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Romario Williams’ first-half hat trick helped the Charleston Battery to a 5-0 win over longtime rival Rochester Rhinos Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

Williams scored Charleston’s first three goals within twelve minutes and added the assist on the fourth in the team’s first win over Rochester since 2014 and their first five-goal performance since 2013.

“Superhero night, right?” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser when asked about William’s performance. “He looked like Super Man out there tonight. I’m sure that’s what he wants to do every night. He’s had lots of chances in the first four matches and he did well to finish them off tonight. His performance was tremendous.”

Williams opened the scoring in the 15th minute. The center forward received the ball in the penalty area, dribbled through three Rochester defenders and calmly rolled the ball past goalkeeper Dan Lynd.

Williams doubled his goal total in the 25th minute when he ran down a Rhinos defender and poked the ball free toward Lynd’s goal. Williams made no mistake after getting himself 1-v-1 with the Rochester goalkeeper, slotting the ball in under Lynd’s left hand.

The Jamaicans’ assault on Rochester’s goal continued two minutes later when he connected with O’brian Woodbine on a long throw-in. Williams collected Woodbine’s throw around the penalty spot, turned and slotted the ball into the far corner of Lynd’s goal to complete his hat trick.

“It felt good,” said Williams. “I always know chances are going to come, and my job is to put them away when they come my way. It was a special night for myself and the team here at home. We always want to treat the fans to a good performance. We had a tough one last week, so it felt great to bounce back and get this result here tonight.”

Ataulla Guerra added Charleston’s fourth goal later on in the first half connecting several times with Williams during the build up. Williams ultimately found Guerra at the top of the penalty area and the Trinidadian attacker turned and fired a shot into the back post.

The Battery came out strong in the second half and continued to create quality scoring chances while keeping Rochester’s attack in check. Maikel Chang scored a fifth goal for Charleston in the 82nd minute. Heviel Cordoves found Chang with a pass and the Cuban midfielder bent a left-footed shot past Lynd.

Charleston will use the momentum from tonight’s win when they go on the road to face USL newcomers Tampa Bay Rowdies next Saturday. Charleston and Tampa are tied on nine points for the season.

CHARLESTON – Odisnel Cooper, Quinton Griffith, Taylor Mueller, O’brian Woodbine (Skylar Thomas, 61; yellow card, 83), Maikel Chang (goal, 82), Justin Portillo, Tah Brian Anunga (yellow card, 88), Kotaro Higashi, Ataulla Guerra (goal, 32; Ricky Garbanzo, 86), Romario Williams (goal, 15, 25, 27; Heviel Cordoves, 75)

Unused substitutes: Joe Kuzminsky, Dante Marini, Neveal Hackshaw, Ryan Arambula

ROCHESTER – Dan Lynd, Sergio Campbell, Todd Pratzner, Joe Farrell, James Ryan (yellow card, 59), Bradley Kamdem Fewo (Ryan Lee, 61), Mike Garzi, Wal Fall (yellow card, 56; Brandon Beresford, 71), Kenardo Forbes, Christian Francois, Rayane Boukemia (Jochen Graf, 61)

Unused substitutes: Tomas Gomez, Jordan Dover, Darius Madison, Ryan Felix

Charleston Battery look to rebound from their first loss of the season this Saturday against the Rochester Rhinos at MUSC Health Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Game Notes

The Battery were pegged with their first loss of the season last week, losing 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at home. Ataulla Guerra scored Charleston’s lone goal in the eighth minute, opening his 2017 account.

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser has used Guerra in a more attacking role in the first three matches this season. In 2016, the Trinidadian played next to Justin Portillo deeper in midfield, but the growth of Neveal Hackshaw has allowed Guerra to play higher up the field this season. Guerra and Romario Williams will represent a big portion of the Battery’s attacking threat moving forward.

Rochester drew, 0-0, with Toronto FC II at Ontario Soccer Centre their last time out. Tomas Gomez earned the shutout in goal. The Rhinos won their other match this season, beating Bethlehem Steel FC, 3-2, at Goodman Stadium in Pennsylvania in the second week of the season. Wal Fall, Darius Madison, and Jochen Graf scored Rochester’s goals in the win.

Against Rochester

Charleston haven’t beaten Rochester since 2014, only mustering a 0-3-1 record against the Rhinos during the two year winless streak. Rochester took six points from the two meetings last season, beating the Battery 3-2 in New York and 2-1 in Charleston. Ricky Garbanzo, Justin Portillo, and Williams scored the Battery’s goals in the two matches. Alex Tambakis played in goal in both contests.

The series is dead even between the two sides since 2008 (8-6-8).  

Players to Watch

CHARLESTON – Look for Romario Williams to bounce back this week after a frustrating run in with Pittsburgh last time out. Williams scored his first goal of the season against Charlotte on April 1st, but was limited to just two shots last week against the Hounds. Last season, Williams regularly followed up tough weeks with monster performances.  

ROCHESTER – The back four. Rochester are always organized defensively, especially against the Battery. Aside from the odd 3-2 match between the two sides a year ago, the contests are typically low scoring affairs. The Rhinos have had success in the past capitalizing on one chance and shutting things down defensively.

Game Details

Gates open at 5:30pm, kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm. The Three Lions Club will be open to the public beginning when gates open; Daniel Island Grille will be operating the kitchen.

It’s Superhero Night at the stadium – fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero characters. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com or call 843-971-4625.

The match will be streamed live on https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com and WCIV-TV locally.  

Corey Hertzog’s 91st minute goal lifted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 2-1 win over the Charleston Battery Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

Charleston started the match on the front foot and jumped out to an early lead. Ataulla Guerra scored his first goal of the season after receiving a pass from Dante Marini and wiggling free. Guerra slotted a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Trey Mitchell to open the scoring.

“We did well in the first 15 or 20 minutes and had opportunities,” said Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “We kept the ball and moved them around well, but then I think we got a little complacent after that. You have to credit them, they kept their workrate up and started to move the ball on us a bit which kept us under pressure.”

Pittsburgh started to grow into the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Hertzog forced Battery goalkeeper Alex Tambakis to make a save at full stretch during stoppage time. Tambakis did well to get his fingertips to it and send his side into the break with a goal advantage.

The Riverhounds came out of the locker room pressing hard for an equalizer, which came in the 59th minute. Marshall Hollinsworth picked the ball up in Charleston’s defensive third and played into his striker, Kay Banjo. Banjo laid the ball back to Hollinsworth and the midfielder fired a first-time shot past Tambakis.

Pittsburgh continued to possess well and make things difficult for the Battery following the equalizer. The two teams traded chances, with neither finding a breakthrough utnil stoppage time.

Veteran midfielder Kevin Kerr played a good cross into the area to Hertzog near the penalty spot. Hertzog headed the ball into the net, earning Pittsburgh three points on the road.

The loss is Charleston’s first of the season. The Battery will return home next week to play the Rochester Rhinos. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.    

CHARLESTON BATTERY – Alex Tambakis, Quinton Griffith, Taylor Mueller, Forrest Lasso, Mikey Ambrose, Maikel Chang, Justin Portillo (yellow card, 85th), Neveal Hacksahw (Tah Brian Anung, 68th), Dante Marini, Ataulla Guerra (goal, 8th; Kotaro Higashi, 86th), Romario Williams (yellow card, 44th; Heviel Cordoves, 74th)

Unused substitutes: Odisnel Cooper, Nico Rittmeyer, Ricky Garbanzo, Jeffery Otoo

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS – Trey Mitchell, Taylor Washington (Kay Banjo, 57th), Lalas Abubakar, Jamal Jack, Rich Balchon, Victor Suto, Ben Swanson (Abuchi Obinwa, 12th; yellow card 72nd), Jack Thompson, Marshall Hollinsworth (goal, 59th; Kenroy Howell, 82nd), Kevin Kerr, Corey Hertzog (goal, 91st)

Unused substitutes – Michael Green, Nick Thompson, Ben Fitzpatrick, Keasel Broome

Charleston Battery seek their third win in a row this Saturday night in a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at MUSC Health Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm, gates open at 5:30pm.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Game Notes

The Battery are coming off a 2-0 win over Southern Derby rivals Charlotte Independence at Transamerica Field. Second-half goals from Romario Williams and Forrest Lasso helped Charleston defeat the Independence despite a slow start. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis kept a clean sheet in the match, the team’s first since August 27, 2016.

Pittsburgh lost, 1-0, to FC Cincinnati at Highmark Stadium in their previous match. The Hounds were reduced to ten men when Gale Agbossoumonde received his second yellow card in the 42nd minute. Despite playing down a man for sixty minutes, Pittsburgh still had ten shots and put four on frame. Cincinnati’s Djiby Fall scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 55th minute.

Against the Hounds

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser and the Battery haven’t lost to the Riverhounds since 2011. During that stretch, Charleston have put together a 7-0-4 record, outscoring Pittsburgh 19 to 6 in 11 matches.

The two teams split points in their first meeting last season, drawing 1-1 at MUSC Health Stadium on April 30th. Justin Portillo scored the Battery’s goal, while Romeo Parks found the back of the net for Pittsburgh.

Taylor Mueller and O’Brian Woodbine scored in Charleston’s 2-1 win at Highmark Stadium in the next match between the two clubs.  Both Battery goals came from set pieces with Woodbine converting a penalty and Mueller connecting on a Maikel Chang free kick.

Players to Watch

CHARLESTON – Forrest Lasso is a regular in the Battery’s starting XI for the first time in his three year career. Lasso has scored in each of Charleston’s USL games this season and found the back of the net against Columbus Crew SC during Carolina Challenge Cup. All three of Lasso’s goals have come from set pieces.

Lasso has a two-inch height advantage on Pittsburgh’s tallest defender, giving the six-foot-five center back an edge Saturday night. The Battery have had success from set pieces against Pittsburgh in the past – the team scored three set piece goals against Pittsburgh in 2016. With Portillo’s service from dead ball situations, Lasso could find himself on the scoresheet for the third game in a row.

PITTSBURGH – Forward Corey Hertzog has looked dangerous leading the lines for Pittsburgh in their opening two games. Hertzog scored a brace in the Hounds’ 3-3 draw with New York Red Bulls II on the opening day of the season and led the team in shots in the loss to Cincinnati.

Hertzog has a high workrate and covers a lot of ground in the attacking end. The Reading, Pennsylvania native works across the entire width of the pitch to find the ball and get touches in the opposing team’s defensive third. Lasso and his center back partner, Taylor Mueller, will need to be organized defensively to deal with Hertzog’s movement off the ball.

How to Watch

Tickets are still available for the match. It is Punts & Pints Craft Beer Night at MUSC Health Stadium meaning a $20 ticket gets you admission and your first beer.  Click here to purchase.

If you can’t make it out to MUSC Health Stadium, the match will be available on https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com and My TV Charleston – channel 36 over-the-air and satellite and 13 on cable.

Charleston Battery will play an exhibition match against South Georgia Tormenta in Savannah, Georgia on May 10th, the Club announced Wednesday.

The affiliate clubs will play for the first time in a mid-season friendly at Optimist Field in Daffin Park. The exhibition match is part of the affiliation agreement and the Battery’s larger plans to expand its brand into untapped markets.

“The match against Tormenta is exciting for us,” said Battery Chief Operating Officer Mike Kelleher. “Savannah has a great soccer following that deserves the opportunity to see the game played at the highest level in person. We’re looking forward to going down there and playing in front of a different fanbase. I’m sure some of our fans here in Charleston will make the trip as well.”

Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser typically plays his full squad in mid-season exhibitions, meaning Savannah-native Nico Rittmeyer is expected to see a good bit of playing time. Rittmeyer grew up in coastal Georgia and played for the Charleston Battery Academy. Rittmeyer played for Tormenta last summer as he prepared for his final collegiate season with the College of Charleston.  

Tickets for the match in May are on sale now and can be purchased at https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com or by calling 843-971-4625. Optimist Field holds 2,000 people; 1,200 seats and 800 standing room only. Tickets for the seated area are $15, standing room only tickets are $10.

Players and coaches from both clubs will run a joint clinic for a limited number of kids prior to kickoff at 8:00pm. The clinic, which will run from 5:30-7:30, costs $55 and includes a seated ticket to the match and exclusive Nike t-shirt commemorating the game. To register for the clinic, purchase the $55 ticket option here. 

Center back Forrest Lasso earned a spot on the USL Team of the Week after scoring a goal and helping the Battery earn a shutout against Charlotte Independence last Saturday. The Team of the Week honor is the first of Lasso’s career.

Lasso scored his second goal in as many games against the Independence, connecting on a Justin Portillo free kick late in the second half. The six-foot-five defender’s 77th minute goal doubled Charleston’s lead, allowing the back four to sit deeper and close out the game.

In addition to contributing on the offensive end, Lasso led the team in tackles and was amongst the team leaders in clearances. The shutout was Charleston’s first since their 1-0 win over Charlotte on August 27, 2016.

Romario Williams was also named as a reserve on the Team of the Week. Williams scored the Battery’s opening goal in the 70th minute, holding off two defenders and firing a shot into the bottom corner. The goal was the Jamaican center forward’s first of 2017. Williams led Charleston in goals a year ago with ten.

The Battery have had a representative in the USL’s best eleven in both of the first two weeks of the season (Portillo & Lasso). Charleston will look to continue their good form this Saturday against Pittsburgh at MUSC Health Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR CHARLESTON BATTERY VS. PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS

CHARLOTTE, NC – It was a tale of two halves in the first of three Southern Derbies this season at Transamerica Field Saturday night. Second-half goals from Romario Williams and Forrest Lasso helped the Battery to a 2-0 win over their North Carolina rivals.

Playing their USL season opener, Charlotte came out the better of the two sides. The Independence outshot the Battery eight to one in the first half and had the majority of the possession.

Jorge Herrera created one of Charlotte’s best chances of the match in the 18th minute, turning a Battery defender and firing a shot towards Alex Tambakis’ right post. The Atlanta United loanee made a diving save, showing a strong right hand to push the ball around the post and keep the score level

Despite the dominance from the home side, the two teams headed into the break tied at zero, giving Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser a chance to right the ship. With Anhaeuser’s encouragement, Charleston came out pressing for an opening goal early in the second half.

The Battery had their best scoring chance up to that point in the match in the 64th minute when Justin Portillo sprang Neveal Hackshaw loose down the right flank. Hackshaw drove at Charlotte’s goal and slotted a driven cross on the ground to Williams on the back post, but the Jamaican center forward couldn’t turn it on frame.

Williams didn’t hang his head after the missed chance and converted the next one that fell his way. Charleston broke the deadlock when Dante Marini collected a loose ball just outside the penalty area and found Williams. The powerful center forward turned with the ball near the penalty spot, holding off two defenders, and fired a shot past goalkeeper Cody Mizell.

The Battery doubled their lead seven minutes later through the now-familiar connection of Portillo and Forrest Lasso on a set piece. Portillo swung a free kick into the 18-yard box where an unmarked Lasso headed the ball in at the near post.

Charleston’s defense closed out the match with the two-goal advantage. The back four, made up of Taylor Mueller, Quinton Griffith, Mikey Ambrose, and Lasso, were strong throughout the 90 minutes, limiting Charlotte to very few real scoring opportunities and earning the team’s first shutout.

The Battery sits atop the Eastern Conference standings after two matches with six points. Charleston will return home to MUSC Health Stadium next Saturday, April 8th, for a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds who lost, 1-0, earlier this evening to FC Cincinnati.
 

CHARLESTON BATTERY – Alex Tambakis, Quinton Griffith, Taylor Mueller, Forrest Lasso (yellow card, 32nd; goal 77th) Mikey Ambrose, Maikel Chang (Jeffery Otoo, 70th), Neveal Hackshaw, Justin Portillo, Dante Marini, Ataulla Guerra (Tah Brian Anunga, 88th) , Romario Williams (goal, 70th; Heviel Cordoves, 81st)  

Unused substitutes – Odisnel Cooper, Nico Rittmeyer, Skylar Thomas, Ricky Garbanzo

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE – Cody Mizell, Bilal Duckett (yellow card, 52nd) (Dennis Castillo, 76) , Luke Waechter, Henry Kalungi, Joel Johnson (yellow card, 42nd), Callum Ross (yellow card, 68th), Yann Ekra, Jorge Herrera, Lewis Hilton (Casey Townsend, 76th), Alex Martinez, David Estrada (David Spies, 69th)

Unused substitutes – Kainor Likewise, Zev Taublieb, Jared Odenbeck