Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery is out to avenge last Sunday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Hershey Wildcats this Saturday night in the friendly confines of Blackbaud Stadium. Dubbed "fortress Blackbaud," the Battery has been practically unstoppable at home this season (8-0-1) and will put their undefeated home streak on the line against a Wildcats team that was picked in the Coaches pre-season poll as the favorite to win the A-League Championship. The resurgent Hershey Wildcats (the defending Atlantic Division Champions) are on a roll winning seven of their last eight including the come from behind 2-1 defeat of Charleston last Sunday at Hershey Park. The Wildcats are in third place in the competitive Atlantic Division (7 points behind the Battery) and in need of points to push for home field advantage in the playoffs. Despite the loss, the Battery is one of the teams to beat in the A-League, winning five of their last six. The Battery is the highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference with 32 goals and leads the conference in bonus points (for scoring three of more goals in a game) with seven. The explosive Charleston team is playing well and looks to be a serious contender for A-League honors in 2000.
The Battery versus Wildcats series has always conjured up something special since both teams entered the A-league in 1997. In fact, quite a rivalry has developed between the two clubs. In 1997, the upstart Battery knocked off the Hershey Wildcats in the first round of the A-League playoffs after Hershey had won the Atlantic Division regular season championship and were heavily favored over the Battery who had battled for the fourth place divisional finish and final spot in the playoffs. The Battery took two hard fought road wins (both in a shootout behind stellar goalkeeping from Moroccan International Khalil Azmi) over Hershey to win a three game series 2-1 after losing the first game at Stoney Field. In 1999, the Battery swept the two game regular season series over the Wildcats, winning both 2-1 in sudden death overtime matches. But the Wildcats got more than even in the playoffs when they avenged the 1997 series loss with a heart braking and end-to-end 3-2 victory over the Battery in the winner-takes-all first round. The Battery had twice pulled even behind goals from Jamaican International Dean Sewell and seemed to have the momentum as overtime loomed. However, out of favor Wildcat forward John Smith latched on to a
long through ball with 13 seconds remaining and tucked his shot past Battery keeper Dusty Hudock to send Hershey to the second round. It was Smiths second goal of the season and it ended Charleston's season.
Hershey is propelled by one of the most dangerous attacking duos in the league, prolific speedster Jamell Mitchell and 1999 A-League Rookie-of-the-Year Greg Simmonds. Simmonds (10 goals) and Mitchell (8 goals) account for well over half of Hershey's 28 goals this season and will be a hand full for the Battery defense. Mitchell, with Olympic-caliber pace (his father is a former Olympic sprinter), is a constant deep threat to opposing defenders and is considered the fastest man in the A-League. Simmonds has lovely touch and skills for a big target type forward, and is also a threat in the air. Hershey newcomer Ze Roberto, imported from Brazil, is a crafty and gifted attacking midfielder making him another Wildcat to watch. Roberto has added some flair to the strong Hershey midfield that also features 1999 A-League All Star Steve Klein and reliable veteran Mike Feniger. Marshaling the Wildcat defense is capable veteran A-Leaguers Mike Williams and Englishman Chris Penny, but inexperienced goalkeeper Rich Sletvold could be severely tested by the potent Battery forwards.
Battery Team News:
Battery forward Paul Conway is fourth in the A-League goal scoring race with 10 goals in 16 games and leads a talented group of Battery strikers that have earned an Atlantic Division high seven bonus points for scoring three goals or more in a game. He currently ranks tied for sixth in the A-League in points with 23 with 10 goals and 3 assists. Conway is on track to surpass his 17 goals tallied during the 1999 season and has scored 31 goals for the Battery in 71 games (third all time in Battery history). Midfielder Temoc Suarez is tied for the league lead in assists with 8 in 16 games, but will miss this weekend's game due to International call up by the US Soccer Federation. Suarez is playing for the US National Futsal (five-a-side team) in Costa Rica in the final stages of qualifying for the Futsal World Cup. He is expected to rejoin the team next weekend in Nashville, TN. 1997 A-League Goalkeeper of the Year Dusty Hudock has produced solid performances all season long for the Battery in the nets. Hudock has been featured in every minute for the Battery so far this season (1,584 minutes played) along with 1999 All A-League defender and Battery rookie of the Year Gilbert Jean-Baptiste. He now ranks as the all time leading goalkeeper in Battery history in minutes played with 4,616 minutes in 50 games, surpassing Michael Compisi who set the standard at 4,055 in 53 games. Hudock has posted 10 shutouts in a Battery jersey, which is second all time in Battery history. Captain Nicky Spooner has marshaled the defense solidly all season long playing all 17 games along with fellow Englishman Darren Warham. Warham, a 1999 A-League All Star defender, made two spectacular defensive blocks stopping two certain goals in the Battery's 4-0 away drubbing of Atlantic Division cellar dwellers Pittsburgh last weekend. Thankfully, he has recovered from a concussion suffered in Hershey two days later. Rookie defender Alan Woods also picked up a concussion last Sunday at Hershey Park after colliding with the elbow of Wildcat striker Greg Simmonds, but is cleared to play on Saturday. Woods, a first year pro out of Clemson, has the athletic ability to match up well with the quick Hershey forwards. Midfielder Todd Miller has continued his strong and dependable form in midfield and has now started 82 games for Charleston in a Battery uniform (fifth most in Battery history). The Battery midfield has been strengthened by the return of Bulgarian Ivailo Ilarionov who has scored two goals in four games since his return from injury and gives the Battery a legitimate goal scoring threat out of his attacking midfield role. Nicknamed "Ivo" by Battery fans, he is more than capable to replace the playmaking skills of Temoc Suarez. 2000 Battery A-League College Draft first round pick, Brian Alvero, has earned a regular place in the starting 11 over the last four games with very solid performances. Alvero replaced former San Jose Clash (MLS) midfielder Braeden Cloutier in the Battery line up after Cloutier suffered a LCL strain in his left knee. The Battery midfield will also receive a boost this weekend with the availability of exciting Jamaican International Dean Sewell. Sewell limped off of the pitch in the 17th minute of the 3-0 July 4 victory over Indiana with a sore hamstring, and has not played since. His presence adds a wide midfielder that can go by people and cause opponents defenses problems with his pace and slashing runs. The Battery breathed a collective sigh of relief this week after highly touted forward Velko Iotov was cleared to play on Saturday. Iotov suffered a dislocated shoulder in the 90th minute of the 2-1 defeat by Hershey when he fell badly from a hard Chris Penny challenge. Battery officials feared a separated shoulder but a post game X-Ray was negative. Iotov has been instrumental in the Battery attack since his return from injury, scoring two goals and adding four assists in five games. 1999 All A-League forward Mac Cozier is also recapturing the form that he was showing in pre-season before a torn hamstring. He also has three goals and four assists and is forming a good understanding with Iotov, which is looking like a lethal partnership.
What: Charleston Battery V Hershey Wildcats
When: Saturday July 22, 7:30pm.
Where: Blackbaud Stadium
FREE WATER BOTTLE NIGHT: 1st 500 Filled with Prizes
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the phone at 971-GOAL, at Lloyds Sports in Mt.Pleasant or online at www.etix.com. Tickets are also available at the gate. Gates open at 6:30pm. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.Fans can enjoy the care Alliance Health Services halftime show that will feature the Walterboro Sky Diving team doing a sky diving exhibition. One fan will have a chance to win $10,000 in the Tbonz Kick for Cash contest.
A-LEAGUE TOP TEN
(As of 7-21-00)
*Based on points earned compared to max points available
Rank Team Record Win Percentage
1. Minnesota Thunder 14-1-4 0.747
2. Richmond Kickers 14-4-0 0.644
3. Milwaukee Rampage 10-4-1 0.640
4. Charleston Battery 10-5-2 0.576
5. Rochester Raging Rhinos 10-5-1 0.562
6. Seattle Sounders 9-5-3 0.529
7. Toronto Lynx 8-3-3 0.528
8. San Diego Flash 10-6-3 0.494
9. El Paso Patriots 9-8-1 0.466
10. Atlanta Silverbacks 8-7-2 0.458
