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USL Charleston Battery

Dane Kelly, Taylor Mueller Named to USL Team of the Week

June 30, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
(Charleston Battery)

CHARLESTON - Louisville forward Matt Fondy's hat-trick against Oklahoma City edged past Dane Kelly's spectacular brace against Harrisburg for Player of the Week honors, but Kelly and teammate Taylor Mueller earned spots on the USL's Team of the Week.

Kelly secured his spot on the first team with his best league performance of the year. The 24-year-old Jamaican opening the scoring in Charleston's 4-1 deconstruction of Harrisburg in the second minute, running down a long pass from Mueller, winning a challenge, slashing in toward the right post with the ball and then beating defender and goalkeeper with sizzling shot that snuck beneath the scrambling City Islanders.

Before the half, Kelly would return the favor by setting up Mueller for his goal - at least indirectly. Kelly drew a foul just beyond the penalty area on the left, and Justin Portillo's diagonal free kick deflected just slightly as it came through traffic. Mueller - a center back who had come forward to lurk above the back post on the set piece - was marked on the play, yet managed to react perfectly. His first-time volley proved unstoppable, and provided what would ultimately be the winning goal.

Kelly wrapped up his night in the second half with a strike that USL has been replaying on social media ever since. In the 62nd minute, Kelly received a layoff pass from midfielder Zach Prince above the right corner of the penalty area, touched it a few times toward the center of the pitch, and then blasted the ball to the near-post upper 90 from just above 22-yard arc.

For Kelly, it would be his second appearance as a starter on a 2015 Team of the Week, and his first since Week 1 - when he was joined on the roster by Mueller and two other Battery players.

Mueller, who has earned two previous first-team TotW appearances this season, was voted to the Week 15 squad as a reserve. In addition to his goal - an excellent finish overshadowed only by the artistry of Kelly's two scores - Mueller led a stout defensive effort that held Harrisburg scoreless from the run of play. The Islanders' only goal came from a penalty kick awarded in the 89th minute.

Battery players have been voted to 18 appearances on Teams of the Week this season, with 13 of those on the first team. Mueller leads the team in appearances with three, while Kelly, Quinton Griffith, Justin Portillo, Jarad van Schaik and Ricky Garbanzo each have two. Eleven Battery players have received the honor this year.

Despite that success, no Charleston player has yet been selected Player of the Week. Kelly seemed to have an inside track on the award Saturday night, but was upstaged by Louisville star Fondy. His three goals in a 6-2 win over the Oklahoma City Energy received the most votes from a panel of soccer writers who cover each of the league's 24 teams.

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Images from this story

Dane Kelly of the Charleston Battery
Dane Kelly of the Charleston Battery
 Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
 Dane Kelly of the Charleston Battery
Dane Kelly of the Charleston Battery
Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
Taylor Mueller of the Charleston Battery
   

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 30, 2015


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