Pittsburgh defeated Charleston 3-1 and our season is over. That should just about sums up the game. There was little excitement to report from the Charleston side except for the build up to the lone goal by Battery forward Mac Cozier in the 22nd minute. The Battery never seemed to be on their game and the Riverhounds capitalized on that.
Pittsburgh on the other had seemed to at the top of their game, scoring in the first three minutes of play. Midfielder DePalmer cut through the Battery defense like a hot knife through butter, effectively making it a 3-1 game. From then on the Battery seemed to lose steam.
Even after the Battery scored the game equalizing goal, they couldn’t take the momentum to the next level. When former Charleston Battery player Paul Dougherty scored a minute before the half, it became obvious the Battery were frustrated and disheartened.
And in the 54th minute John Jones put the game out of reach with the Riverhound’s third goal of the night, making the series 5-2, which is how it ended.
Still, even though the Battery stumbled at the end of the season, I still am proud of the club. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are a class act and a credit to the A-league and to the city of Charleston. Thanks to the Regiment and other fans who are a constant at the match and welcomed me when I moved from Syracuse, New York to Charleston halfway through the season.
Thanks to the players for being “regular guys” and shootin’ the bull after the matches in the pub.
My most vivid memories of the game aren’t the goals but what happens after the matches. Like a scene with Paul Conway walking off the field holding his daughter’s hand or Dan Calichman’s wife passing their youngest daughter over the railing while Dan was talking with Mario Gori after the last match so as Dan put it “so she could meet Daddy’s friend.” And the sight of Brian Piesner signing autographs for nearly thirty minutes after the match so every kid who wanted one received one.
Thanks guys for the memories. There are many more great stories and I’m sure there will be many more next year. You’ll just have to read my match reports next year. That or move to Charleston.
