Charleston Battery bests Eagles to advance to post-season

Needing a win to advance to the playoffs, the Charleston Battery defeated the Charlotte Eagles 4-3 Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,773. 

Mike Zaher led the way with two superb goals as the Battery completed a season sweep of three victories versus the Eagles. 

With the win Charleston will advance to the USL PRO American Division semifinal and play the Orlando City Lions next Saturday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando Florida (1340 AM.)

“What a great start we had, moving Mike Zaher up front was a great move for us by scoring two goals early,” said head coach Mike Anhaeuser.  “We did well but credit to the Eagles for never giving up.”

The Charleston Battery opened up the night of goals in the 5th minute. Dane Kelly was in control of the ball bringing it up the field with a bit of pace. With a swift cutback move, Kelly played the ball square to teammate Zach Prince who struck the ball powerfully to the back of the net. 

Charleston doubled its advantage in the 7th minute as Nicki Patterson chipped the ball to the feet of Mike Zaher. With a quick settling touch Zaher ripped a sublime full volley into the upper right-hand corner of the net for the second goal of the night. 

Charlotte retaliated in the 18th minute when Diego Martins dribbled just outside of the Battery box for a quick back pass to Jorge Herrera. Herrera struck the ball for a strong shot off of the laces, but the attempt was saved by goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.

The Battery added a third in the 30th minute when defender Nigel Marples played a through ball to Mike Zaher. With a burst of speed and a scissors move Zaher pulled the ball onto his right foot and curled a shot into the back of the net for the third goal of the night.

The Eagles fought back and scored just before the half from a free kick just yards outside of the box. The shot, taken by Herrera zipped through a crowd of players and rolled into the right side of the net.

The Battery made their fourth goal of the evening in the 61st minute when defender Sean Flatley played a long ball to a sprinting Dane Kelly. Kelly’s strength and pace brought him past Charlotte’s defense with just the goalkeeper Eric Reed to beat. With a flick past Reed’s right side, the ball flew straight into the net.

The game finished in wild fashion as the Eagles pulled two goal back in injury time with Salieu Bundu and Miguel Ferrer giving Charlotte hope but time ran out before the Eagles could find the vital fourth goal.

The Charleston Battery announced its annual player awards at half-time of tonight’s game:

  • 2011 Nigel Cooper MVP – Andrew Dykstra
  • 2011 Offensive Player of the Year – Nicki Paterson
  • 2011 Derek Revord Defensive Player of the Year – John Wilson
  • 2011 Betsy McAdams Newcomer of the Year – Andrew Dykstra
  • 2011 David Vaughan Memorial Award – Colin Falvey

Referee: Mark Cleland

Assistant Referees: Melanie Johnson, Dustin Thorne
Attendance: 4,771
Weather: Clear 80 

Scoring Summary         Goal (Assist)    Minute

  • Charleston Battery        Prince (Kelly)   5
  • Charleston Battery        Zaher (Paterson) 7
  • Charleston Battery        Zaher   30
  • Charlotte Eagles           Herrera 45
  • Charleston Battery        Kelly (Flatley) 61
  • Charlotte Eagles           Bundu 90
  • Charlotte Eagles           Ferrer   90 

Charleston Battery
Andrew Dykstra, Mark Wiltse, Colin Falvey, Sean Flatley, Nigel Marples, Mike Zaher (Stephen Armstrong 64), Cole Peverley, Nicki Paterson, Alex Caskey, Zach Prince (Kevin Jackson 75), Dane Kelly (Levi Coleman 82)

Players Not Used - Keith Wiggans, Jon Gruenewald, Seedy Bah

SHOTS: 13 (Zaher 4); SAVES: 5 (Dykstra 5); FOULS: 8 (Kelly 2); CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 4; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Wiltse 45, Peverley 45; EJECTIONS: (NONE)

Charlotte Eagles
Eric Reed, Cheyne Roberts (Luke Williams 45), Mark Bloom, Greg Dalby (Jo Connor 65), Josh Rife, Juan Guzman (Miguel Ferrer 56), Darren Toby, Jorge Herrera, Diego Martins (Nate Thornton 65), Salieu Bundu, Alan Sanchez (Chad Smith 68)

Players Not Used - Pat Mitrovich, Chris Salvaggione

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