next week and keep it going.”

The Battery remains at home next week to take on Charlotte Independence on Saturday, September 15.

CHARLESTON – Joe Kuzminsky, Leland Archer, Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, Jay Bolt (yellow card, 55), Tah Brian Anuga, Angelo Kelly, Nico Rittmeyer, Kotaro Higashi (O’Brian Woodbine, 75), Patrick Okonkwo (goal, 22, Victor Mansaray, 90+1), Ian Svantesson (Gordon Wild, 62)

Substitutes – Odisnel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Neveal Hackshaw, Dante Marini

TAMPA – Daniel Vega, Pape Diakite, Tarek Morad, Hunter Gorskie, Junior Flemmings (Georgi Hristov, 55), Leo Fernandes (Zac Portillos, 62), Joe Cole (Alex Morell, 68), Afrim Taku, Dominic Oduro, Kwadwo Poku, Sebastian Guenzatti (yellow card, 82)

Substitutes – Akira Fitzgerald, Kyle Porter, Martin Vingaard, Lance Rozeboom

The Charleston Battery has signed former U-20 Panamanian National Team player Romario Piggott pending USSF and USL approval.

Piggott adds depth in attack to Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser’s experienced squad. The 23-year old attacking midfielder scored seven goals and tallied six assists in 14 games for the Myrtle Beach Mutiny (PDL) this summer. Piggott earned All-Conference honors and helped the Mutiny to a South Atlantic Division Championship and playoff berth.  

Prior to joining Myrtle Beach, Piggott spent a year at Coastal Carolina University where he scored six goals and added six assists in 22 games for the Chanticleers during the 2017 season.

 A native of Panama City, Panama, Piggott came to America in 2016 to play soccer at Ancilla Community College (NJCAA) in Plymouth, Indiana. During his one season at Ancilla, Piggott scored 24 goals and registered 10 assists in 18 games, earning All-American honors and leading his team to the semi-final of the National Championship Tournament.

 Piggott spent time with the U-20 youth national team while growing up in Panama. Romario is the son of Percival Piggott who played 43 games for the full Panamanian National Team and had a 19-year professional career.

Piggott will be unavailable for selection until he obtains a work permit. 
 

BIO:

Name: Romario Piggott
Number: 27
Position: MF/F
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: 7/17/1995
Age: 23
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Country: Panama
Previous club: Myrtle Beach Mutiny 
How acquired: Signed September 2018

Charleston Battery travel to St. Petersburg, Florida for their first ever match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm at Al Lang Stadium.

Game Notes

The Battery (3-1-0) are coming off a 5-0 drubbing of Rochester a week ago. Romario Williams scored a first-half hat-trick in twelve minutes against the Rhinos, bringing his 2017 goal total to four. Williams also added an assist in the match, linking up with Ataulla Guerra who scored his second goal in as many games. Maikel Chang scored Charleston’s fifth goal in the 82nd minute. Odisnel Cooper recorded a shutout in his first start of 2017.

Saturday’s match will be the Rowdies’ (3-1-1) third in seven days. Tampa Bay suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Louisville City on April 15th then drew, 1-1, with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium Wednesday night.  

Tampa Bay currently sit in first place, tied with Louisville City and Saint Louis on ten points. Charleston are a point back from the league-leaders with a game in hand. The Battery are 1-0-0 on the road this season, defeating Charlotte Independence, 2-0, in their only match away from MUSC Health Stadium.

Tampa haven’t conceded a goal in their three games at Al Lang Stadium. The USL newcomers are 3-0-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents 6-0 in three matches.

Players to Watch

CHARLESTON – Ataulla Guerra will be looking to get on the scoresheet for the third consecutive game against the Rowdies Saturday night. Guerra and Romario Williams have proven to be a lethal combination in the attacking third; the two have six goals and an assist between them in the team’s four matches. Tampa Bay’s center backs will be busy trying to keep Williams at bay after his three-goal performance a week ago, which should free up Guerra to pick up the ball in dangerous positions.

TAMPA BAY – Former Chelsea man Joe Cole only played ten minutes in Tampa’s mid-week match against Cincinnati. Cole was likely rested with the game against Charleston in mind. The English midfielder was the only Rowdies player included in the NASL Best XI in 2016 and is off to a good start in his first USL season. Cole scored in Tampa’s 4-0 win over TFC II in week two and will be looking to get himself back on the scoresheet against the Battery.

How to Watch

The match will be live on My TV Charleston and https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com. Blind Tiger Pub is hosting a Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies watch party beginning at 7:00pm on the back patio. Head down to 36 Broad Street and hang out with Battery players and staff members as the boys try to earn three points in Tampa. 

The Blackbaud Nonprofit of the Match for the Charleston Battery vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies game is Katie’s Krops. Katie’s Krops is a great local organization that was started by a kid with big dreams and an even bigger cabbage.

In 2008, the now 17-year old Katie Stagliano began growing a cabbage seed in the small garden by her house. After Katie’s cabbage plant grew to 40 pounds, she decided to donate it to an organization in need with the help of Fields to Families. They recommended donating the plant to Tri County Family Ministries, a local soup kitchen here in Charleston. The reaction to her cabbage plant at the soup kitchen inspired Katie to do more.

The trip to Tri County Family Ministries sparked Katie’s dream — no more hungry people. Katie won a Launch My Dream t-shirt design contest with Amazing-Kids.org, which helped jump-start her project. Katie’s school donated a plot of land for a garden and the whole school helped to harvest and donate new crops.

Katie has now shifted part of her focus to getting more people involved in her dream. She’s encouraging other kids to grow crops of their own. Just one potted vegetable plant on a front porch can make a difference in the fight against hunger

As of 2015, there were 83 Katie’s Krops gardens growing in the United States. Every garden is youth-based. To donate to Katie’s Krops, learn more about the organization, or start a garden of your own, visit katieskrops.com.   

Four first-half goals saw the Charleston Battery and Louisville City FC split the points Friday night as the sides played to a 2-2 draw at Slugger Field. 

Louisville City started well, earning back-to-back corner kicks inside of the first five minutes, but it was the Battery who scored on the first chance they created. In the 15th minute Ataulla Guerra played a clever pass through to spring Patrick Okonkwo free in behind the Louisville defense. Okonkwo muscled off his defender and calmly tucked the ball in at the far post to score his third goal in two games.

The hosts answered the opening goal immediately. Louisville worked their way into the attacking third after a good spell of possession. A failed clearance fell kindly to Kyle Smith who found Ilija Ilic at the top of the penalty area. Ilic turned and threaded a pass through to Cameron Lancaster who tucked away his 17th goal of the season.

Guerra played provider again as the Battery regained the lead minutes after the equalizer. After chasing down a long ball over the top that came off the foot of Vincenzo Candela, Guerra squared up his defender and beat him to the byline before driving a low cross into the six yard box. Nico Rittmeyer met Guerra’s cross and put the Battery back in front.

Louisville regained their hold on the game following Rittmeyer’s goal and pressed for another equalizer. Late in the first half, Oscar Jimenez received the ball out wide on the left flank and exchanged passes with Niall McCabe. McCabe served an outswinging ball towards the back post. Lancaster met the cross and flicked a header past Odisnel Cooper for his league-leading 18th goal of the season. The two sides went into the halftime break tied at two.

Following the break, the Battery fell into their defensive shape as Louisville kept possession. With Taylor Mueller organizing from the back, Charleston forced Louisville into long-range efforts that rarely troubled Cooper; however, when the Cuban goalkeeper was called into action, he showed sure hands, making five saves on the night.

Despite being pinned back in their defensive end for the majority of the second half, the Battery were inches away from a third go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute. Guerra got on the end of a cross from Rittmeyer, but goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh was equal to his flick from the near post and punched it away.

Minutes later, the Battery put together their best spell of possession in the second half. Kotaro Higashi and Guerra exchanged passes at the top of the 18-yard box before Guerra curled a shot towards the back post. The curled effort struck the outstretched hand of Paco Craig inside the penalty area, but referee Kevin Broadley waved away the penalty appeals.

With the draw, the Battery remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Louisville and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds who play first-place FC Cincinnati tomorrow night at Nippert Stadium. Next up for the Battery is a clash with the Tampa Bay Rowdies at MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday, September 8.   
 

Box Score:

CHARLESTON: Odisnel Cooper, Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller (yellow card, 74), Neveal Hackshaw, Nico Rittmeyer (goal, 21), Vincenzo Candela (yellow card, 38), Angelo Kelly, Jay Bolt (yellow card, 65), Kotaro Higashi, Patrick Okonkwo (goal, 15; Gordon Wild, 73), Ataulla Guerra (yellow card, 7)

Substitutes: Joe Kuzminsky, Ryan Arambula, Leland Archer, Dante Marini, Ian Svantesson

LOUISVILLE: Greg Ranjitsingh, Kyle Smith, Oscar Jimenez (yellow card, 62), Paco Craig, Sean Totsch, Paolo DelPiccolo, George Davis IV, Devon Williams, Ilija Ilic (Luke Spencer, 73), Niall McCabe, Cameron Lancaster (goal, 18, 41)

Substitutes: Tim Dobrowolski, Shaun Francis, Alexis Souahy, Richard Ballard, Jose Carranza, James Sands

The Charleston Battery (7-2-2, 23 pts) remain in first place despite dropping points to New York Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park last Sunday. Justin Portillo scored Charleston’s goal in the 2-1 loss to the defending champions, bending a free kick around the wall and past goalkeeper Ryan Meara to his right.

The Battery responded well to the loss, defeating the Jacksonville Armada (NASL) midweek at Southern Oak Stadium to earn a trip to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. Charleston earned a shutout, which made Drew Beckie’s 25th minute own goal enough to advance in the tournament.

Louisville City (4-1-3, 15 pts) enters this weekend’s match in third place with three and four games in hand on first-place Charleston and second-place Tampa Bay Rowdies. Louisville have picked up three wins away from home this season, defeating Pittsburgh, Orlando, and Richmond.

Louisville have only scored eight goals in eight USL matches this season. George Davis IV leads the team in scoring with three goals. They were shutout for the fourth time this season in their Open Cup loss to FC Cincinnati Wednesday night.

Previous Meeting

Louisville City have caused the Battery trouble in recent years; they knocked Charleston out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2015 and 2016. Both playoff matches were played at Slugger Field. Louisville also ended the Battery’s two-plus year unbeaten streak at home last May, winning 2-0 at MUSC Health Stadium. Charleston last beat Louisville on September 12, 2015. Goals from Dane Kelly and Justin Portillo helped the Battery to a 2-0 win at MUSC Health Stadium.

Ataulla Guerra and Neveal Hackshaw have been called up to represent Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly against United Arab Emirates in Spain on Thursday, September 6. The team assembles in Barcelona on September 3 before heading to Girona for the match.

The call-up is the first for Guerra since his first season with the Battery in 2016. Guerra last represented Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica on November 11, 2016. The 30-year old attacker has scored 14 goals in 25 games this season, which has him tied for fourth in the USL Golden Boot race, two behind the leader. Guerra has earned 37 caps for Trinidad and Tobago during his career.

Hackshaw rejoins Trinidad and Tobago after being included in the team for friendlies against Martinique and Guadeloupe earlier this year.

Guerra and Hackshaw will depart for Barcelona on Sunday, September 2 following the Battery’s match against Louisville City FC at Slugger Field on Friday, August 31.

After being reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute, the Charleston Battery earned a 4-4 draw with New York Red Bulls II Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

Ataulla Guerra scored two first-half goals to bring his season total to 14 and help the Battery to a 3-0 lead heading into the halftime break. Patrick Okonkwo scored Charleston’s other first-half goal in the 28th minute. Okonkwo nodded home a Nico Rittmeyer cross to score his first USL goal of his career.

Following the halftime break, the Battery continued to dominate the match until referee Matt Franz issued a straight red card to Tah Brian Anunga for a coming together at midfield in the 61st minute. Minutes after Franz sent Anunga off, he awarded New York a penalty for a handball in the box. Tom Barlow converted the penalty to make it 3-1.

New York pulled another goal back in the 68th minute through Jose Aguinaga then Barlow scored his second of the game in the 73rd minute to equalize.

After being pinned back in their own defensive third for much of the time following the red card, the Battery earned a corner kick in the 75th minute. Vincenzo Candela served an inswinging corner towards the back post and Okonkwo headed it down past Evan Louro to put the Battery back in front.

Barlow completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute to pull the visitors level again. Barlow rose up and flicked a header from a right-footed cross from the left side that beat Joe Kuzminsky at the near post to make it 4-4.

As injury time wound down, Angelo Kelly scored for the Battery. The ball bounced around the six yard box before Kelly flicked a back heel on frame, forcing Louro to parry it back into the chaos. Kelly finished his own rebound and appeared to put the Battery ahead 5-4, but the referee blew for full time and left the field immediately. The game ended in a 4-4 draw.

“We scored there at the end and if it would have counted we would have gotten the three points,” said Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “But we can’t worry about that. We have to take the point and move on. We need to get ourselves organized. Sometimes games like these can frustrate you and make you lose your head a little bit, but we need settle down, move on and get ready for Louisville.”  

Following the draw with New York, the Battery will head out on the road to take on Louisville City FC at Slugger Field on Friday, August 31.

Box Score:

CHARLESTON – Joe Kuzminsky, Leland Archer, Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw, Jay Bolt, Tah Brian Anunga (red card, 61), Angelo Kelly, Nico Rittmeyer, Kotaro Higashi (Skylar Thomas, 70) Patrick Okonkwo (goal, 28, 75; Ian Svantesson, 90), Ataulla Guerra (goal, 22, 45+2; yellow  card, 57; Vincenzo Candela, 62)

Substitutes: Odisnel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Dante Marini, Gordon Wild

NEW YORK – Evan Louro, Lucas Stauffer (Amando Moreno, 86), Wahab Ackwei (yellow card, 90+3), Hassan Ndam, Ethan Kutler (Allen Yanes, 63), Chris Lema, Steven Echevarria, Andrew Tinari, Jarad Stroud, Anatole Abang (Tom Barlow, 63; goal, 64, 73, 88) , Jose Aguinaga (goal, 68)

Substitutes: Scott Levene, Kevin Politz, Niko De Vara

This week’s Blackbaud Nonprofit of the Match is Reading Partners. Reading Partners mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.

Reading Partners work with under-resourced schools and engage with volunteer reading partners to work one-on-one with students who struggle to read. Research shows that students who read at grade level by fourth grade have a greater opportunity to succeed in school and in life.

An evidence-based and community-driven organization, Reading Partners recruits and trains volunteers to work with students for 45 minutes twice a week, following a structured, curriculum. Their program model works and is backed by evidence-based research which proves that their students make significant gains in reading. On average, Reading Partners’ students more than double their rate of learning while in the program.

Reading Partners builds a partnership with teachers, parents, and community volunteers to provide students the support they need to succeed. By providing volunteer tutors and research-based, structured lesson plans designed to focus on the individual needs of their students, Reading Partners is helping students become strong, confident readers with a passion for learning.

Reading Partners is looking for community to support to help them continue to achieve their goals. There are many ways to help unlock the reading potential of their students. Opportunities include volunteering in a reading center, holding book drives, writing letters to the editor, and becoming a community partner.

Community partners include businesses, faith-based institutions, colleges, community groups, civic organizations, and other networks that want to make a collective difference. Involvement takes many forms and can be customized to meet the needs of any organization. Partnership opportunities include, but are not limited to recruiting new volunteer tutors, promoting Reading Partners through social media, newsletters, websites, invited presentations, etc., organizing book drives, donating products and supplies, raising funds and making financial contributions, supporting special events, connecting us with other leaders and groups in your network, sharing meeting rooms for staff and volunteer events

For more information, visit readingpartners.org or stop by Reading Partners’ table on the concourse on game day.