BY DAVID CARAVIELLO
Of The Post and Courier Staff
He is the second-leading goal scorer in the brief history of Major League Soccer, and veteran of the El Salvador national team. On Wednesday, forward Raul Diaz Arce became the latest high-profile addition to a Charleston Battery squad expected to challenge for the A-League title.
Diaz Arce, 32, spent last season with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS. He has scored 82 goals in 150 MLS matches, second-most in the league's seven-year history. He has also scored 16 goals in over 60 matches with the El Salvador national team, most recently during 2002 World Cup qualifying.
The Battery also signed midfielder Justin Evans, a former member of the MLS' Dallas Burn who played indoor soccer last season.
Diaz Arce bolsters an offense depleted by the loss of Eric Wynalda, the U.S. national team's all-time leading scorer, who tore the ACL in his right knee in an exhibition game two weeks ago and will miss the season.
In 1996, Diaz Arce was D.C. United's No. 1 pick in the inaugural MLS draft. He played on United teams that won two straight MLS championships, and also scored a hat trick against the Battery in a U.S. Open Cup match in 2000.
"I hope I can come here, and with my experience help us win everything, not just the A-League championship, but also the U.S. Open Cup," he said.
"My teammates will try every game as hard as possible. If we play like this, everybody will be happy."
Evans is a native of Pittsburgh who has played in the A-League and the Polish first division in addition to the MLS. He scored eight goals in 16 games last season for Cleveland of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
On the Battery roster he replaces Brian Piesner, who was released earlier this week.
"I'm hoping the skills he's learned from indoor soccer will transfer to the outdoor game," Battery coach Chris Ramsey said of Evans, "where he already has a good track record with both MLS and A-League experience under his belt."
The Battery opens the A-League season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a home game against Pittsburgh.
