USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery set for Rhinos

Published on June 27, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery takes on the Rochester Rhinos Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium; gates open at 6:30 PM with kick off set for 7:30 PM ($8 - $15, 971-GOAL / www.charlestonbattery.com). The Battery (6-3-3, 21 points) would move into first position in the USL First Division with a win; Charleston enters the game two points behind the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps who do not play this weekend.

The Battery has played Rochester twice already this year winning both games. The first was a 2-0 victory at Blackbaud Stadium on May 2; Randi Patterson and Aaron King supplied the goals. Charleston also won in Rochester on May 17 with the lone goal scored by Randi Patterson.

Rochester is unbeaten since losing 1-0 to the Battery back in May; the Rhinos tied 3-3 with the Carolina RailHawks in their last league game played last Friday night. Forward Mauricio Salles leads the Rhinos offense with four goals and two assists

The Battery's last league match was a 1-1 tie with the Minnesota Thunder last Friday night. Charleston took the lead with a headed goal in the second half by Lazo Alavanja but could not hold on for the win. The Battery played the Thunder without forward Randi Patterson who served a one-game suspension; Patterson will be available for selection Saturday night.

In 2007 the Battery tied the Rhinos 1-1 in the game played at Blackbaud Stadium. Charleston lost 5-2 in the return match played at PaeTek Park in Rochester.

The Rhinos lost in the first round of the playoffs last year after making it to the championship game in 2006. Rochester has won the USL first Division Championship on three occasions (1998, 2000 & 2001) and is also the only non MLS side to win the US Open Cup (1999) since the inception of Major League Soccer.

The Rhinos appointed former player Darren Tilley as head coach during the off-season. Tilley played for Rochester from 1998 - 2000 and was a member of the 1998 championship winning team and the 1999 US Open Cup winning team.

Charleston and Rochester both won midweek in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and advance to the third round to face MLS opposition next Tuesday night (July 1). The Battery plays the current MLS Champions, the Houston Dynamo at Blackbaud Stadium; Rochester takes on DC United at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

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USL First Division Stories from June 27, 2008


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