Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery is undefeated at home in 2000 A-League regular season play, and is looking to continue its unbeaten streak at Blackbaud Stadium with two big games that start off the month of July with a bang. First up is the first ever visit of Central Division contender the Indiana Blast on Tuesday July 4. Spectacular post game fireworks sponsored by CareAlliance Health Services guarantee to light up the evening. The Battery are looking to stay in the hunt for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and win the regular season championships, however they will need to keep picking up points within the friendly confines of Blackbaud Stadium. On the road woes persist for every team in the Atlantic including the Battery with no team in the Atlantic Division posting a winning record away from home so far in the 2000 season at the halfway point leaving the road a tough place to pick up valuable points. Coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss at the hands of the Raleigh Express at a rain soaked WRAL Stadium last Wednesday, Charleston can regroup with the confidence that the team has been deadly at home all season. The Battery recently took advantage of a three game home stand to claim 14 out of a possible 15 points, moving to second alone in the Atlantic and running up their undefeated home record to seven games (6-0-1), the best in club history. During the three-game run the Battery toppled two teams that were Division leaders, Hampton Roads and El Paso and knocked off a team (Pittsburgh) on a five game win streak.
In the month of June Battery forward Paul Conway has risen to the top in the A-League goal scoring leader board with the league best of 8 goals in 11 starts. Conway has benefited from the increased confidence that has kick started Battery midfielder Temoc Suarez to a team high and League second best 7 assists. 1997 A-League Goalkeeper of the Year Dusty Hudock has produced solid performances all season long for the Battery in the nets, keeping all but one team (Raleigh Express) from earning a bonus point for scoring three goals against the high scoring Battery. The Battery squad is expected to be at possible full strength for the July 4 visit from Indiana after a weekend break that will give the team a chance to get healthy. Four key players have missed games the last few weeks with various injuries, defender Kevin Scott, midfielders Ivailo Ilarionov and Braeden Cloutier and highly touted forward Velko Iotov. Battery fan favorite Ivailo Ilarionov is very capable of providing a spark to the already potent Battery offense. He has been hobbled by a hamstring pull, but looked in sparkling form off of the bench against Raleigh providing the Battery a splash of promise for the tough slate of upcoming July games. A return to form for Ilarionov could be a big factor for Charleston in July, as could the availability of Bulgarian striker Velko Iotov . Iotov has suffered a number of injuries this season, the latest a high ankle ligament strain that has kept him out of the last five games including the Open Cup loss to defending MLS Champion DC United. Iotov, an experienced, powerful and talented forward, provides the Battery another quality attacking option that the team will look to use for the Division Championship push over the second half of the season that starts in July. Also crucial to Battery coach Alan Dicks will be the recovery of experienced defender Kevin Scott (out with a bruised right shin) and former Major League midfielder Braeden Cloutier (out with a slight knee strain) due to the expected departure of defender Brent Sancho (Trinidad and Tobago) and midfielder Dean Sewell (Jamaica) for World Cup qualifying games in late July. Both players are expected to be available next week for the Battery's two home games on July 4 versus Indiana and July 8 against the Hampton Roads Mariners but will be gone for the next two weeks missing three vital A-League games.
Indiana Blast Preview:
The Blast is a pre-season A-League coaches poll pick for a Central Division play off team. They represent a team from the third division in the A-League that the battery will have faced so far in the 2000 season. The Battery will not face a team from the Northeast Division until the visit of 1998 A-League Champion and 1999 US Open Cup Champion Rochester come to town on Wednesday, August 9. The Central Division features the reigning A-League Champion Minnesota Thunder and the 1997 Champion Milwaukee Rampage. Indiana got off to a dismal start in 2000 going 0-7, but has turned their fortunes around going undefeated over the last five games going 3-0-2 (up to July 1 weekend action). Former Major League forward Matt Caution (signed from Cincinnati in May) leads the team with three goals. Goalkeeper Chuck Browder is the club all time leader in games played, shut outs and saves as a goalkeeper and has been in spectacular form this season. Browder recently spent a brief spell at MLS Columbus Crew on a call up assignment. Key Blast players include 1999 MVP defender Chris Duff who has played in a club record 32 straight games and midfielder Peter Baah who signed in the off-season from English Football League Division I club Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn won the English Premiership in the 90's behind the goal scoring exploits of England captain Alan Shearer and Chelsea ace Chris Sutton.
Blast head coach Jimmy Macdonald is the only coach the club has ever employed and he has lead the team to the playoffs twice in three seasons (both in D3 before being promoted to the A-League in 1999). In 1999, the Blast found their stride late in the season after adjusting to the competitive life of the A-League, winning 8 of their last 11 games and ending with a 13-15 record (league record wins for a newly promoted team from D3).
What: Charleston Battery V Indiana Blast.
A-League regular season action.
When: Tuesday July 4, 7:30pm.
Where: Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC.
Don't Miss: The post game Fireworks show sponsored by CareAlliance Health Services.
The KidZone a free area dedicated to kid's fun that offers a jump castle, a climbing mountain and slide, human foosball, speedkick and more! Don't miss an opportunity for the whole family to come out and enjoy a night of soccer and fun! Also, there is a half-time competition sponsored by 96WAVE and Audio Video Design that will offer several lucky spectators a chance to come on down to the field and try to win a 53" TV!
Tickets are available at the gate or in advance by calling 971-GOAL, at Lloyds Sports or online at www.etix.com. Gates at Blackbaud Stadium open at 6:30pm Tuesday.
Next Game: Friday July 8 versus the Hampton Roads Mariners at Blackbaud Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.
