Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Thursday, May 12, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery takes on expansion USL PRO side F.C. New York on Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium; gates open at 6 p.m. with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ($10 - $18, www.charlestonbattery.com / 971-GOAL (4625)). The Battery are back home following a tough two-game road trip last weekend that saw Charleston tie 0-0 with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and lose 1-0 to the Rochester Rhinos.
This will be the first ever meeting between F.C. New York and the Charleston Battery; the teams play twice this season with the return fixture set for June 3rd at Belson Stadium, Queens, N.Y.
The Battery (3-2-2) enters the game in fourth position in the American Division of USL PRO while FC New York (0-2-2) are in fifth position in the National Division still searching for a first franchise victory.
The Battery tied 0-0 with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds last Friday night in a game that saw Charleston reduced to ten men for the majority of the second half after Evan Taylor was shown a red card.
On Saturday night the Battery dropped a close 1-0 decision to the Rochester Rhinos. The lone goal deflected in off Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans in the 24th minute after Rochester midfielder Tony Donatelli's volley bounced back off the goalpost.
Wiggans will feel a little unfortunate not to have earned a third consecutive shutout as the Battery defense limited Rochester to a handful of scoring chances.
Charleston Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser should have an almost complete squad to choose from on Friday night. Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (foot) and defender Graham Dugoni (back) are the only players unavailable for selection through injury.
F.C. New York tied the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-1 in its last match played on Saturday night at Belson Stadium. New York took an early lead through Kyle Hoffer but Harrisburg’s Jose Angulo leveled to deny them a first victory.
New York’s other tie came on the road versus the Charlotte Eagles on April 23; they dropped a pair of games home and away to Orlando City.