Battery End Kickers' Undefeated Streak

August 5, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Battery became the first team to defeat the Richmond Kickers this season as Mike Azira scored twice in a 5-2 victory at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,460 fans on Saturday night. The Kickers' USL PRO-record undefeated streak had reached 22 games, but the Battery took some revenge on their long-time rival for defeat in their first meeting of the season as they maintained their hold on fourth place in the USL PRO standings.

The Battery grabbed the lead midway through the first half with two goals in three minutes, with Bryce Alderson setting up Colin Falvey for the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Jose Cuevas then played provider for Azira's first of the night as he intercepted a pass in midfield before sliding a pass forward that the Ugandan fired home into the left corner of the net.

Richmond pulled a goal back just before the halftime whistle as Alex Lee scored his first professional goal on a flicked header. Charleston restored its two-goal lead four minutes into the second half through Dane Kelly, giving the Battery forward his eighth of the season. Richmond again pulled within a goal as Matt Delicâte scored with 18 minutes to go, but Azira's second in the 84th minute gave the cushion they needed to seal the victory.

Heviel Cordoves capped the Battery's win with a goal in stoppage time. Charleston now holds a five-point advantage on the four teams below it in the bottom four playoff berths, and is within two points of Harrisburg with three games remaining. The Kickers, meanwhile, were able to hold onto their six-point lead at the top of the standings after Orlando City fell to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night.

WEDNESDAY

HARRISBURG 3, PHOENIX 1: Matt Bahner and Jamiel Hardware each scored their first professional goals as the Harrisburg City Islanders defeated Phoenix FC at Reach 11 Stadium. Bahner opened the scoring in the 24th minute as the City Islanders had the better of the first half, but the Wolves hit back five minutes after the break as Donny Toia scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

The City Islanders regained the lead as Lucky Mkosana scored in his fourth consecutive game at the midway point of the second half, however, and Hardware would cap the performance in the final minute.

FRIDAY

PITTSBURGH 2, TAMPA BAY 1: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds rallied to take victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium as second-half goals by Robert Vincent and Rich Costanzo gave their side a big boost in the pursuit of a place in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay had taken a 36th minute lead after Tony Donatelli put home a finish after a scramble in the penalty area, but the Riverhounds were able to hit back nine minutes into the second half as Vincent fired a shot into the top corner of the net. Costanzo added a second in the 58th minute after a good piece of individual work to give Pittsburgh a crucial three points.

WILMINGTON 2, CHARLESTON 1: The Wilmington Hammerheads kept their slim playoff hopes alive as goals by Kyle Greig and Mickael Oliveira lifted their side to victory against the Charleston Battery at Legion Stadium.

The Hammerheads took the lead six minutes before halftime as Greig scored his fourth goal of the season. The Battery were then reduced to 10 men nine minutes into the second half as Quinton Griffith was sent off after an altercation that also saw a pair of cautions issued. Wilmington doubled its advantage through Oliveira with 16 minutes to go, and while Heviel Cordoves was able to pull a goal back in stoppage time for the Battery, the Hammerheads were able to hold on for victory.

RICHMOND 1, CHARLOTTE 0: Joseph Ngwenya scored the only goal as the Richmond Kickers extended their undefeated streak to a USL PRO-record 22 games with victory against the Charlotte Eagles at Queens Sports Complex. The victorywin guaranteed the Kickers a home game in the quarterfinals of the USL PRO Playoffs later this month.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock in the opening hour, but a moment of hesitation by Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Reed provided the opening for Ngwenya to head home a cross by Nate Robinson for the only goal in the 72nd minute as the Kickers capitalized on their strong performance in the second half.

DAYTON 3, ROCHESTER 1: The Dayton Dutch Lions rallied to score three goals in five minutes as they took victory against the Rochester Rhinos in a game shortened by lightning at Sahlen's Stadium. The loss eliminated the Rhinos from playoff contention, marking the first time the side will miss the postseason in its 18-season history.

Rochester took the lead just before the halftime break as JC Banks controlled and hit a turning shot from inside the penalty area into the right corner of the net. Dayton hit back at the hour mark, however, as Greg Preciado poked home a finish after a scramble in the penalty area. Two minutes later the Dutch Lions had the lead as Eli Garner's cross set up Brandon Swartzendruber for the finish.

Dayton added a third in the 65th minute as Gibson Bardsley took advantage of some miscommunication in the Rhinos defense, and two minutes following that the teams were removed from the field after lightning strikes were seen in the area. Following a long delay, the game was called, ending Rochester's hopes of a dramatic late-season surge to the postseason.

SATURDAY

PITTSBURGH 1, ORLANDO 0: Ryan Kinne scored the only goal as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds took victory against Orlando City at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The win allowed the Riverhounds to sweep their trip to Florida, and move into a four-way tie for fifth place with four games remaining in their season.

After a scoreless first half, the Riverhounds took the lead in the 52nd minute as Stefan Lundberg was played in on the left side and centered for Kinne, who headed home. The Riverhounds were able to keep their shape well defensively as Greg Blum recorded the shutout as he helped push his side toward the postseason.

LOS ANGELES 2, HARRISBURG 2: The Los Angeles Blues rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a point against the Harrisburg City Islanders at Anteater Stadium. Matt Fondy had the game-tying goal for the Blues as the City Islanders took four points from their trip to the west coast.

Harrisburg had the better of the first half, and took the lead in the 38th minute as Lucky Mkosana continued his run of form with his seventh goal in his past five games. The City Islanders doubled their lead in the 49th minute as Stephen Basso converted from the penalty spot after Cris Hernandez was brought down in the penalty area, but the Blues were able to hit back through George Davis IV six minutes later to halve the deficit. Los Angeles was able to find an equalizer with five minutes to go as Fondy tucked home a cross by Maykel Galindo to leave the teams tied.

SUNDAY

ORLANDO 3, TAMPA BAY 0: Orlando City took a convincing victory in the first meeting between the two Florida rivals as goals by Christian Duke, Rob Valentino and Freddie Braun earned victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium.

Sporting Kansas City loanees Duke and C.J. Sapong linked up to give the Lions the lead in the 16th minute, and Orlando doubled its advantage just before the halftime break as Rob Valentino headed home a free kick by Luke Boden. Braun capped the victory eight minutes into the second half as he put away a rebound.

WILMINGTON 1, DAYTON 0: The Wilmington Hammerheads kept their playoff hopes alive as Kyle Greig scored the only goal in an impressive victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions at Beavercreek Stadium. The 2012 finalist Hammerheads need victory in each of their final three games to have a chance to return to the postseason.

The Hammerheads took the lead just before the hour mark as Greig was able to head home a corner kick by Shawn Nicklaw. Wilmington goalkeeper Phil Tuttle finished the game with six saves to close out the victory as the Hammerheads eked out a vital victory.

STANDINGS (Through August 4)

Team GP W L T GF GA GD Points

p-Richmond 23 13 1 9 43 21 +22 48

p-Orlando 22 13 3 6 48 22 +26 45

p-Harrisburg 23 13 8 2 50 33 +17 41

Charleston 23 11 6 6 43 27 +16 39

Dayton 23 9 7 7 37 38 -1 34

Los Angeles 24 9 8 7 48 35 +13 34

Charlotte 22 8 4 10 34 34 0 34

Pittsburgh 22 9 6 7 31 25 +6 34

Tampa Bay 22 9 9 4 33 27 +6 31

Wilmington (-1) 23 8 11 4 25 36 -11 27

x-Phoenix 24 5 12 7 25 36 -11 22

x-Rochester 23 4 9 10 19 34 -15 22

x-Antigua 23 0 23 0 10 79 -69 0

p - clinched place in playoffs

x - eliminated from playoff contention

RESULTS

Wednesday, July 31

Harrisburg 3, Phoenix 1

Friday, August 2

Richmond 1, Charlotte 0 Wilmington 2, Charleston 1 Pittsburgh 2, Tampa Bay 1

Dayton 3, Rochester 1

Saturday, August 3

Charleston 5, Richmond 2

Pittsburgh 1, Orlando 0

Los Angeles 2, Harrisburg 2

Sunday, August 4

Wilmington 1, Dayton 0

Orlando 3, Tampa Bay 0

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 7

Charlotte at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, August 8

Charleston at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET

Friday, August 9

Dayton at Wilmington, 7:30 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh at Rochester, 7:35 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 10

Antigua at Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. ET

Dayton at Richmond, 7 p.m. ET

Charleston at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 11

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m. ET

Seattle Reserves at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 5, 2013

• Call To Action: Attend August 6 & 9 County Meetings - Orlando City SC
• Orlando City Plays VSI Tampa Bay Wednesday - Orlando City SC
• Battery End Kickers' Undefeated Streak - USL
• Eagles Travel to Harrisburg Looking to Get Back on Track - Charlotte Eagles

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