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As we patiently (or impatiently) wait for the start of the 2020 season it’s time to reflect on some of 2019’s best moments in a bracket-style showdown! The winner of each matchup will advance to the next round before crowning a champion.

The final features a battle of goals as Dante Marini’s game-winners go head to head with Zeiko Lewis’ Olimpico goal. Voting will remain open until 5 PM on Thursday night so get your votes in!

#3 Dante Marini’s Game Winners – Making his return to the Battery after suffering a knee injury in 2017, Marini proved to be an important piece of Charleston’s success this season.

Marini scored four goals for the Battery this season, ALL of which proved to be match winners. Goals against Hartford, Memphis, and Loudoun earned the Battery twelve points helping clinch a spot in the postseason. Oh, and, who doesn’t love the celebration?

#4 Zeiko’s “Olimpico” Goal Against ATLUTD2 – In his first season with Charleston, Zeiko Lewis led the Battery attack, scoring eight regular-season goals while adding a converted penalty against Nashville in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Lewis found himself nominated for multiple USL Goal of the Week honors, including his Week 5 stunner against Charlotte Independence, however, his best goal of the season came from an unlikely set piece. Lewis curled in a corner from the right corner flag to level things at 1-1 to earn a late second-half point for the Battery.

#3 Dante Marini’s Game Winners – Making his return to the Battery after suffering a knee injury in 2017, Marini proved to be an important piece of Charleston’s success this season.

Marini scored four goals for the Battery this season, ALL of which proved to be match winners. Goals against Hartford, Memphis, and Loudoun earned the Battery twelve points helping clinch a spot in the postseason. Oh, and, who doesn’t love the celebration?

#4 Jarad van Schaik’s Two Goals Against Nashville SC – The 2019 Nigel Cooper MVP played every match this season playing a number of different positions.

Van Schaik’s season was highlighted by a two-goal effort against Nashville SC on April 20th. His first was a fine strike on a half volley from outside the box, and his second clipped the underside of the crossbar from a free kick in the second half.

#2 Playoff Win Against Ottawa Fury FC – A win on the final day of the regular season set up a play-in match against Ottawa Fury FC at TD Place Stadium on October 23rd. Kotaro Higashi put the Battery up 1-0 before Ottawa’s Mour Samb equalized five minutes before halftime.

The teams played to a scoreless second half and failed to find a winner in extra time. In the shootout, Charleston converted on all five of their penalties while Ottawa’s miss in the fourth round cost them the match. Jarad van Schaik stepped up in the fifth round to put Fury FC away.

#4 Zeiko’s “Olimpico” Goal Against ATLUTD2 – In his first season with Charleston, Zeiko Lewis led the Battery attack, scoring eight regular-season goals while adding a converted penalty against Nashville in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Lewis found himself nominated for multiple USL Goal of the Week honors, including his Week 5 stunner against Charlotte Independence, however, his best goal of the season came from an unlikely set piece. Lewis curled in a corner from the right corner flag to level things at 1-1 to earn a late second-half point for the Battery.

#1 Taylor Mueller’s 200th Appearance – In his eighth season with the club, Mueller made his 200th appearance against Louisville City FC on August 17th.

Debuting with the Battery in 2012, Mueller has racked up over 200 career appearances good for third all-time behind only Dusty Hudock and John Wilson. A veteran leader on and off the field Mueller led the Battery to a twelfth consecutive postseason appearance.

#4 Jarad van Schaik’s Two Goals Against Nashville SC – The 2019 Nigel Cooper MVP played every match this season playing a number of different positions.

Van Schaik’s season was highlighted by a two-goal effort against Nashville SC on April 20th. His first was a fine strike on a half volley from outside the box, and his second clipped the underside of the crossbar from a free kick in the second half.

#2 Southern Derby Cup – Charleston’s 2-1 win over North Carolina FC on September 22nd brought the Souther Derby Cup back to Charleston. North Carolina snapped the Battery’s run of three straight Derby Cups in 2018, but Nico Rittmeyer’s late goal secured the trophy for the Black and Yellow in 2019.

Rittmeyer’s goal was his second in as many games and put the Battery in position to make a run at the USL Championship playoffs.

#3 Dante Marini’s Game Winners – Making his return to the Battery after suffering a knee injury in 2017, Marini proved to be an important piece of Charleston’s success this season.

Marini scored four goals for the Battery this season, ALL of which proved to be match winners. Goals against Hartford, Memphis, and Loudoun earned the Battery twelve points helping clinch a spot in the postseason. Oh, and, who doesn’t love the celebration?

#2 Playoff Win Against Ottawa Fury FC – A win on the final day of the regular season set up a play-in match against Ottawa Fury FC at TD Place Stadium on October 23rd. Kotaro Higashi put the Battery up 1-0 before Ottawa’s Mour Samb equalized five minutes before halftime.

The teams played to a scoreless second half and failed to find a winner in extra time. In the shootout, Charleston converted on all five of their penalties while Ottawa’s miss in the fourth round cost them the match. Jarad van Schaik stepped up in the fifth round to put Fury FC away.

#3 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Run – From Greenville to Atlanta, there was plenty to talk about during our 2019 U.S. Open Cup run. Ian Svantesson bagged a late second-half brace to lift the Battery past Triumph FC in the second-round while Nicque Daley led the way in a third-round win against Nashville SC.

Charleson were set to host defending MLS Cup Champions, and eventual Open Cup winners, Atlanta United at MUSC Health Stadium but the match was moved to Kennesaw. Svantesson gave the Battery a lead but Atlanta ultimately were 3-1 winners.  

#1 Final Home Game – The Battery ended their 2019 USL Championship season with a bang, a 5-1 win over Bethlehem Steel FC in what proved to be the final match at MUSC Health Stadium. The win also secured a spot in the postseason and an eventual play-in match against Ottawa Fury FC.

Arthur Bosua and AJ Paterson scored two goals apiece while Ataulla Guerra converted on a penalty. The Battery finished the year with an 8-3-6 home record with quality wins against Nashville SC and Indy Eleven. The Black and Yellow were fantastic, once again, on the defensive side of the ball playing to four shutouts at MUSC Health Stadium and conceding just twenty goals at home.

#4 Zeiko’s “Olimpico” Goal Against ATLUTD2 – In his first season with Charleston, Zeiko Lewis led the Battery attack, scoring eight regular-season goals while adding a converted penalty against Nashville in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Lewis found himself nominated for multiple USL Goal of the Week honors, including his Week 5 stunner against Charlotte Independence, however, his best goal of the season came from an unlikely set piece. Lewis curled in a corner from the right corner flag to level things at 1-1 to earn a late second-half point for the Battery.

It’s been ten years since Grenada last played a match in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. On Sunday, Grenada finished off a successful CONCACAF Nations League campaign with a 3-2 win against Belize and punching a ticket into the 2021 Gold Cup competition.

A.J. Paterson captained Grenada on the night, leading the Spice Boys to three points and promotion into League A of the CONCACAF Nations League in the process. Paterson played a key role in Grenada’s successes playing 90-minutes in every Nations League match scoring one goal on a penalty in the reverse fixture with Belize on September 8th.

Grenada finished atop Group A of League B with fourteen points in six matches, scoring eight goals while allowing four.

Zeiko Lewis‘ Bermuda will play in League B next season after finishing last in Group B of League A. Bermuda impressed against the big boys, beating Panama 4-1 in Panama and giving Mexico a scare in Toluca.

Ataulla Guerra and Trinidad will join Lewis and Bermuda in League B after managing just two points in Group C of League A. Guerra appeared in one match during the country’s qualifying matches.

You can keep up with all of the latest Nations League and Gold Cup news at www.concacaf.com 

Joe Kuzminsky caps off a successful 2019 season after taking the USL Save of the Playoffs for his efforts against Nashville in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Kuzminsky denied Daniel Rios in the 85th minute to keep the Battery’s season alive after the Nashville forward slipped past Jarad van Schaik. Kuzminsky made six saves in the Battery’s two playoff matches and was on top of things for Charleston throughout the season.

Kuzminsky finished with 97 saves during the regular season, tied for third-most in the league, and registered 8 clean sheets. The third-year goalie earned Team of the Week Honors twice and took home Save of the Week honors in Week 20.

The Charleston Battery’s season came to an end Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to Nashville SC at First Tennessee Park in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Nashville will advance to play Indy Eleven in the semifinals next week.

Lobo Moloto got things started for Nashville in a first-half that featured three goals, split between the two sides. Matt LaGrassa jumped on a turnover from the Battery deep in their defensive third and picked out Moloto who was open inside the Charleston penalty area. It was a simple finish for Moloto who snuck a low shot past Joe Kuzminsky at the near post.

Zeiko Lewis responded with a converted penalty in the 39th minute to bring the Battery level. The penalty came after Angelo Kelly headed a failed Nashville clearance into the box, intended for Arthur Bosua but the forwards head was turned and it bounced off his back towards the top of the area. Nico Rittmeyer got a good jump on the ball and beat Forrest Lasso to it, with the former Battery defender sticking out a leg and bringing Rittmeyer down.

It looks as if the Battery would head into the break level, but Nashville’s main man, Daniel Ríos, restored the hosts’ lead just before halftime with his second goal against the Battery this season in the 43rd minute. Justin Davis whipped in a cross to a crowded penalty area and Ríos rose above the Charleston backline heading home past Kuzminsky. 

Charleston chased for an equalizing goal in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net. It wasn’t for a lack of chance though, beginning with AJ Paterson’s strike in the 53rd minute. Lewis found the attacking wing-back with a few yards of space at the top left corner of the box and, after taking a slight touch, Paterson fired a rocket beating Matt Pickens but not the right post. Bosua came close to redirecting a ball into Nashville’s net when Ataulla Guerra’s 75th-minute shot was blocked and made it’s way to the big man in front.  

Derrick Jones put the match away with a strong individual effort, scoring Nashville’s third of the match in the 88th minute. With everyone forward for Charleston, Jones collected a pass from a Nashville clearance and was off to the races. Kelly and Paterson recovered to slow Jones down but the twenty-two-year-old midfielder slipped past both defenders and eventually got a shot away while going to ground, beating Kuzminsky in the process.

Charleston end their playoff run after clinching a postseason spot in a 5-1 win at MUSC Health Stadium and ousting Ottawa in penalties on Wednesday. It was the twelfth straight postseason appearance for the Charleston Battery and the boys in Black and Yellow will look to extend their streak heading into next season.

BOXSCORE

NASHVILLE: Pickens, King (YC 38′), Davis (YC 85′), Ockford (YC 77′), Lasso, Akinyode, Washington, LaGrassa, Moloto (goal 10′, Jones 81′, goal 88′), Winn (Mensah 73′), Ríos (goal 43′, Kimura 90+1′)

Substitutes: Sparrow, Bourgeois, Kimura, Tribbett, Jones, Belmar, Mensah

CHARLESTON: Kuzminsky, Nelson (Marini 76′), Paterson, Mueller, van Schaik, Kelly, Rittmeyer (Daley 67′), Lewis (pen 35′), Higashi, Bosua (Svantesson 82′), Guerra

Substitutes: Breno, Candela, Marini, Mason, Daley, Piggott, Svantesson

Nashville SC are set to host the Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on October 26th at First Tennessee Park at 8:00 PM EST. Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth between the two teams, with both sides picking up home wins in the USL Championship regular season.

Charleston opened the season series with a 3-1 win in April at MUSC Health Stadium. Goals from Arthur Bosua and Jarad van Schaik lifted the Battery to a 3-0 lead before a late penalty from Daniel Ríos. In the reverse fixture, Kotaro Higashi scored his first goal of the season to give the Battery a late first half-lead. Ropapa Mensah leveled things early in the second half before Bolu Akinyode scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to win it for Nashville.

Nashville enters the playoffs having won four straight, and five of their last six. Over that span, Nashville have scored ten goals while allowing one and registered quality wins over Louisville City FC and North Carolina FC. Nashville finished the season with twenty wins, one of two teams in the USL Championship to do so, and a goal difference of +33, trailing only Phoenix Rising in that department.

Charleston have put together a run of three straight wins, which includes Wednesday nights play-in match against Ottawa Fury FC. Arthur Bosua and A.J. Paterson have provided the Battery a late-season spark, with the duo scoring two goals apiece in the regular-season finale against Bethlehem Steel FC. Bosua now sits second on the team in goals, only behind Zeiko Lewis, and Paterson checks in behind Bosua in third.

Daniel Ríos finished second in the Golden Boot race behind Phoenix Rising’s Solomon Asante. Ríos scored twenty goals in thirty-one appearances for Nashville this season and marks the second straight year the Mexican international has hit that mark. Over the last two seasons, Ríos has been one of the most efficient forwards in the league, scoring 40 goals on 143 attempts (27.9%) and leading the top five Golden Boot candidates with a goal per minute ratio of 123.5.

The over-reliance of Ríos to score goals could come back to bite Nashville against a strong defensive side in Charleston. Ríos has scored over a third of Nashville’s goals this season with Ropapa Mensah sitting in second with six goals. If the experienced pair of Taylor Mueller and Jarad van Schaik can keep Ríos from finding a rhythm early, Nashville may struggle to get past an in-form Battery defense.

Should Saturday’s match go to extra time and penalties, the Battery will be ready to go. Charleston converted on five consecutive penalties to eliminate Ottawa and knocked Nashville SC out of the U.S. Open Cup with similar precision. Phil Breno made two saves in the shootout while Zeiko Lewis, Leland Archer, and Ian Svantesson converted on their attempts to put their USL rivals out of the cup. Jarad van Schaik, who missed the lone penalty for the Battery against Nashville, won it against Ottawa and may be called upon to play hero on spot-kicks tomorrow.

A win for the Battery would see them through to the Eastern Conference Semifinals where they would face Indy Eleven or New York Red Bulls II during the first weekend of November. You can catch Saturday’s match on ESPN+.

The Charleston Battery will live to fight another day after a dramatic penalty shootout against Ottawa Fury FC on Wednesday night. The Battery and Fury FC were locked in a 1-1 draw after the opening ninety minutes and went scoreless in extra time. Charleston advanced on penalties 5-4.

It was a promising start for the boys in Black and Yellow in their ninth consecutive trip to the USL Championship Playoffs. Kotaro Higashi opened Charleston’s postseason account in the 27th minute to put the Battery up 1-0. An errant pass in the Ottawa midfield was intercepted by defender A.J. Paterson who wasted no time in playing to Higashi, who found himself in acres of space down the left-hand side. Higashi drove toward the Ottawa penalty area and did well to keep his composure as Nana Attakora attempted to close down the Japanese playmaker. Higashi attempted to curl a shot past Callum Irving who was able to get a hand to it but wasn’t strong enough to keep it out.

Onua Obasi and Mour Samb combined in the 40th minute to level things for the hosts. Obasi forced Nico Rittmeyer into a one on one down the left side and skipped Rittmeyer while Zeiko Lewis came down for support. Lewis did well in the challenge sending Obasi to ground but not before slipping a centering pass to Samb, who was positioned well inside the box. Samb was able to fire a quick, low shot past Joe Kuzminsky leaving the Battery keeper with no chance at making a save.

Samb and Fury FC continued to battle for a winner, and Ottawa’s goal scorer gave the Charleston backline trouble all night. Samb picked out teammate Wal Fall at the top of the Battery eighteen in the 61st minute and Fall sent a curling effort in that caromed off Kuzminsky’s crossbar.

Kuzminsky and Taylor Mueller kept the Battery in the dying seconds off stoppage time sending the match to penalties. Carl Haworth lined up a late free-kick and sent a dangerous ball into the Charleston area where it dropped for Samb. Samb’s shot was initially saved by Kuzminsky who was unable to control and the loose ball rolled to the path of a charging Thomas Meilleur-Giguère. Kuzminsky and Mueller both challenged for the ball and it was Mueller who got a foot in to knock it out for an Ottawa corner. The Battery were able to clear the ensuing corner and the referee blew for full time.

Fall took the first penalty for Ottawa and put Fury FC in front with a 1-0 advantage. Lewis matched Fall’s converted penalty with one of his own before the two teams matched each other’s next two attempts. Tied at 3-3, Samb stepped up for Ottawa but sent his try off the bar, opening the door for Charleston to take the lead. Ian Svantesson kept his cool on the fourth and Jarad van Schaik won it with the fifth.

The Battery will square off against Nashville SC on Saturday, October 26th at 8:00 PM EST. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

BOXSCORE

OTTAWA: Irving, Haworth, Obasi (Boskovic 120+2′), Meilleur-Giguere, Attakora (Gagnon-Laparé 120+2′), Ward, Mannella (Thiago 79′), Fall (YC 117′), Barry, François (Oliveira 71′), Mour Samb (goal 40′)

Substitutes: Monsalve, Boskovic, Dixon, Oliveira, Thiago, Coupland

CHARLESTON: Kuzminsky, Paterson, van Schaik, Mueller, van Schaik, Kelly (Svantesson 120+1′), Rittmeyer (Candela 89′), Lewis (YC 117′), Higashi (goal 27′, Piggott 90′), Bosua, Daley (Marini 76′ YC 116′)

Substitutes: Breno, Candela, Marini, Mason, Piggott, Posnanski, Svantesson

Penalties: Fall (1), Lewis (1), Haworth (2), Bosua (2), Barry (3), Marini (3), Samb (miss), Svantesson (4), Thiago (4), van Schaik (5)

The Charleston Battery square off against Ottawa Fury FC on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM at TD Place Stadium in a first-round play-in match of the USL Championship Playoffs. It’s win or go home for the Battery who punched their ticket to the postseason with a 5-1 win against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday afternoon.

Ottawa booked their first-ever trip to the USL Championship Playoffs with a 2-1 road win against Swope Park on October 8th. Wal Fall converted on a late penalty in the first-half before Swope Park’s Zé Pedro equalized in the 85th minute. Kévin Oliveira scored four minutes later to win it for Fury FC.

The Battery are no strangers to postseason play as their 5-1 win against Bethlehem Steel on Saturday afternoon secured a twelfth straight playoff appearance (ninth in the USL Championship era). Forwards Arthur Bosua and Ataulla Guerra scored Charleston’s first three goals while A.J. Paterson finished things off with two goals in the final ten minutes of the match.

Charleston took one point in two regular-season meetings between the Canadian side opening the season with a 1-1 draw. It was Ottawa who took an early lead when Oliveira slipped one past Joe Kuzminsky five minutes into the match. Romario Piggott and the Battery thought they drew level in the 17th minute but Piggott was ultimately ruled offside and the goal was disallowed. Ian Svantesson’s second-half goal earned a point for the Black and Yellow after the forward collected a second chance ball inside the box and tapped home.

The Battery suffered a 3-2 loss in their last trip to TD Bank Stadium. Vincenzo Candela scored his first goal for the Battery but it was Ottawa captain, Carl Haworth, who stole the show. Haworth brought the hosts level with a free kick in the 29th minute and a second in the 74th. Substitute, Zeiko Lewis, would make it a game in the 84th combining with Angelo Kelly for a quick one-two in the box. Elhadji Mour Samb restored the Fury FC lead in the 87th minute as the Battery were unable to grab a late equalizer.

Despite Ottawa’s positioning in the Eastern Conference Fury FC has been solid at home this year, finishing the regular season with a 10-2-5 record and a +12 goal differential. Ottawa have won three of their last four at home while scoring seven goals and allowing just two. A major reason for Ottawa’s home success this season has been Haworth and his ability to score goals while creating chances for his teammates. Fury FC’s captain shares the team lead for goals scored (10) and ranks in the top-10 in the Eastern Conference in chances created (63). If Haworth is at the top of his game Wednesday night, Ottawa will be a tough out for the Battery.

The Black and Yellow enter the postseason in form and will look to avoid another early exit from the playoffs. Arthur Bosua and Zeiko Lewis have led the Battery to back to back wins and should feature once again against Ottawa. Lewis was recently named USL Player of the Week for his recent performances against Memphis 901 FC and Bethlehem Steel FC while Bosua has scored three goals in his last two starts for the club. Mix in an attacking threat from full-back’s Kyle Nelson and A.J. Paterson and you have a recipe for a dangerous attack. An experienced backline, led by Taylor Mueller and Jarad van Schaik, will look to keep Haworth and co. off the scoresheet Wednesday night.

Don’t miss a minute of the 2019 USL Championship Playoff action with all postseason matches being streamed live on ESPN+.