USL Charleston Battery

Battery Travel to Tulsa for Interconference Clash

Published on April 19, 2024 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Battery hit the road again for Week 7 to take on FC Tulsa on Sat., April 20. Kickoff at ONEOK Field is set for 6 p.m. ET and the match will air on ESPN+.

Charleston and Tulsa clash for the first and only time in the regular season as the Oklahoma outfit moved to the Western Conference prior to the start of the 2024 campaign. The Battery won their last trip to ONEOK Field, a 1-2 triumph with goals by Nick Markanich and Dante Polvara.

The Battery (4W-0L-3D, 15pts) enter Saturday's contest on the heels of back-to-back wins in a busy Week 6 slate. Charleston topped Louisville City FC, 3-2, on Tuesday and downed Indy Eleven, 2-4, on Saturday. Markanich was named Week 6 Player of the Week for his performances, and Emilio Ycaza and Ben Pirmann additionally earned Team of the Week nods.

Tulsa (1W-2L-1D, 5pts) head into this weekend following a busy week of their own after a 2-1 victory over Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round on Wednesday. In league play, Tulsa earned an impressive 1-1 draw against conference co-leaders Sacramento Republic FC. Tulsa have played only four games in the Championship so far, the fewest in their conference.

Looking at the standings, Charleston are first in the Eastern Conference and Tulsa are ninth in the Western Conference.

Storylines of the Match

New Waters to Charter - The Battery are undefeated through the first seven matches of the USL Championship season, which matches the mark the 2023 team achieved before being dealt their first loss. A win or draw on Saturday to make it eight game undefeated would surpass last year's feat.

High Octane Offenses - Heading into Saturday, Charleston rank third in goals scored per match (2) and Tulsa rank fifth (1.8). Additionally, Charleston are second in shots on target per match (6.6) and Tulsa are sixth (5.3). Given the liveliness of both team's attacking corps, it's possible Saturday's duel could turn into a high-scoring shootout.

Road Warriors - The Battery have racked up plenty of miles to their account to start this year, with a league-high five away matches to date. Despite the constant travel, Charleston have persevered to sport the best away record in the Championship (2W-0L-3D, 9pts). This compares favorably to the 2023 squad who held the best away record in the league.

Keep the Pace - Charleston have been among the top performers through the first month-and-a-half of play and are currently top of the league table. Nick Markanich was named Week 6 Player of the Week and is currently second in goals (6) and goals + assists (6G, 1A). Adam Grinwis is tied for the league lead in shutouts (3) and Graham Smith is tied for the league lead in clearances (39). Aaron Molloy has the most accurate long balls per 90 (9) and the second-most chances created (18).

Advantage in the Series - In the all-time history between the sides, the Battery hold a 3W-1L-0D record over Tulsa. Charleston swept last year's matches in Tulsa (1-2) and the Lowcountry (2-1). There is yet to be a draw in the fixture.

Dean's Debut - USL Academy signing Matthew Dean made his professional debut against Indy, coming off the bench to help see out the victory. Dean is one of three Academy signings on the team and first arrived in Charleston for an open tryout before earning his way to a roster spot.

Milestone Watch - Emilio Ycaza is approaching the century mark for appearances in the USL Championship regular season. The midfielder currently sits at 99.

MATCH INFO

FC Tulsa vs. Charleston Battery

Saturday, April 20 - 6 p.m. ET Kickoff

ONEOK Field

HOW TO WATCH:

Saturday's match will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league's YouTube channel for free internationally.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 19, 2024


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