NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Charleston Battery

Battery Picks up Seven Contract Options; 2016 Roster Grows to 11 Players

January 27, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON - The Charleston Battery has taken contract options on seven players from the 2015 roster, club General Manager and Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser announced Wednesday.

Per club policy, contract details remain private.

Fullback Emmanuel Adjetey, 27, joined the club in 2015 after playing in Charleston on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps' PDL team in 2013-14. The former Ghana U-17 player had 25 starts in 26 USL appearances for the Battery last season, logging more than 2,100 minutes. His steady play on the left earned him two starts on the USL Team of the Week.

Midfielder Maikel Chang, 24, enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 (his third with the club), leading the Battery in USL assists (six) during his second year as a primary starter in midfield. The former Cuban International also scored three goals in USL play and collected an additional assist in U.S. Open Cup play. He made 23 starts in 26 league appearances and registered more than 2,000 minutes, earning one start on the USL Team of the Week.

Former Cuban international Odisnel Cooper, 23, has spent three seasons as the Battery's primary starter in goal. He put in his best professional season in 2015, finishing with six shutouts in a 10-2-7 record, a .735 save percentage, and a 0.95 goals-against average. Cooper was voted team MVP, earned two starting nods on the league Team of the Week, and was a finalist for USL Goalkeeper of the Year.

USL rookie Kevin Corby had a successful professional debut with the Battery in 2015, working in extended relief of primary starter Odisnel Cooper. The 24-year-old St. Louis native made eight starts, producing two shutouts, a .769 save percentage, a 1.12 goals-against average and a 2-3-3 won-loss-draw record.

Battery 2015 Newcomer of the Year Ricardo "Ricky" Garbanzo - a native of Costa Rica who grew up in Rock Hill, S.C., before attending Coastal Carolina University in Conway - emerged from pre-season as an opening-night starter. The 23-year-old forward produced six goals and five assists across all competitions, with 20 starts in 27 USL appearances. He was named to the USL Team of the Week twice.

Center back Forrest Lasso, 22, came to the Battery as a 2015 rookie via Raleigh, N.C., and a decorated career at Wofford University. With few opportunities available to test his new acquisition in the Battery's deep defensive rotation (11 appearances, 4 starts and 413 minutes in USL), Anhaeuser began deploying the 6-5 aerial specialist as a substitute forward. The move paid off spectacularly in the playoffs, when Lasso's powerful set-piece header in Added Extra Time completed a two-goal Battery comeback to defeat Richmond and advance to the Conference Semi-finals.

Versatile defender Taylor Mueller, 27, established himself as one of the most reliable central defenders in USL in 2015, his fourth year with the Battery. Mueller logged 25 starts, 28 appearances, 2,265 minutes, two assists and two goals, including the dramatic Opening Night match-winner. He was named to the league's Team of the Week three times, twice as a starter.

The options bring the number of players under contract with the Battery to 10. Also returning from the 2015 roster is fullback/midfielder Quinton Griffith. Midfielder Justin Portillo and defender Shawn Ferguson, who both played with the team last season, agreed to new contracts with the club earlier this month.

An 11th player, 23-year-old goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis, is expected to join the club on loan from Battery affiliate Atlanta United FC. The 2017 MLS expansion team announced both his signing and his loan on Jan. 25.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from January 27, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central