BY PHILIP M. BOWMAN
Of The Post and Courier Staff
They lost a heartbreaking third-round U.S. Open match to the Colorado Rapids and rebounded with a physical and frenzied international friendly victory over the Puebla Mexico team.
Today, the Charleston Battery resumes A-League play after a 16-day break from the league schedule.
Battery coach Chris Ramsey, whose squad battles the Atlanta Silverbacks in a 7:30 p.m. showdown at Blackbaud Stadium and then travels to Atlanta Saturday for a 6 p.m. rematch, said his team demonstrated qualities in the two non-league matches that will help in the Battery's drive to the A-League championship.
"The team showed a lot of resiliency and tried to prove themselves as professionals," said Ramsey, who is in his first year as the Battery coach. "A lot of the players on the team have a burning passion to be successful."
The Battery is the top team in the Eastern Conference and leads the Southeast Division with a 14-2-2 record and 63 points. The Silverbacks enter this weekend's critical matches with a 12-8-0 record and 55 points. With eight matches remaining on the schedule after this weekend's competition, Ramsey isn't downplaying the importance of the back-to-back matches against the Silverbacks.
"This weekend is huge for us, really," said Ramsey, whose team grabbed the lead but settled for a 1-1 tie against the Richmond Kickers in its last A-League match on July 10. "When you have back-to-back games, you want to do well in the first game. If you go into the second match with momentum, it's favorable."
The Battery has been able to hold on to first place despite injuries, and the team is nearing full strength with defender Terry Phelan, midfielders Steve Klein and Matt Farris and forward Paul Conway nearly 100 percent healthy.
Ramsey said the injuries gave other players a chance to showcase their skills, but added, "as a coach, it's all about W's. If we do well this weekend, it makes the rest of the season a little easier."
Ramsey, whose soccer background is sterling with playing and coaching experience in England, spreads credit for his team's success.
"The franchise is quality," he said. "They have a great will to be successful. They expect that to be infectious to me, and my job is to pass that along to the team."
