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The Charleston Battery lost, 3-0, to Atlanta United Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. The loss knocks the Battery out of the competition.

Andrew Carleton opened the scoring early in the first half with a strike from distance. The former Charleston Battery loanee picked the ball up in midfield and drove at the Battery defense before striking a right-footed shot on frame. Goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper got a hand to the shot, but couldn’t keep it out.

Following the opening goal, the Battery steadied themselves and reorganized defensively. Charleston had a few good spells of possession, but couldn’t find an equalizer and Atlanta went in to the break with the lead.

Another former Battery player had a hand in both of Atlanta’s second-half goals. Romario Williams earned a penalty in the 46th minute after receiving a pass and beating Skylar Thomas on the dribble. Ezequiel Barco stepped up and buried the ensuing penalty, finishing to his left.

Williams and Barco connected for Atlanta’s third goal in the 64th minute. Barco played provider this time, laying a pass into Williams at the top of the 18-yard box. Williams created space with a strong touch to his left then fired a shot into the bottom corner of the far post to put the game out of reach.

The loss eliminates the Battery from the Open Cup, while Atlanta will move on to the Round of 16. Charleston returns to league play this Saturday, June 9 for a match with longtime rival Richmond Kickers at City Stadium. Following the clash with the Kickers, the Battery will remain on the road to take on Charlotte Independence before returning home on June 23.

Box Score: 

CHARLESTON – Odisnel Cooper, Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw (Jay Bolt, 72), O’Brian Woodbine (Nico Rittmeyer, 55), Tah Brian Anunga, Vincenzo Candela (yellow card, 86), Jarad van Schaik, Kotaro Higashi, Ataulla Guerra (Victor Mansaray, 81), Ian Svantesson

Substitutes – Robert Beebe, Joe Kuzminsky, Ryan Arambula, Angelo Kelly

ATLANTA – Alec Kann, Sal Zizzo, Miles Robinson, Leo Gonzalez Perez, Franco Escobar, Andrew Carleton (goal, 14), Kevin Kratz, Julian Gressel (Andrew Wheeler Ominu, 71), Brandon Vazequez, Ezequiel Barco (goal, 47;  Chris Goslin, 86), Romario Williams (goal, 64)

Substitutes – Mitch Hildebrandt, Miguel Almiron, Darlington Nagbe, Yosef Samuel, Mikey Ambrose

Charleston Battery midfielder Ataulla Guerra was named to the USL Team of the Week after scoring the only goal in the team’s 1-0 win over Bethlehem Steel FC last Saturday.

Guerra’s 18th minute goal was his third of the 2017 season. The Trinidadian attacker has already surpassed his 2016 goal total after only seven matches. Quinton Griffith supplied the cross that resulted in the goal after a blinding run down the right flank. Griffith served a cross to the near post and Heviel Cordoves flicked it on to Guerra who tapped it in.

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser has deployed Guerra further forward this season than last. Guerra is playing just off the striker, typically behind Romario Williams who missed last week’s match due to illness. Guerra and Williams have combined for nine of the team’s 16 goals scored this season.

The Battery will look to extend their unbeaten streak to five games this Saturday against Saint Louis FC at MUSC Health Stadium. Charleston enters the game in first place with a two-point lead and a game in hand on second place Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff for Saturday’s match is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com/tickets. All active duty military, veterans, and families receive free tickets to the match courtesy of Geodesicx.  

For the second consecutive year, the Charleston Battery will travel to play Atlanta United (MLS) in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. The match is scheduled for 7:30 PM on Wednesday, June 6 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Battery advanced to the fourth round of the tournament with consecutive 1-0 wins. In the first, Atlanta United loanee Patrick Okonkwo scored his first professional goal early in the match to lift Charleston over South Georgia Tormenta FC (PDL).

The Battery left it late in their third round match with Elm City Express (NPSL), but again it was an Atlanta United loanee who was the difference in the game. Gordon Wild scored a stunning goal in the 83rd minute to power the Battery past the Express and into the fourth round.

Wednesday’s match against the Battery is Atlanta’s first in this year’s Open Cup. The MLS side currently sits at the top of the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of New York City FC who they will meet on Saturday following their clash with the Battery.  

Atlanta beat the Philadelphia Union, 3-1, in their last outing Saturday night at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Josef Martinez scored a hatrick in the match and extended his lead in the MLS golden boot race.  

Martinez was the difference maker when Atlanta and Charleston met in the fourth round of the 2017 Open Cup. The Venezuelan striker played a full 90 minutes and scored a game-changing equalizer in United’s 3-2 win over the Battery last year.

The rematch will be streamed live on ussoccer.com and atlutd.com. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM. The official watch party for Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United is at DIG in the Park in Park Circle, North Charleston.

Charleston Battery and Indy Eleven played to a 3-3 draw at Lucas Oil Stadium in a midweek match that saw four goals scored in the final 23 minutes.  The draw extends the Battery’s unbeaten streak to eleven games in all competitions and nine games in league play.

In keeping consistent with the Battery’s recent run of games, the match against the Eleven started slowly with both teams feeling each other out. The two sides traded possession in the middle third of the field, with neither registering a shot on goal until Soony Saad broke the deadlock with a long range effort just before halftime.  

The Eleven earned a free kick about 35 yards from goal in the 43rd minute. Brad Ring rolled the dead ball into the path of Saad who ran onto it and smashed a shot that found the top corner of Joe Kuzminksy’s goal to put the hosts in front.

For the second consecutive week, Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser’s halftime adjustments proved effective and his side found an equalizer shortly after the break. Playing in his first USL match this season, O’Brian Woodbine made a lung-bursting run down the right flank to get on the end of Gordon Wild’s deflected shot. Woodbine calmly tucked the ball into the far corner of Owain Fon Williams’ goal from a tight angle to draw the Battery level.

Following Charleston’s equalizer, the game was open with chances coming at either end. Ataulla Guerra scored his seventh goal of the season in the 80th minute after a great passage of play to edge the Battery in front. Tah Brian Anunga played a long ball through to Nico Rittmeyer who was making a run down the right flank. Rittmeyer dribbled to the endline and found Guerra with a cutback. Guerra finished well under pressure to put the Battery in front, but the lead didn’t last long.

Shortly after Guerra’s go-ahead goal, the referee awarded Indy a penalty when Jack McInerney ended up on the turf while trying to chase down a bouncing ball. Ayoze Garcia converted the penalty, tying the game for the second time.

The Battery conceded another set piece goal in the 93rd minute. Ayoze scored his second goal of the night, and what looked to be the game-winner, curling a left-footed shot around the wall and beating Kuzminsky from about 25-yards out.

With just one minute of the added four remaining, Charleston answered immediately. Neveal Hackshaw picked up the ball at midfield and drove at the Indy defense before finding Guerra inside the penalty area. Guerra took a few touches towards goal then laid the ball square into space. Anunga ran onto the pass and found the bottom corner of the goal from the top of the box to rescue a point.  

The draw extends the Battery’s unbeaten streak and brings them within two points of first-place Louisville City FC. Charleston will take the weekend to recover before heading to Kennesaw, Georgia to take on Atlanta United (MLS) in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 6. The fourth-round match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 

CHARLESTON – Joe Kuzminsky, Skylar Thomas (yellow card, 85), Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw, O’Brian Woodbine (goal, 62; Nico Rittmeyer, 65), Tah Brian Anunga (yellow card, 43; goal, 94), Vincenzo Candela, Jarad van Schaik (yellow card, 19), Gordon Wild (Patrick Okonkwo, 64), Kotaro Higashi, Ataulla Guerra (goal, 80)

Substitutes – Odisnel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Ian Svantesson, Jay Bolt, Angelo Kelly

INDY – Owain Fon Williams, Karl Ouimette, Ayoze (goal, 86, 93), Carlyle Mitchell, Bradford Rusin, Brad Ring (yellow card, 25), Nathan Lewis (Justin Braun, 65), Zach Steinberger (Matthew Watson, 81), Juan Guerra, Soony Saad (goal, 43), Jack McInerney (yellow card, 79)

Substitutes – Jordan Farr, Kevin Venegas, Fredrick Amankona, Seth Moses, Benjamin Speas

In the final game of seven straight at home, the Charleston Battery came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium. The draw extends the Battery’s unbeaten streak to ten games in all competitions.

The match was the first ever meeting between Charleston and Nashville, and both teams spent the first 20 minutes feeling each other out. The two sides traded possession and knocked the ball around in their defensive and middle thirds of the field, with neither getting quality looks at goal before Liam Doyle broke the deadlock.  

Doyle and Nashville struck first from a free kick in the 25th minute. Taylor Mueller was whistled for a foul on what looked like a fair challenge at the top of the 18-yard box. On the ensuing set play, Lebo Moloto rolled the ball into the path of an onrushing Doyle who smashed a low shot towards goal that beat Joe Kuzminsky to his left.

The goal was only the second scored on Kuzminsky this season and put the Battery behind for the first time since March 31. The 1-0 score held until halftime, leaving the the home side within striking distance at the break.  

“You could see falling behind affected us because the goal came after a pretty tough call,” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “You have to give our guys credit. We talked at halftime about being a little more aggressive and moving a center midfielder up into the attack, which would turn them a little more.”

After halftime adjustments, it didn’t take long for the veteran Battery side to find an equalizer. The goal came in the 50th minute after a good spell of possession that ended with Tah Brian Anunga playing Jay Bolt through down the right flank. Anunga’s pass found Bolt who was darting towards the endline. Bolt collected the pass and found Ataulla Guerra inside the penalty area. Guerra calmly finished Bolt’s cutback to score his team-high sixth goal of the season and bring the Battery level.

“It felt really good to get that goal,” said Bolt after the match. “In the first half we were really close but we didn’t have that final product. Tah played a good ball in behind and I finally got on the end of one. I cut it back, Ataulla loves to wait for that cutback ball, and of course he finished it.”

Both sides had chances to win the match in the closing 20 minutes, but neither could convert. The draw brings the Battery’s record to 5-2-4 on the season. Charleston earned 11 points of a possible 15 during the month-long homestand and will look to carry that momentum into four straight matches on the road.

“It’s a little disappointing, obviously,” said Anhaeuser. “Getting 13 points would have been great; but 11 points with three wins and two draws is pretty darn good and moved us up the table. Now we have to get refocused for Indy away on Wednesday and then the Open Cup game the following week.”

Following Saturday’s draw, the Battery will head to Indianapolis to take on Indy Eleven at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 30.

CHARLESTON: Joe Kuzminsky, Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw, Jay Bolt (Nico Rittmeyer, 66), Vincenzo Candela, Tah Brian Anunga, Jarad van Schaik, Ataulla Guerra (goal, 50; yellow card 53), Kotaro Higashi (Angelo Kelly, 81), Ian Svantesson (Gordon Wild, 70)

Substitutes: Odisnel Cooper, O’Brian Woodbine, Victor Mansaray, Patrick Okonkwo

NASHVILLE: Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Justin Davis, Liam Doyle (goal, 25), Bradley Bourgeois, Taylor Washington (Ismalla Jome), Michael Reed (yellow card, 54), Bolu Akinyode, Lebo Moloto, Matt LaGrassa (Ryan James, 86), Ropapa Mensah (Brandon Allen, 66)

Substitutes: C.J. Cochran, London Woodberry, Robin Shroot, Tucker Hume  

The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. Each Hope Lodge community offers a supportive, homelike environment where guests can share a meal, join in the evening’s activities, or unwind in their own private room. Patients staying at a Hope Lodge must be in active cancer treatment, and permanently reside more than 40 miles or one hour away from their cancer treatment center. Each patient must be accompanied by a caregiver.

Established in 1970, the Charleston, SC Hope Lodge was the first facility of its kind in the country for cancer patients and caregivers. The concept came from Margot Freudenberg, a leader in the Charleston medical and business communities, who saw a similar facility while traveling through Australia and New Zealand with President Eisenhower’s People to People Ambassador Program. After her own family was touched by cancer, Margot was determined to establish the very first Hope Lodge community in Charleston. Now a nationwide program of the American Cancer Society, over 30 Hope Lodge facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico serve patients and caregivers from all over the world.

Actively involved in the Hope Lodge program until she was 105, Margot was the longest-serving American Cancer Society volunteer to date. Her attitude of gratitude, despite being forced from her home during the Nazi occupation of Germany, still inspires us today. Her legacy of grace, giving, and service live on through our wonderful Hope Lodge volunteers.

Located on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston, the Carol Grotnes Belk Campus offers 18 guest rooms. The Carol Grotnes Belk Campus was opened in 1970 and is conveniently located to cancer treatment centers.

To learn more about American Cancer Society Charleston Hope Lodge, please stop by their table located by the west main gate of visit www.cancer.org.  

Charleston Battery will travel to play Atlanta United (MLS) in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 6. The match will be played at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Battery advanced to the MLS round of the Open Cup by defeating Elm City Express (NPSL), 1-0, at MUSC Health Stadium on Wednesday night. Gordon Wild’s 83rd minute goal was the difference on the attacking end while the back three and Odisnel Cooper helped the team earn their sixth shutout in nine games.

The match against the Battery will be Atlanta’s first in this year’s Open Cup. United currently sits at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference with an 8-1-3 record.

The Battery and Atlanta met in the fourth round of the Open Cup last year at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Charleston jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead in the match, but eventually fell, 3-2, to the MLS side. The former affiliates played to a 0-0 draw at MUSC Health Stadium during this year’s Carolina Challenge Cup in February.

The Battery has earned eight wins over MLS teams in the Open Cup. Five of those upsets came under the direction of current Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. The Battery beat Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas on their way to the U.S. Open Cup Final in 2008, which is the last time a lower-division side reached the final.

Gordon Wild’s 83rd minute goal was the difference in the Charleston Battery’s 1-0 win over Elm City Express in the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night at MUSC Health Stadium. With the win, the Battery advances to the fourth round, where they’ll meet an MLS team.

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser elected to make seven changes to his starting lineup from the 0-0 draw with Ottawa Fury FC Saturday night. With the wholesale changes, it took the Battery some time to find their rhythm.

Eventually Charleston began stringing passes together and finding good spells of possession, but Elm City’s defense stayed organized and limited the Battery’s quality looks at goal. Neither side created too much in terms of chances in the first half and the teams went into the break tied at 0-0.

Neveal Hackshaw created the home side’s best scoring chance up until that point in the 65th minute when he broke free down the left flank and served a long cross towards the back post. Ian Svantesson got on the end of Hackshaw’s serve and nodded the ball back across goal to Patrick Okonkwo, but Okonkwo’s header missed the target.

With time winding down and the score still tied, Anhaeuser brought on Ataulla Guerra to unlock the Elm City defense. The late substitution proved fruitful as Guerra assisted Wild’s game-winning goal. The Trinidadian playmaker picked up the ball in midfield and threaded a pass through to Wild who was making a run into the 18-yard box from the right flank. Wild collected the pass, held off his defender, and smashed a right-footed shot into the top corner of Matthew Jones’ goal to put the Battery ahead.

The goal was Wild’s fourth in all competitions this season which leaves him just one behind Guerra for the team lead. Odisnel Cooper earned the shutout in goal, his second in as many starts and the team’s sixth in nine games.

The win extends the Battery’s unbeaten streak to nine games in all competitions and puts them in the MLS round of the Open Cup. Charleston will learn their MLS opponent during the live draw on Thursday, May 24 at 11:00 AM EST.

“It’s very exciting to play an MLS team,” said Battery midfielder Tah Brian Anunga after the match. “You don’t really need motivation from the coach for a game like that. It’s another chance for us to test ourselves against the best in this country, so we’re excited to move on.”

Fans can watch the live draw on ussoccer.com tomorrow morning. During the draw, the Battery will find out their opponent and venue for the next round. The fourth-round match will be played on Wednesday, June 6; home-field advantage will be determined by coin flip.

The Battery returns to league play this Saturday for the final of seven consecutive home games. Charleston will take on Nashville SC at MUSC Health Stadium at 7:00 PM. The match will be the first ever meeting between the teams.
 

CHARLESTON – Odisnel Cooper (yellow card, 90), O’Brian Woodbine, Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw, Angelo Kelly, Ryan Arambula, Tah Brian Anunga, Victor Mansaray, Gordon Wild (goal, 83; Vincenzo Candela, 86), Patrick Okonkwo (Ataulla Guerra, 72), Ian Svantesson (yellow card, 90)

Substitutes: Joe Kuzminsky, Robert Beebe, Jarad van Schaik, Skylar Thomas

ELM CITY EXPRESS – Matthew Jones, Tyler Turner (Arian Lekaj, 57), Graciano Brito, Joshua Calderon (yellow card, 29), Kevin Ipina, Shaquille Saunchez, Tyler Carlos, Lucas Macielde Sousa, Daniel Oliveira, Christopher Caneiro ( Miguel Caneiro, 89), Anthony Asante

Substitutes: Oscar Acosta, Luis Fajardo-Gallardo, Jorge Zubillaga-Goni, Robert Poirier, Sean O’Brien

The Charlotte Hounds and Atlanta Blaze will meet at MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday, June 30. The Major League Lacrosse regular season game is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM and will be aired live on Lax Sports Network.

The game between the Hounds and the Blaze will be the first ever MLL event held in South Carolina. MUSC Health Stadium will also host the 2018 MLL Championship game later in the summer. The Championship game is scheduled for August 18.

“We’re excited to bring Major League Lacrosse to Charleston this summer,” said Charleston Battery Chairman Eric Bowman. “We’re looking forward to giving our community the opportunity to see lacrosse played at the highest level. We received a great response when we announced the Championship game in April and we’re hoping that the Hounds/Blaze game generates even more excitement for the game in August.”  

MUSC Health Stadium opened in 1999 as the first modern, privately-funded soccer stadium in the U.S. The 5,100-seat stadium boasts one of the largest jumbotrons in the Southeast at 3,000 square feet. Modeled after iconic English soccer stadiums, MUSC Health Stadium is known for clean sight-lines and an English-inspired pub in the venue, the Three Lions Club. The stadium has hosted a variety of major events, including Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music and Food Festival, USA Rugby matches, US Women’s National Team matches, and Carolina Challenge Cup.

The Charlotte Hounds will be the home team in the game on June 30. Hounds season ticket holders will be able to purchase tickets at a discounted rate immediately. Discounted rates are available for groups of 10. Discounted tickets can be purchased by calling 704-206-1515.  

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, May 23 at 10:00 AM and can be purchased here.