Carson's Charleston Charge: Week 3 vs. Harrisburg City

The Week That Was

It was another game and another 3 points for the Charleston Battery, the USL affiliate of the Houston Dynamo. I think we can get used to this! Not only was it another victory, but another victory against a new USL unit. The Charlotte Independence started off with a big ZERO in the points department. The game saw Maikel Chang finding Heviel Cordoves for a beautiful goal in the early portions of the game. However, Jack Thompson, via a smooth find by Jorge Herrera, found the net to level the score. Rather than just bask in the glory of a road draw, the Battery kept the ball moving forward and this time it was rookie Ricky Garbanzo scoring the go-ahead goal off an assist from Cordoves. For the second time of the match, the Chang to Cordoves Cuban connection found the back of the net. With the score 3-1, Charleston relented a penalty kick, which Ryan Finley capitalized on. Surviving a few more quality chances, in part thanks to some clutch clearances from super sub Austin Savage, the Battery held on to a 3-2 victory in Charlotte.

Charleston 3 - Charlotte 2

Battery Goals: Cordoves 10' 39', Garbanzo 20'

The Good Guys- Charleston Battery (2-0-0)

As you can imagine from The Week That Was, Heviel Cordoves found his way onto the USL team of the week. Finishing with 2 goals and 1 assist, Cordoves was a huge part of stealing three crucial points on the road.

I'm not positive of the cat years to human years conversion, but El Gato, Odisnel Cooper turned 23 yesterday. So, Feliz Cumpleaños Odisnel!

Sebastien Thuriere returned after missing the contest against Charlotte. His Haitian National team played to a 2-2 draw against the Chinese National team.

Also missing Friday's match was forward Dane Kelly, who was recovering from injury. He is back to scrimmaging this week in training and should be ready to go against Harrisburg City.

The Bad Guys- Harrisburg City Islanders (0-1-0)

The lone result for Harrisburg City came last week in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the 2014 USL affiliate of the Houston Dynamo.

The USL affiliate of the MLS's Philadelphia Union, the Islanders have made their way to the USL finals in 2011 and last year, 2014.

An investment already paying dividends, Union loanee Zach Pfeffer found the net in the Islanders first contest. The other goal was scored by Garret Pettis on a penalty kick.

Having only missed the playoffs twice in club history, the Islanders are a team to watch, year in and year out.

The Dirty Details

Saturday, April 4th. 7:30 pm.

Blackbaud Stadium

Watch it live here.

The Hired Guns

Dynamo Homegrown product Memo Rodriguez was again a second half sub for the Battery. Oumar Ballo continues to work hard in training as he waits for his chance to help Charleston on the pitch.

The Ultimate Fitness Display

Winning a soccer match is no small feat in the fitness department, especially a highly competitive, physical match against a nearby rival. Any normal team would enjoy their victory and get back to training a day or two later. Well, the Battery are not a normal team...at all. Rather than bask in their victory for the weekend, 10 of the Charleston players decided to get some work in...RUNNING A 10K! After arriving back to Charleston from Charlotte at 2 am Saturday, the Battery contingent, some attended but didn't run, were up and at em' at 5 am! They participated in the Cooper River Bridge Run, with Clemson grad Austin Savage leading our boys with a 40:48 10K. Needless to say, they are some crazy individuals and I am a touch out of breath just writing about this insanity!