:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45973974/usa-today-8427554.0.jpg)
The Week That Was
I can't say I'm 100% sure, but I'm fairly confident the start of Saturday's debut didn't go as the Battery wanted it to. By the 15th minute, Battery supporters saw their club already down 2-0. Some teams, especially in game one, would have rolled over and accepting the loss. But not Charleston! They roared back with a goal from forward Dane Kelly, followed by a score from Shawn Ferguson. With the score level early in stoppage time, Taylor Mueller netted the winner amongst the chaos in front of the net off of a corner kick. Coming back in their first contest was a huge confidence boost for the club moving forward!
Charleston 3 - Toronto FC II 2
Goals- Dane Kelly 38', Shawn Ferguson 55', Taylor Mueller 90'+
The Good Guys- Charleston Battery (1-0)
Dane Kelly, Shawn Ferguson and Quinton Griffith were selected for the USL's Team of the Week. Captain Jarad van Schaik was selected as a reserve.
Sebastien Thuriere has been called up by the Haitian national team for a pair of friendlies in China and he will miss this contest vs. the Independence. He is expected to return in time for the next match.
The Bad Guys- Charlotte Independence (0-0)
With such large growth in the USL, we see another matchup against a new club. Unlike Toronto FC 2, we have some knowledge of Charlotte to guide us. Their manager, Mike Jeffries, brings not only MLS experience coaching the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), but he was also a player on the USMNT and a lead scout for former USMNT boss Bob Bradley. Their roster has some holdovers from the Charlotte Eagles, now of the PDL. Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo was a national champion at Virginia and is returning from an Achilles injury last campaign. A USL mainstay, Columbian forward Jorge Herrera looks to provide the bulk of the scoring. Other notables include midfielder Enzo Martinez, forward Jack Thompson and defenders Brandon Fricke and Patrick Slogic.
The Dirty Details
Friday March 27th 7:30 p.m. EST Kickoff
Transamerica Field
Watch it live here.
The Hired Guns
Houston Dynamo Homegrown product and loanee Memo Rodriguez entered as a sub for the Battery in the 78th minute compiling no statistics in his first professional action. Rookie Oumar Ballo did not see any action, but is eagerly awaiting helping his Battery teammates in future matches.
The Dancing Defender
When asked who the best dancer on the team is, a strong vote for Quinton "Q" Griffith was cast. To that he laughed, and when asked what his go-to dance was, he said it's easier to show than tell. I think we can all relate to that, I'm not sure what I'd title my favorite little shimmy either. Another name to keep an eye on in the dance department I'm told is Navion Boyd.