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Charleston Battery have added firepower in the midfield on Thursday afternoon with the signing of Mauro Cichero. Cichero was one of the nation’s top prospects coming out of college following a decorated playing career at Southern Methodist University.

Cichero was selected by F.C. Dallas with the 29th overall pick in the Second Round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He spent most of the 2018 season rehabbing from an injury suffered at the tail end of his senior season before heading to F.C. Dallas’ affiliate, and USL League One side, North Texas SC, who became League One Title-Winners after the first-ever final in October 2019.

As a freshman at SMU, Cichero featured as one of the Mustang’s top attacking options, leading the team with 46 shots. In 17 matches, Cichero played 1,260 minutes, scoring 2 goals and adding 4 assists. His goals, against Central Arkansas and Tulsa, were match winners and his performances throughout the season earned Cichero a place on the American Athletic Conference Second Team and All-Rookie Team.

Cichero broke out during his second season, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and tallying 9 assists. He finished second in the American Conference in points and tied for fourth in goals. Cichero earned numerous accolades as a sophomore, including American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a was a unanimous First-Team All-AAC Selection. Cichero was also a semi-finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top player in the country.

In his final two seasons at SMU, Cichero made 28 starts in 30 total appearances scoring 12 goals and registering 8 assists. He opened his senior campaign with a hattrick against UC Davis in a 3-2 win and scored 2 goals, to go along with 2 assists in 61 minutes, against Northeastern in a 6-0 win. Cichero wrapped up his college career with 24 goals and 21 assists across 68 appearances, starting all but two of those matches.

Charleston added a second goalkeeper to their 2020 USL Championship roster Wednesday afternoon with the signing of Darian McCauley. McCauley finished a stellar four-year career at Millersville University and has been rewarded with his first professional contract.

As a true freshman, McCauley established himself as the number one keeper for Millersville and never looked back. Starting all 20 matches for the Marauders in 2016, McCauley made 73 saves and finished as one of the best keepers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

McCauley’s efforts in goal led the team to a 12-6-2 record on the year and an appearance in the PSCA Championship. McCauley avoided any sort of sophomore slump starting all 18 matches in 2017. He matched his freshman mark of seven shutouts and finished third on the team in minutes played (1,582). McCauley faced 151 shots on the year, making 52 saves while conceding just 20 goals.

McCauley was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Second Team his junior year, and registered career-highs in multiple categories, on the way to a PSCA Championship title. He finished the year with a goals-against average of 1.02 and a 78% save success rate. The Marauders conference championship was clinched by McCauley who made two penalty saves against West Chester, bringing a second title to Millersville.

In his last season with Millersville, McCauley made 18 appearances, logging over 1,700 minutes. McCauley made 75 total appearances in his college career winning 36 matches and keeping 22 clean sheets. He made 253 saves on route to a 1.21 career goals-against average and a 73% career save success rate.

Charleston Battery have added another defender to their 2020 roster ahead of the upcoming season, signing experienced USL Championship defender, Rennico Clarke, pending league and federation approval.

Clarke made his USL Championship debut with Portland Timbers 2 in February of 2015, after joining the club from Jamaican National Premier League side, Harbour View. Clarke made fifteen league appearances for Portland and saw action in two U.S. Open Cup matches in his first season. The Jamaican defender would remain with Timbers 2 through the end of the 2016 season before signing a contract with the first team at the beginning of 2017.

Although he spent most of the season with Timbers 2, Clarke made his debut with MLS’ Portland Timbers against Seattle Sounders in the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup. He’d play 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss, picking up an assist on Portland’s lone goal. He would spend July with the first team before returning to the Championship for the last half of 2017.

In 2018, Clarke would join FH Hafnarfjördur (FH), where he would play alongside current teammates, Zeiko Lewis and Robbie Crawford. He made nine league appearances and played 325 minutes over four Europa League Qualifying matches.

Clarke would return to Harbour View in February 2019 before signing with Sporting Kansas City II over the summer. He’d go on to make eight appearances for Sporting playing 613 minutes. In all, Clarke has made 54 USL Championship appearances between Portland Timbers 2 and Sporting Kansas City II, logging more than 4,500 minutes.

Jesus Ibarra officially joined Charleston Battery Friday morning ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season. Ibarra is Charleston’s fourth new signing joining Robbie Crawford, Deshawon Nembhard, and Logan Gdula as the latest to sport the Black and Yellow. 

Last season, Ibarra played for Bodens BK, who participated in Division 1, the third tier, of Swedish soccer. He would go on to score two goals in 13 appearances for Bodens in 2019 and chipped in two assists during league play.

The San Diego native is no stranger to soccer in the Palmetto state, having spent time with Greenville FC of the National Premier Soccer League in 2018. Ibarra showcased his quick feet and playmaking ability, as well as an eye for goal, against Asheville City in the Carolina Clasico. Ibarra would give Greenville a halftime lead before assisting on the match-winner early in the second half.

And Charleston won’t be Ibarra’s first stop in the USL Championship. Ibarra joined the Wilmington Hammerheads in 2016, training with the club throughout the regular season.

Ibarra played in Charleston’s first three preseason games against Minnesota United and Inter Miami CF while assisting on Nicque Daley’s match-winner on Wednesday night against Coastal Carolina.

Charleston Battery made their third offseason addition Wednesday morning with the signing of defender Logan Gdula, pending league and federation approval.

Gdula was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 MLS Superdraft by FC Cincinnati, joining the former USL Championship side ahead of their inaugural season in MLS. Shortly following the draft, Gdula was loaned to Phoenix Rising FC before returning to Cincinnati in May.

Looking to get their youngster valuable playing time, FCC sent Gdula to Hartford Athletic where he settled into the squad, carving out a significant role in the expansion side’s backline. He would make 15 appearances for Hartford starting 14 matches and topping the 1,000-minute mark and finishing with 34 clearances and 23 interceptions.

At the collegiate level, Gdula was a standout for ACC powerhouse, Wake Forest University, from 2015-2018. He made his first start for the Demon Deacons during his sophomore year against Florida International and finished the year with two assists. Gdula helped lead WFU to the 2016 College Cup Final, where the team finished runners-up to Stanford University.

The attacking back saw an uptick in usage during his junior and senior seasons, contributing heavily on both sides of the ball. Gdula started in all but one match in 2017 and registered 9 assists and 12 shots, both career highs. He also found the back of the net once in 21 matches, logging 1,726 minutes. As one of the nation’s hottest prospects, Gdula’s senior season didn’t disappoint. He would go on to add 5 more assists to his career numbers and chip in another goal across 21 starts.

Gdula joins Robbie Crawford and Deshawon Nembhard as Charleston continues to build out the squad ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season.