Carson's Charleston Charge: Week 5 vs. New York Red Bulls II

The Week That Was: Winning Without Playing A Game

Usually here I would be telling you about Maikel Chang feeding a gorgeous through ball to Cordo or Dane, but last week was occupied by no games. However, four Battery players were apart of something much bigger than a soccer match. 12-year-old Joey Benton and his family have been Battery season ticket holders for 3 years now and love their Charleston club. However, their attention is unfortunately focused on something a lot less enjoyable than taking in a game at Blackbaud Stadium, Joey has Cystic Fibrosis.

A talented left back himself for his U12 Summerville Soccer Club, he had plenty of questions to ask Jarad van Shaik, Odisnel Cooper, Austin Savage, and Taylor Muelller when they visited him at the hospital during their bye week. The questions were flying in both directions, as Joey absorbed as much soccer knowledge from the guys as they did about the struggle he's currently going through. Savage described Joey as not only hilarious and upbeat, but after hearing some of the things he's going through, a warrior. I look forward to Joey suiting up for the Battery at LB in a handful of years, we could always use another warrior on our club! I will keep everyone posted on his progress, and

Joey, The Battery and their supporters love you and we look forward to getting you the heck out of that hospital soon buddy!

The Good Guys- Charleston Battery (3-0-0)

Unfortunately with having no game, we had no players named to the USL Team of the Week. However, after having a week to recharge their batteries, pun intended, we should see a Charleston contingent return to form this week after their match with New York Red Bulls II.

The Bad Guys- New York Red Bulls II (1-1-1)

New York Red Bulls II has fared differently in all three of their games so far in their debut campaign, a draw with Rochester, a win vs. Toronto FC II and last week a loss to Wilmington. They find themselves right in the middle of the Eastern Conference. The main difference this week is it's the first road contest of the season for RBNY2, as their first three matches were at Red Bull Arena. Leo Stoltz leads the club with 6 shots and is one of four players to score a goal this season. Shawn McLaws, Anatole Abang, and Marius Obekop are the other 3 with one goal. Obekop and Stoltz, alongside Manolo Sanchez and Santiago Castano are the four loanees from the MLS side, New York Red Bulls.

The Dirty Details

Saturday April 18th, 7:30 pm kickoff.

Blackbaud Stadium

Watch it live here.

The Hired Guns

Houston Dynamo loanees Memo Rodriguez and Oumar Ballo were both slated to participate in the first FIFA 15 tournament of the year, but results were not available at press time.

The Anthem

Earlier this year, local band First World Problems composed an official fight song for the Battery titled We The Fleet. It's now available to hear below, or of course, at Blackbaud Stadium on match days! Make sure to like the band's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FirstWorldProblemBand