News Archive

This week’s Blackbaud Nonprofit of the Match is Lowcountry Local First. Lowcountry Local First cultivates an economy anchored in local ownership, because local-independent businesses are the cornerstone of our culture, economy, and character.

The organization works with a diverse range of partners from the nonprofit, private and public sectors including local-independent businesses; policymakers; local, state, and national nonprofit and governmental partners; and donors and funders who share their values. Lowcountry Local First’s programs are designed to implement a new model of local economic development focused on integrating advocacy, education and training, and relationship-building toward a more equitable, diversified economy.

Lowcountry Local First develops innovative models for sustainable and equitable local economies. Their work leverages understanding of over 550 local business members and 12,000 employees across all sectors, and is informed by staff with expertise and on-the-ground experience in local economy building, innovative economic development, entrepreneur support, sustainable agriculture, and food systems. They are connected to local economy and sustainable business organizations throughout the country, granting them access to the best models, case studies and thought leaders.
 

For every $100 spent at a chain store, an average of $14 is reinvested in the community. For every $100 spent at a local store, an average of $45 is reinvested in the community. That money maintains our schools, paves our roads, employs our friends and neighbors and makes the Lowcountry a wonderfully diverse and interesting place to live.

Lowcountry Local First’s  work includes local economic development, training and support for local business owners, awareness and education efforts aimed at the general public and advocacy for policies that recognize the importance of a strong, diverse local economy. In order to fulfill their mission mission, Lowcountry Local First organizes most of their efforts under two categories, Good Farming and Good Business, alongside their ongoing advocacy efforts.

To learn more, stop by their table on the concourse or visit https://lowcountrylocalfirst.org/our-work/

This week’s Blackbaud Nonprofit of the Match is Charleston Surfrider. Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education (C.A.R.E).
 

The Charleston Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation concentrates on keeping our beaches and waterways free of trash to keep the Lowcountry beautiful, for your enjoyment. There are numerous ways for Charleston residents to get involved and volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation including beach sweeps, marsh sweeps, and monofilament recycling.

Surfrider hosts several beach sweeps throughout the year. Check their Facebook page for the latest information. During the Fall months (or as needed) Surfrider organizes marsh sweeps with local schools. It’s a great way for school children to get a close look at how much garbage works its way into the marsh from the roadside. The hours the students spend doing the sweeps can count towards their required school service hours.

Surfrider assists the SCDNR in their monofilament recycling program by caring for and emptying the monofilament recycling stations at the Folly Beach boat landing and the Sol Legare boat landing. When the containers are emptied, the old fishing line is sent to DNR who then sends it off to be recycled into plastic fishing lures.

As a response to increased plastic pollution in the coastal zone and ocean gyres, Surfrider Foundation started an Ocean Friendly Restaurants program. The primary goal of this initiative is to eliminate EPS foam foodware (aka Styrofoam). EPS foam foodware (cups, plates, ‘clamshells’, etc.) is a top item found at Surfrider beach cleanups. The Charleston Chapter of Surfrider is partnering with local Ocean Friendly Restaurants to bring this incredible program to the Lowcountry.

Certified Ocean Friendly Restaurants follow the following criteria: they do not use expanded polystyrene, they follow proper recycling practices, and they use only reusable tableware for on-site dining, only providing utensils for to-go food upon request. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an Ocean Friendly Restaurant partner, please contact Jana Davis at ofr@charleston.surfrider.org.

For more information about Surfrider Charleston, stop by and see them on Wednesday night! 

The Charleston Battery (5-2-4) enters their first ever meeting with Indy Eleven (4-4-2) Wednesday night riding a ten-game unbeaten streak. The match at Lucas Oil Stadium is the Battery’s first away from home since their 3-0 win over Atlanta United 2 on April 24.

Charleston finished up their seven game home stand with a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC last Saturday night. Ataulla Guerra scored an equalizer in the second half to keep the Battery’s unbeaten run alive. The goal was Guerra’s team-high sixth, which has him tied for third most in the league.

The draw brought the Battery’s point total to 11 of a possible 15 from the five straight USL games at home. The three wins and two draws during the home stretch moved the Battery up the table and into third place in the USL Eastern Conference, just three points off first place Louisville City FC.

Wednesday’s match will be the Battery’s sixth in eighteen days, but their first on the road since April. The match against Indy is Charleston’s first of four consecutive away games including the U.S. Open Cup match against Atlanta United (MLS) on June 6.

Indy also enters Wednesday’s match on short rest. The Eleven lost, 4-1, to New York Red Bulls II on Sunday at Red Bull Arena. Indy returns to Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday looking to improve their 2-3-0 home record.

Indy’s last win came on May 5, a 1-0 victory over Louisville City FC at home. The Eleven has earned just one point in the three matches following the win against the defending USL Champions.

Both the Battery and the Eleven have been impressive on the defensive side of the ball so far this season. Each side has five shutouts, which ranks them among the league’s best. The Battery have only given up four goals in the previous ten games and haven’t given up a goal in the run of play since April 21.

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser has been platooning goalkeepers Joe Kuzminsky and Odisnel Cooper, while his counterpart, Martin Rennie, has elected to play Owain Fon Williams in all ten of Indy’s league matches. Williams has an experienced defense in front of him that includes Karl Ouimette, Ayoze Garcia, and Kevin Vengas. Ouimette helped the San Francisco Deltas to the 2017 NASL Championship, Garcia has over 300 professional appearances including 120 with the New York Cosmos, and Venegas spent five years with Minnesota United in the NASL and MLS.

Wednesday is shaping up to be another defensive battle where both sides will have to earn every attacking chance they get.  The Battery will be hoping that Guerra can take his home scoring form on the road; the Trinidadian forward has scored five of his six goals this season at MUSC Health Stadium. The Eleven will turn to Soony Saad, who leads the team in goals with three, and Jack McInerney to produce in the attacking third.

Following Wednesday’s match, both sides will get a break in games. The Battery will take their off weekend to recover for their Open Cup match with Atlanta United on Wednesday, June 6, while Indy doesn’t play again until Saturday, June 9.

The Charleston Battery extended their unbeaten streak to four games Saturday night with a 1-1 draw with North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match was the first meeting between the regional rivals since 2010.

NCFC came out on the front foot, immediately asking questions of the Battery defense and goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky. Austin da Luz forced Kuzminsky into his first save in the 12th minute with a great effort from 50-yards out. Da Luz spotted Kuzminsky off his line and attempted to chip him from distance, but the 6-4 goalkeeper recovered well and tipped the shot over the bar.

After the early flurry of chances, Charleston settled into their defensive shape and grew into the game. Both sides had good spells of possession after the opening 20 minutes, but neither were able to break the deadlock.

Coming out of the halftime break, Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser moved his side’s line of pressure up, searching for a go ahead goal. The adjustment paid off in the 63rd minute when Kotaro Higashi forced a turnover at the top of NCFC’s penalty area as the hosts tried to play their way out of the back.

Following Higashi’s tackle, the ball fell kindly to Tah Brian Anunga who quickly played Ataulla Guerra at the top of the box. Guerra turned, created space, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of Alex Tambakis’ goal to put the Battery ahead. The goal was Guerra’s league-leading ninth in seventeen games.

After the opening goal, NCFC turned up the pressure in search of an equalizer. The game became stretched and NCFC advanced deep into their attacking half consistently, as the Battery countered and created chances of their own.

The hosts finally broke through in the 83rd minute by way of Daniel Rios. Nelson Blanco received the ball on the left flank and drove towards the endline before serving a low cross into the six yard box. Rios, who was making a near post run, got a slight touch on Blanco’s pass to redirect it past Kuzminsky, matching Guerra’s nine goals on the season.

Each side had opportunities to steal three points in the final ten minutes, but neither could convert. Guerra came within inches of his tenth goal and the Battery’s seventh win of the season in the 93rd minute. The ball fell to him off of a Gordon Wild free kick, but his half volley went just wide of Tambakis’ far post.

A wild scramble in Kuzminsky’s six yard box in the seventh minute of stoppage time almost left the Battery with nothing to show from the match, but the Charleston defense was ultimately able to clear the danger and the game ended in a draw.

Following the trip to Cary, the Battery will return to Charleston for back-to-back home matches. They’ll take on Indy Eleven on Wednesday, July 11 before playing host to reigning USL Champions Louisville City FC on Saturday, July 14.

CHARLESTON: Joe Kuzminsky; Skylar Thomas (Leland Archer, 61), Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw; O’Brian Woodbine (yellow card, 69; Jay Bolt, 74), Angelo Kelly, Tah Brian Anunga, Jarad van Schaik, Nico Rittmeyer (Gordon Wild, 89) Kotaro Higashi, Ataulla Guerra (goal, 63)  

Substitutes: Odisnel Cooper, Ryan Arambula, Victor Mansaray, Patrick Oronkwo

NORTH CAROLINA: Alex Tambakis; DJ Taylor, Aaron Guillen (yellow card, 95), Connor Tobin, Steven Miller; Austin da Luz (Tiyi Shipalane, 55), Graham Smith, Dre Fortune (Nelson Blanco, 76), Kyle Bekker; Daniel Rios (goal, 82), Marios Lomis (Donovan Ewolo, 90)

Substitutes: Austin Guerrero, Michael Harrington, Marcel Kandziora, Cameron Steel

Charleston Battery defender O’Brian Woodbine has been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 16.

Woodbine had a direct hand in three of the Battery’s four goals scored in their 4-0 victory over Toronto FC II Sunday night at BMO Field. The Jamaican wingback was an attacking threat down the right flank the entire night and provided assists on Ataulla Guerra’s opening goal and Kotaro Higashi’s tally minutes later.

Woodbine added to his statline in the 84th minute, scoring a goal of his own and putting the game out of reach. Taylor Mueller played a long ball down the channel to Woodbine who collected the pass and smashed a shot past goalkeeper Borja Angoitia to score his second goal in four appearances this season.

The Team of the Week honor is the first of the season for Woodbine and fourth of his career. Woodbine and the Battery will be back in action Saturday night when they take on North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in Raleigh, NC.

The Charleston Battery earned their first USL win since May 12 Sunday night, defeating Toronto FC II, 4-0, at BMO Field. Prior to Sunday’s win, the Battery had earned five draws in six matches.

The Battery were the better side throughout the 90 minutes, but didn’t open the scoring until the second half. Ataulla Guerra broke through in the 59th minute, scoring his eighth goal of the season.

O’Brian Woodbine collected a loose ball on the right touchline and served it into the penalty area. The ball fell kindly off of a Toronto FC II defender and Guerra smashed it into the top corner to put the Battery ahead.

Woodbine created another goal minutes after Guerra’s opener. Taylor Mueller played a long ball to Woodbine, springing him in behind the Toronto defense. Woodbine collected the pass and drove towards the endline before finding Kotaro Higashi with his cutback. Higashi finished Woodbine’s pass, scoring his second goal in three games.

After playing provider for the first two goals, Woodbine got himself on the scoresheet in the 82nd minute. Mueller played an identical ball to the one that started the move for the second goal, again finding Woodbine in behind the Toronto defense. Woodbine controlled the long ball and powered a shot past goalkeeper Borja Angoitia to push the lead to three.

Gordon Wild added a fourth goal in injury time after coming on as a substitute. Wild received a pass out wide on the right and drove left across the Toronto defense before striking a shot towards Angoitia’s goal. Wild’s shot took a deflection on its way towards goal and found the back of the net.

The four-goal outburst was the first time the Battery scored multiple goals in a game since May 30th against Indy Eleven. Joe Kuzminsky earned his second consecutive and sixth overall clean sheet against TFC II.

The Battery will remain on the road following the win in Toronto. They’ll head to Raleigh to take on North Carolina FC next Saturday, July 7 before returning home to play Indy Eleven on Wednesday, July 11.

Box Score:

CHARLESTON – Joe Kuzminsky, Skylar Thomas (yellow card, 84), Taylor Mueller, Neveal Hackshaw, O’Brian Woodbine (goal, 82; Ryan Arambula, 83), Tah Brian Anunga, Angelo Kelly, Jarad van Schaik, Kotaro Higashi (goal, 65), Ataulla Guerra (goal, 59;  Patrick Okonkwo, 74), Nico Rittmeyer (yellow card, 54; Gordon Wild, 57; goal, 92)

Substitutes – Robert Beebe, Jay Bolt, Vincenzo Candela

TORONTO – Borja Angoitia, Dante Campbell (yellow card, 82), Tim Kubel (Terique Mohammed, 70), Julian Dunn-Johnson, Robert Boskovic, Okello Ayo, Luca Uccello, Malik Johnson, Steffen Yeates (Matthew Srbely, 67), Aidan Daniels (Jordan Faria, 68), Shaan Hundal

Substitutes – Rimi Oltaunji, Rocco Romeo, Gideon Waja, Aikim Andrews

Charleston Battery defender Skylar Thomas was named to the USL Team for Week 15 after his performance against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

Thomas helped the Battery earn their sixth clean sheet of the season against the Riverhounds. The center back completed 44 of 50 passes and recorded seven clearances and one interception as Charleston and Pittsburgh played to a 0-0 draw.

The Team of the Week honor is Thomas’ second of the season and third of his career. Next up for Thomas is a trip home to Canada as he and the Battery take on Toronto FC II on Sunday, July 1 at 8:00 PM The match will be broadcast live on MyTV Charleston and streamed on ESPN+.

The Charleston Battery earned their fifth draw in six league games Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium in a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds that ended scoreless.

With the heat index over 100 degrees at kickoff, the game started slow. Pittsburgh sat back while the Battery put together good spells of possession. The visitors absorbed the pressure, limiting Charleston’s scoring chances and the two teams went into the break scoreless.

Gordon Wild came closest to breaking the 0-0 deadlock from a free kick in the 56th minute. Wild struck the dead ball on frame, forcing goalkeeper Dan Lynd to make a save. Lynd tipped the ball onto the crossbar. After Lynd’s save, the ball hit the goal line and bounced out, denying Wild his fourth goal of the season.

The Riverhounds had their best scoring opportunity of the night shortly after Wild’s strike. Kenardo Forbes served an outswinging corner into the penalty area in the path of Joe Greenspan’s near post run. Greenspan rose up and nodded the ball on frame forcing Joe Kuzminsky to make a reaction save at the near post.

The save preserved Kuzminsky’s fifth and the Battery’s sixth shutout through 15 USL games. Kuzminsky’s five clean sheets have him tied for fifth-best in the league.

Following Saturday’s draw, the Battery will head back out on the road for back-to-back matches away from home. They’ll take on Toronto FC II on Sunday, July 1 and North Carolina FC on Saturday, July 7 before returning home to host Indy Eleven on Wednesday, July 11.

BOX SCORE:

CHARLESTON – Joe Kuzminsky, Leland Archer, Skylar Thomas, Neveal Hackshaw, O’Brian Woodbine (Jay Bolt, 84), Tah Brian Anunga, Angelo Kelly, Jarad van Schaik, Gordon Wild (Ian Svantesson, 89), Kotaro Higashi (Nico Rittmeyer, 68), Ataulla Guerra

Substitutes – Odisnel Cooper, Robert Beebe, Ryan Arambula, Patrick Okonkwo

PITTSBURGH – Dan Lynd, Joe Greenspan, Hugh Roberts (yellow card, 74), Tobi Adewole, Raymond Lee, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Jordan Dover, Christiano Francois (Dabo Mouhamed, 68), Kenardo Forbes, Kevin Kerr (Joseph Holland, 87), Romeo Parkes (Neco Brett, 61)

Substitutes – Michael Kirk, Todd Pratzner, Andrew Lubhan, Kay Banjo