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Charleston Battery

Charleston Battery vs. Toronto FC II Preview

March 19, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston Battery vs. Toronto FC II Preview
Charleston Battery vs. Toronto FC II Preview
(Charleston Battery)

CHARLESTON -- Preseason is a proving ground. Carolina Challenge Cup is a party. But the Charleston Battery haven't played a match that counted since September.

Coach Mike Anhaeuser's squad gets down to business on Saturday with its 2015 USL Regular Season kickoff against expansion Toronto FC II, the new USL franchise operated by Toronto FC of Major League soccer. The match at Blackbaud stadium begins at 7:30 p.m. (tickets start at $10 and available online here or over the phone at 843.971.GOAL).

The Battery -- with a 22-man roster, a 7-1-2 preseason record and an emerging depth chart -- are a fairly well-known commodity. The "Baby Reds," remain largely an enigma.

SCOUTING THE BATTERY

Since the team began training in earnest at the end of the first week of February, Anhaeuser's 2015 unit has taken on an increasingly recognizable style and form. The coach has most often deployed his players in a base 4-2-3-1, a shape that's distinct from last season in that it pairs central midfielders Justin Portillo and new team captain Jarad van Schaik in a deeper role.

Dane Kelly

With unusual depth on this year's roster, Anhaeuser has experimented with multiple starting lineups. The group that seems to be his preferred starters in most situations has been fullbacks Obi Woodbine and Quinton Griffith, center backs Taylor Mueller and Shawn Ferguson, defensive midfielders Portillo and van Schaik, midfielders Zach Prince, Dante Marini and Navion Boyd, and forward Dane Kelly.

The defense has been stellar so far, yielding just five goals to opposing players in 10 matches, six of those against professional teams from the upper two divisions. Getting the attack into the groove -- particularly 2013-14 leading scorer Dane Kelly -- will be a key.

Woodbine and Boyd were still awaiting clearance on Thursday morning, as were Houston players Memo Rodriguez and Oumar Ballo.

SCOUTING THE REDS

Jordan Hamilton

Jordan Hamilton, the Toronto FC forward who lifted Wilmington Hammerheads during 11 appearances on loan in 2014 headlines an opening weekend traveling roster that includes seven players from Major League Soccer, nine players from the TFC II's USL roster, four Toronto Academy teenagers, and defender Daniel Fabrizi, whose roster status was not immediately apparent.:

Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, who also served a loan stint in Wilmington last season, is also on the roster, as is Syracuse goalkeeper Alex Bono, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 MLS Superdraft. Defender Ashtone Morgan, considered at one time the prototype modern MLS fullback, is joined by fellow MLS reserve midfielders Jay Chapman, Chris Mannella and Manuel Aparicio.

The team's USL-contract core includes eight 2015 Toronto MLS draftees and USL signings: Clement Simonin, Wesley Charpie, Skylar Thomas, Sal Bernal, Edwin Rivas, Mo Babouli, Mark Anthony Kaye and Luca Uccello. Massimo Mirabelli, who played last season for Edmundton FC, is also on the travel roster.

The list gives Anhaeuser some idea who his team might face Saturday, but paperwork still needs to clear USL before some of these players become eligible for league competition.

Mike Anhaeuser

"We talked about it yesterday," Anhaeuser said after Thursday's morning training session. "You can't prepare. They'll probably play a 4-4-2 with a diamond in the midfield, because that's how the first team played the first two games. That's how they're set up. But you can't prepare for players until they get off the plane tomorrow.

"But we've done a great job this preseason not worrying about what other people are going to do, and doing what we do well.

"We're at home. We're going pressure. It's always different in your home opener because of nerves, but we've done things so well in almost nine of our 10 games that if we come out and do that, we're going to be successful."

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Charleston Battery vs. Toronto FC II Preview
Charleston Battery vs. Toronto FC II Preview
   

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