Charleston, SC - The Charleston Battery got off to a great start to the 2000 season downing rival Atlanta Silverbacks 2-0 in front of a crowd of 6,422 at Dekalb Memorial Stadium. Now they prepare for the encore against the Silverbacks at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30pm on Saturday in the home opener. The game is scheduled to end with a bang, with a post game fireworks extravaganza, but promises to offer low country soccer fans enough sparks of its own.
Looking to duplicate the fast start to the season that they accomplished in 1999 (going 5-1 and outscoring opponents 12-3 in the process,) the Battery must match the intensity that they showed in the 2-0 season opening road win over a very good Atlanta side coached by former Charleston head coach Nuno Pitiera. The stakes are high for both teams, as the game doubles as a crucial US Open Cup qualifier. The Battery are matched up with Atlanta and Raleigh in the South Atlantic Open Cup qualifying sub group, with each team playing a home and home series and the winner advancing into the second round of the tournament field. The Open Cup qualifying group standings will be determined using the A-League regular season point system of 4 points for a win (regulation or overtime,) one point for a draw and a bonus point for scoring three goals. The Battery received four points for the 2-0 road win at Atlanta, and a victory in the home opener will put them firmly in the drivers seat and will all but eliminate the Silverbacks chances of qualifying. Last year the Battery advanced to the Open Cup for the first time in club history and enjoyed an exciting cup run to the semi-finals of the competition eliminating the three-time MLS Champ DC United in the third round at Blackbaud Stadium along the way. This year, all 12 MLS Teams will automatically join the Open Cup tournament field, along with nine A-League entrants and 11 USL/USASA teams in the "Round of 32".
The Battery versus Silverbacks series is fast developing into one of the best rivalries in the A-League. The all-time series stands at 5-5, starting in 1997 when the Battery won promotion to the A-League, the Division II of pro soccer in the US, one step below Major League Soccer. In 1999 the Battery started the four game series with a 3-0 victory in the inaugural game at Blackbaud Stadium on April 24, but then dropped three strait to Atlanta, including two losses in the now abandoned shootout. The Battery had won all three contests versus Atlanta in 1998. The two teams will square off four times in the A-League regular season in 2000, but will not see each other again until August after this weekends game. The game on Saturday is shaping up to be the most important clash ever between the two teams in the short history of the rivalry.
Battery Team News: Battery head coach Alan Dicks will have two players available for selection for the home opener on Saturday adding to competition for places in the starting 11. "We set the bench mark for the season in terms of effort on Saturday," he said referring to the 2-0 win over Atlanta. "That is the intensity that we must play with in every game this season in order for us to achieve our goals as a team."
1999 leading goal scorer Paul Conway served a mandatory one game suspension for a red card received in the Battery's 3-2 first round playoff loss at Hershey last season. Conway (the 1999 Battery Offensive MVP) is currently the third all-time leading goal scorer in club history and is expected to be in the line up at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday. Newcomer Brent Sancho was away on International duty. He played for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team in their 1-0 win over the Dominican Republic in a World Cup qualifying game, advancing to a showdown with Haiti in the next round of qualifying. The T & T versus Haiti home and home qualifying series in the CONCACAF region Caribbean group 3, could pit Battery defensive teammates Gilbert Jean-Baptiste (Haiti) and Sancho against each other. Sancho, an up and coming defender is expected to be a potential starter for the Battery and will add strength to the defensive corps. Battery officials need to obtain International clearance from Finland for Sancho to be able to play on Saturday. 1999 first team All A-League forward Mac Cozier is listed as doubtful for Saturdays home opener after suffering a torn hamstring on April 1 in a pre-season scrimmage versus the Wilmington Hammerheads. Cozier is expected to be available for selection for the May 1 contest versus the Tampa Bay Mutiny in an exhibition game at Blackbaud Stadium.
Atlanta Silverbacks Preview: Coached by Former Battery head coach Nuno Pitiera the Silverbacks are a consensus A-League coaches poll pre-season pick as an Atlantic Division contender. Atlanta narrowly missed the playoffs in 1999, beaten out on the final day of the regular season by one point by the expansion Lehigh Valley Steam for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Silverbacks have quietly built a very promising team for the 2000 season that has raised expectations in Atlanta, and a team and support base that views Charleston as their chief rival.
Players to Watch: returning for the Silverbacks are former Battery All Star defender Guy Norcott, Ex-Clemson All ACC defender Sylvan Bednar and dangerous front man Iggy Moleka. Moleka was an All American at Florida International, leading them to the 1996 NCAA National Championship and led the Silverbacks in scoring in 1999 with 11 goals. Pitiera has brought in a cast of newcomers to strengthen the side for the 2000 campaign, and has addressed concerns that included a replacement to ex-Battery goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi forced by his departure to MLS and help for Moleka up front.
Top New Players: Goalkeeper Tony Roberts. Welsh International who has over 250 games for QPR in the English first division. Defender Danny Care. Ex-Clemson Tiger spent 1998 with DC United of MLS and has three years A-League experience with Carolina Dynamo, US Pro 40, Richmond Kickers and Jacksonville Cyclones. Defender/ midfielder Tony Soto. Former gamecock All American joins the Silverbacks from the LA Galaxy of MLS. Midfielder Brian Piesner. Promising rookie wide man joins from the Dallas Burn (MLS). Midfielder Daniel Alvarez. Two-time All American from Furman. Pace and long throw is a threat anywhere in the offensive half of the field. July departure to Germany could be costly to the Silverbacks. Forward Josh Henderson. Ex-Duke star is a nice compliment to Moleka in the Atlanta offense. Forward Patrick Beech. Jamaican International will be a scoring threat, but his arrival in Atlanta has been delayed by visa problems.
Battery Home Opener Promotions: The First 1,000 fans through the gate on Saturday will receive a 44oz soccer mug compliments of Suncom. The Care Alliance Half Time Show will feature an Easter egg hunt on the game field. Young fans can win hundreds of prizes, including Papa Johns pizza, special edition Pokemon posters, Carolina Ice Palace and Frankie's Fun Park passes. One lucky fan will also get the chance to win $10,000 in the TBonz "kick for cash," and everyone will get to enjoy the post game firework spectacular.
Season tickets and Battery Club memberships are still available for the 2000 season. Good seats remain in the reserved seating sections in the West Stand and East Stand, with season ticket packages starting as low as $80. Tickets can be purchased at the Battery office at Blackbaud Stadium or over the phone at 971-4625. Game day tickets for the home opener can also be purchased at the West Stand box on game day from 9:00am to game time. The gates will open at 6:30pm on Saturday.
