Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com
Saturday, April 30, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC - The Charleston Battery (3-1-1) was held to a scoreless draw by their USL PRO rivals, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1-2-1), Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,079. Despite out shooting Pittsburgh 17-6 the Battery could not find a way past a resilient Riverhounds defense and their goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap.
The game doubled as a fundraiser for the Lowcountry affiliate of the Susan G Komen Foundation and Dragon Boat Charleston; the Battery players wore special custom pink jerseys for the game that were auctioned off after the match.
“It’s disappointing to not get the three points,” said Charleston Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser. “I put all our weapons in there early, but we just couldn’t get the shots off that we needed to break them down.”
The Battery started off the game with a strong run in the first 30 seconds. With a burst of speed, forward Dane Kelly dribbled into the box from the left-hand side but his shot was nabbed by Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap.
Minutes later Kelly was at it again. This time Kelly caught Gilstrap out of position and attempted to pass around the goalkeeper, but Gilstrap’s reaction was too quick and he managed to make a kick save.
The Riverhound’s first chance of the evening came in the 14th minute with forward Matt Fondy dribbling the ball up the center of the field. Just inside the box, Fondy hit a shot to the lower left-hand corner of the net, but Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans reacted well to make the save.
Charleston continued to press and had another opportunity in the 23rd minute after Levi Coleman stripped his defender of the ball. With just the goalie to beat, Coleman shot the ball just wide of the net.
One minute later midfielder JC Mack produced a powerful cross into the box. Kelly received the cross with a snap header that banged back of the post.
Coleman finally got the ball into the back of the net in the 36th minute after he received a pass from teammate Cole Peverley. Coleman slipped the ball past Gilstrap into the goal, but it was disallowed as he was called offside.
Both teams created chances after the break with Pittsburgh coming closest with a stoppage time free-kick. The ball was played into the box but the deflected header bounced off the post and away to safety.
The Battery will play their next game on Pittsburgh’s home turf on Friday May 6 for a 7 P.M match followed by a Saturday night game in Rochester versus the Rhinos. Listen live to both matches at www.charlestonbattery.com or locally via 1340 AM The Boardwalk.