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The Charleston Battery Foundation has partnered with Daniel Island Town Association to develop a multi-field soccer complex on the south end of Daniel Island. The partnership includes a 25-year lease for the space located two miles from MUSC Health Stadium.

The complex will be used by the Charleston Battery and its newly formed youth club, Charleston Battery Soccer Club. The professional club will use the facility as an additional training space and a host site for visiting Major League Soccer and United Soccer League teams, while the youth club will use it year-round for a variety of soccer activities.

“Securing a partnership with Daniel Island is immense for us,” said Charleston Battery Chairman Eric Bowman. “The facility is conveniently located to the Battery’s home stadium, which will serve as a constant reminder of the level that our elite youth players are trying to reach. We’re proud to be the only club in Charleston with direct pathways to professional teams on both the girls and boys side, and the location of the new complex strengthens that idea.”

The partnership with Daniel Island is part of Charleston Battery Soccer Club’s plan to secure quality facilities in all areas of the Lowcountry in order to provide accessible soccer programing for youth players in the entire Charleston Metropolitan Area.

In addition to providing programming ranging in level from recreational to elite, CHS Battery SC has been working with multiple municipalities to run camps and clinics for underprivileged youth. Part of the Club’s philosophy includes providing quality coaching and equal opportunities to play the game for all children regardless of socioeconomic status.

“We want to be able to give all youth soccer families in Charleston a convenient place to play the game and access to high-level coaching,” said Bowman. “Securing these fields on Daniel Island is a step in the right direction towards providing any child who wants to play an opportunity.”  

CHARLESTON — The Charleston Battery coaching staff will welcome unsigned prospects to MUSC Health Stadium for two Battery Player Trials on January 26-27 and February 9-10. The trials are open to all players pursuing a career in professional soccer. 

“We get lots of inquiries from players who want to play for the Battery, and bringing them in to scrimmage  with some of our guys is a good way to evaluate their talent,” Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser said. “Most won’t make the team, obviously, but we invite the best to come back for our combine, and some earn spots on our roster.”

Current Charleston Battery player, Kotaro Higashi made the roster in 2017 following a successful showing at the Club’s open trials last January. Higashi went on to make 30 appearances and win the Betsy McAdams Newcomer of the Year award last season and is expected to be a big part of Anhaeuser’s plans in 2018. Coach Anhaeuser and the technical staff have signed at least one player from every trial since they started in 2002.

“We’ve found some very good players through this process over the years, including some who went on to sign with other professional teams, too. If we find someone with talent, we’ll do our best to help them sign a professional contract whether it’s with us or somewhere else. I think for most of them, it’s a valuable experience regardless of whether they wind up signing a USL contract that season.”

Registration is $150 for either of the two-day trials at MUSC Health. Registration for both trials is now open, click below to register. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR JANUARY TRIAL

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FEBRUARY TRIAL

It is recommended that interested players register as soon as registration opens as participation in each trial is capped. With a capped number, all players will be under the close attention of Battery coaches and staff for the duration of the trials.

The two-day trials begin with sign-in and orientation at 1:00 p.m. on the first day. The players participate in small sided games for the entirety of day one, which wraps up around 5:00 p.m. Day two includes full sided matches and runs from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Returning Battery players typically participate in the scrimmages.

The stadium will be open for the event, spectators are welcome, and there is no charge to attend.

Charleston Battery have signed center forward Ian Svantesson on a one-year contract following USSF and USL approval.

Svantesson spent the 2017 season in Tulsa, where he led the Roughnecks to a 14-win season and a Western Conference playoff berth. The 6-6 striker scored a team-high 11 goals in 23 starts for Tulsa last year. Svantesson also finished in the top three on the team in chances created, minutes per goal, and key passes.

“We are happy to have Ian join our existing player core from last year,” said Battery Head Coach and General Manager Mike Anhaeuser. “Ian has become a very effective striker in the USL and with his size and work rate we’re hoping that he can continue his success with the Battery next season.”

Prior to joining the Roughnecks, Svantesson played for former NASL side Rayo OKC where he appeared six games and scored one goal in his first professional season. Svantesson played four years at University of Alabama-Birmingham before signing with Rayo in February of 2016. During his time with the Blazers, Svantesson played over 70 matches and earned several all-conference honors.

Svantesson joins returners Taylor Mueller, Kotaro Higashi, Neveal Hackshaw, Ataulla Guerra, Jarad van Schaik, Joe Kuzminsky, Quinton Griffith, Skylar Thomas, and Tah Brian Anunga on the Battery’s 2018 roster.

Name: Ian Svantesson
Position: Forward
Height: 6-6
Weight: 205
Date of birth: August 31, 1993
Age: 24
Hometown: Orlando, Fl
Country: USA
Last club: Tulsa Roughnecks
How acquired: Signed in December of 2017

Charleston Battery has exercised the options for Taylor Mueller, Kotaro Higashi, Quinton Griffith, and Skylar Thomas and have re-signed Tah Brian Anunga and Joe Kuzminsky. Jarad van Schaik, Neveal Hackshaw, and Ataulla Guerra remain under contract for the 2018 season.

The nine returning players will form the foundation of Anhaeuser’s 2018 squad. The group of returners has over 500 appearances for the Battery combined and many played a crucial role in the team’s second-place finish in 2017.

Mueller played every minute of every USL match in 2017, captaining the team to its highest finish in the USL Cup era and earning a spot on the USL All-League Second Team. The 2018 season will be Mueller’s seventh with the Battery. The center back is currently fourth all time in appearances for the Club behind Dusty Hudock, John Wilson, and Paul Conway.

Higashi returns to the Battery after a successful first season with the Club. The Japanese midfielder earned a contract after paying his own way to come to Charleston for open trials in 2017. Higashi made 23 starts for Coach Anhaeuser’s side last season, finishing with seven assists, which was the second highest total on the team.

Griffith was a vital piece of a Battery defense that earned 13 shutouts in 2017. Griffith played over 2,000 minutes, being deployed as both an outside back and a winger. The Antigua and Barbuda native helped in the attacking third as well, registering three assists and a goal.

Thomas signed with the Battery in 2017 after making 47 appearances for Toronto FC II over the course of the previous two seasons. In his first year in Charleston, Thomas appeared in 21 matches, helping the team earn 8 of their 13 shutouts.

Anugna is also coming off of a successful first season with the Battery. The 21-year old played in 27 games and made 20 starts in 2017. Anunga’s athleticism and ball winning ability was a necessary complement to Charleston’s creative midfield last season.

Kuzminsky re-signs with the Battery after serving as a back up to goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper during his rookie season. Prior to joining the Battery, Kuzminsky served as starting goalkeeper and team captain at University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Van Schaik returned to the Battery in 2017 after a one-year stint away from the Club with former NASL side Ryo OKC in 2016. In four seasons with the Battery van Schaik has played 93 games and previously served as team captain. The 28-year old midfielder came back from injury last July to make nine starts in the final third of the season.   

The 2018 season will be Hackshaw’s third in Charleston. The midfielder played in 19 games and made 16 starts last year, bringing his career totals to 42 and 31. Following his success during the 2017 season, Hackshaw was called up for Trinidad and Tobago’s friendlies last month.  

Guerra also returns to the Battery for his third season in 2018. The Trinidadian playmaker was instrumental in Charleston’s attacking success in 2017, scoring six goals and notching two assists.  

The USL All-League Teams were announced Tuesday afternoon and the Charleston Battery led all teams with four nominations. Center back Forrest Lasso was selected to the First Team and forward Romario Williams, midfielder Justin Portillo, and center back Taylor Mueller were selected to the Second Team.

In his first season as a consistent member of Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser’s starting XI, Lasso earned a spot on the USL All-League First Team. The center back finished second in the league among defenders in blocked shots with 27 and helped the team to 13 clean sheets. Lasso also posed a threat offensively throughout the season and finished with six goals.

Mueller captained the Battery side to their best finish in the USL era, playing all 2,970 minutes of Charleston’s 33-game season. The six-year veteran finished second in the league  in clearances with 163 and recorded 59 interceptions and 27 blocked shots, matching his center back partner Lasso for second-most in the league. During the 2017 season, Mueller made his 140th appearance for the Battery, taking him to fourth all-time in Charleston’s record books.

Along with Mueller, Portillo appeared in every USL match and played every minute, anchoring the Battery midfield throughout the season. Portillo completed the third-most passes in the USL with 1,415, including 60 key passes. The New Orleans native scored six goals and added six assists, finishing third among Battery players in both statistical categories.

In his second year in the league, Williams earned Second Team honors despite appearing in only 22 games. The Atlanta United loanee scored 15 goals in his 22 appearances, averaging a goal every 114.3 minutes. During the 2017 season, Williams earned Team of the Week honors four times and the Player of the Month award in June.

The Charleston Battery lost, 4-0, to New York Red Bulls II in the USL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

New York pressed from the outset, as they’ve done all season, and opened the scoring in the 39th minute by way of an impressive counter attack. Junior Flemmings received a pass out wide on the right flank and served a good ball into the penalty area. Stefano Bonomo flicked a diving header past Odisnel Cooper at the far post.

The visitors doubled their lead early on in the second half through Ethan Kutler. The outside back smashed a shot into the upper corner of Cooper’s goal, finishing off a well-worked set play from a corner kick delivered by Arun Basuljevic.  

Florian Valot and Ben Mines put the game out of reach with a pair of goals in the 71st and 84th minutes. Valot finished a rebound following a shot from Bonomo, while Mines scored on his first touch of the game, slotting the ball past Cooper at his near post.

“It all comes to an end so quickly in the playoffs, so it’s hitting pretty hard right now,” said Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser following the loss. “It’s disappointing, but we had a great season. We have a great team and great individual players and I know their disappointed. We had a great season, fifteen wins and our highest finish since 2012. In the end, you have to commend New York and take the positives away from the season.”

With the win, New York Red Bulls II will move on to the USL Eastern Conference Semifinals to play the winner of Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Cincinnati. The Battery will return to MUSC Health Stadium in February for the Carolina Challenge Cup.

CHARLESTON – Odisnel Cooper, Quinton Griffith (yellow card, 85), Taylor Mueller, Forrest Lasso, O’Brian Woodbine (Nico Rittmeyer, 75), Kotaro Higashi (Ricky Garbanzo, 83), Tah Brian Anunga (yellow card, 56; Heviel Cordoves, 58), Justin Portillo, Jarad van Schaik, Ataulla Guerra, Romario Williams

Unused substitutes – Joe Kuzminsky, Skylar Thomas, Neveal Hackshaw, Patrick Okonkwo

NEW YORK – Evan Louro, Ethan Kutler (goal, 51), Jordan Scarlett, Hassan Ndam, David Najem, Dan Metzger, Andrew Tinari, Arun Basuljevic (Ben Mines, 83; goal 84), Florian Valot (goal, 71), Stefano Bonomo (goal, 39; Tim Schmoll, 90), Junior Flemmings (yellow card, 82; Zeiko Lewis, 86)

Unused substitutes – Rafael Diaz, David Abidor, Andrew Lombard, Zaire Bartley

Charleston

The Charleston Battery open the 2017 USL Playoffs against the defending champions, New York Red Bulls II. The Battery secured second place in the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 win over Charlotte Independence at the Sportsplex at Matthews in the last week of the regular season. The second place finish is Charleston’s highest in the USL Cup era and assures home field advantage through the Conference Semifinals.

The Battery will begin their seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs against one of only two teams in the East that they haven’t beaten this season. Charleston and New York drew, 1-1, in their previous match at MUSC Health Stadium and the Red Bulls took a 2-1 result at MSU Soccer Park back in May.

Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser has a slew of veterans to rely on in the playoffs including Taylor Mueller and O’Brian Woodbine who have both won championships with the Battery. Fourteen players on Anhaeuser’s roster have USL Playoff experience. The team has regained its early season form in the crucial point in the year and will look to carry momentum from late season victories into the playoffs.

The Battery have taken the third highest number of points (35)  from their home matches in the Eastern Conference, just behind Louisville (36) and Tampa (37). Charleston carry a 14 game home unbeaten streak into the playoffs. They’re also unbeaten in their last five playoff matches at MUSC Health Stadium.

New York

New York Red Bulls II will begin their USL title defense against the Charleston Battery. New York finished the regular season in seventh place after failing to beat Rochester on the final day of the season. The Red Bulls dropped a 2-1 result at Capelli Sport Stadium in Rochester, leaving them in the second to last playoff spot in the East.

New York have scored more goals than every other team in the Eastern Conference Playoffs apart from first place Louisville City FC. Stefano Bonomo, Florian Valot, Junior Flemmings, and Vincent Bezecourt make up the bulk of the Red Bull’s potent attack. Bezecourt leads the Eastern Conference with 11, one ahead of Charleston’s Maikel Chang.

Despite New York’s attacking ability, they were one of only two playoff teams in the East to finish the year with a negative goal differential (-3). The Red Bulls have given up 60 goals this season, 12 more than the next highest playoff team, Bethlehem Steel FC. New York’s defensive struggles are magnified on the road. They’ve only won three matches away from home this season and have conceded 39 goals, however, they managed to hold the Battery to just one goal in each of the two meetings between the teams this season.

The high tallies in the goals scored and goals against statistical categories come down to New York’s style of play.  If they continue as they’ve played throughout the regular season, they will press the ball high in their attacking third and open up when they win it back on Saturday night. Their high pressing, expansive style of play pays dividends in the attack, but opens them up to counter attacks and leaves them vulnerable down the center of the field.

Previous Meeting(s)

• August 12, 2017 – MUSC Health Stadium – Charleston Battery (1), New York Red Bulls II (1)
  • Scoring summary – Romario Williams (45), Stefan Bonomo (72)
• May 28, 2017 – MSU Soccer Park – Charleston Battery (1), New York Red Bulls II (2)
  • Scoring summary – Justin Portillo (45), Junior Flemmings (54), Derrick Etienne (75)

Game Notes

Records

• Charleston: 15-8-9; goals 53; goals against 33; GD +20
  • Home: 10-1-5; goals 35 ; goals against 12 ; GD +23
  • Away: 5-7-4; goals 18; goals against; 21; GD -3
• New York: 13-14-5; goals 57; goals against 60; GD -3
  • Home: 10-6-0; goals 29; goals against 21; GD +8
  • Away: 3-8-5; goals 28; goals against 39; GD -11

Form

• Charleston: W | L | D | W | W
• New York: L | W | L | W | L

Statistical Leaders

• Charleston
  • Goals: Romario Williams (15)
  • Assists: Maikel Chang (10)
  • Points: Romario Williams (33)
  • Minutes: Taylor Mueller, Justin Portillo (2,880)

• New York
  • Goals: Stefano Bonomo (10)
  • Assists: Vincent Bezecourt (11)
  • Points: Stefano Bonomo, Vincent Bezecourt (21)
  • Minutes: David Najem (2,479)

Tickets for the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup set to take place this coming February are on sale now at https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com or the box office at MUSC Health Stadium.

The 14th iteration of the Charleston Battery’s preseason tournament with Major League Soccer will feature Atlanta United, Columbus Crew SC, and Minnesota United. The four teams will play in a round-robin style tournament with doubleheaders on February 17, 21, and 24. Single-day tickets start at $30 and include two matches; series passes start at $65 and include all six matches across the three tournament dates.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

With a 5,100 seat capacity at MUSC Health Stadium, CCC offers soccer fans unmatchable interaction with some of Major League Soccer’s best. The 2018 Challenge Cup will showcase MLS stars including Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Josef Martínez (Atlanta United), Justin Meram (Columbus Crew SC), Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC) and Kevin Molino (Minnesota United).

The tentative match schedule is as follows:

Saturday, February 17th

Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew SC (5:00 PM EST)
Charleston Battery vs. Minnesota United (7:30 PM EST)

Wednesday, February 21st  [DOLLAR BEER NIGHT]

Charleston Battery vs. Columbus Crew SC (5:00 PM EST)
Atlanta United vs. Minnesota United (7:30 PM EST)

Saturday, February 24th

Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United (5:00 PM EST)
Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United (7:30 PM EST)

There are special ticket rates available for groups of 15 or more. There is also limited space available for youth groups to participate in Carolina Challenge Cup as player liaisons, ball kids, and player tunnels. To book a group experience, call 843-971-4625.