Battery to play Puerto Rico Islanders April 5

The Battery announced that they will play a final preseason match against NASL's Puerto Rico Islanders. 

The match will pit the the Divison 3 champions, the Battery, against the Division 2 champion Islanders.

The Islanders moved to the NASL last season but prior to that, the rivalry goes back to 2004, their inaugural season in USL1. On top of their US Soccer Federation Division 1 Champions in 2010, the Islanders have made deep runs in the CONCACAF Champions League. 

The Puerto Rician side should be a strong test for the Battery days before the season opener against the Charlotte Eagles April 9th.

The match against the Islanders will be Tuesday April 5 at 5:30pm.  There is no charge for admission and limited concession stands will be open. The Three Lion's Pub will also be open with full menu begining at 5pm

Battery defeat Coastal Carolina 5-0

In a closed scrimmage at Blackbaud Stadium, the Charleston Battery seemed to find their offensive firepower with five goals from five different players.

Stephen Armstrong, Seedy Bah, Dane Kelly, Levi Coleman and Colin Falvey all scored for the Battery.  We don't have much more than the score but it is always a good thing when strikers score, even in a preseason match.

It helps build their confidence for the upcoming season and hopefully they will continue to put the ball in the net.

We are hearing rumors from a couple places that there may be another preseason match next week.  We'll let the Battery announce the opponent and details but it should be a lot of fun against an opponent the Battery has played before.

Battery add Mack and Caskey

The Charleston Battery announced the addition of JC Mack and Alex Caskey to the 2011 roster.

Both Mack and Caskey have been regular features in the Battery line-up during preseason matches.  Mack recently scored a goal against the College of Charleston.  He is a fast forward with a feisty never-say-die attitude.

Caskey came to the Battery after being released by the Seattle Sounders.  He was a third round Draft pick by the Sounders out of Davidson College in North Carolina. 

Here is an article on Caskey on his trial with Seattle

Mack will provide options up top and hopefully can continue find the net throughout the season.  Caskey will join a very experienced midfield that includes Stephen Armstrong, Kevin Jackson, Nicki Paterson, New Zealand international Cole Peverley and Jamaican iinternational Evan Taylor amongst others.

Read the Battery press Release

For those keeping track that brings the official roster up to 21.  At this point I think we have to assume that Gueye isnt returning, which would put the roster at 20.  I still feel that we will see another announcement or two before the season opener on April 9.  My top choices being Sean Flatley, Mark Wiltse and Nico Rittmeyer.

2011 Preview podcast

Listen to Feuerstein's Fire online tonight as Mikey Buytas, president of the Regiment, joins a panel to discuss the Charleston Battery and the 2011 USL-Pro season.

Also joining in will be Tom Grady of the Wilmington Star News, Brian Keyser, Wilmington Hammerhead's play-by-play announcer and Adam Soucie, head communications officer for Orlando City FC.

Podcast begins at 8:00 pm Monday, March 28 with the preview session to start about 8:45pm.

Here's the Link ---> Feuerstein's Fire

The Remaining Roster Spots

With just more than two weeks until the kick off of the 2011 USL Pro season, the Charleston Battery currently have 19 players listed on their roster.   There is doubt about one player, midfielder Alioune Gueye returning to the Battery this season as he is trying to latch onto a club closer to his home in Africa which would put the roster at 18 if he doesn't return.

Earlier in the season, Coach Anhaueser spoke to the Regiment, the Battery supporter group, at their monthly meeting and said they were looking to have a roster of around 21 or 22 players.  So there is theoretically three or four more players to sign. 

So who will they be?

Gone from camp are Luke Mullholland, Jerry Saintil, Jose Cuevas and a few others that have moved on better offers or definate starting positions.

Still left and unsigned are Mark Wiltse, JC Mack, Alex Caskey, and the trio from the College of Charleston; Sean Bateau, Kareem Yearwood and Sean Flatley.  Also in camp is Diego Walsh, who we now understand is just training with the team until May, when he will fly to Asia to take part in multiple trials there.  Finally there is the young kid Nico Rittmeyer from Savannah.  We are unsure if he is solely training with the team or if he is competing for a spot. 

Both Yearwood and Bateau are nursing some injuries and neither has gotten much playing time in the recent preseason matches. 

Sean Flatley has been seeing alot of time on the pitch and he looks like a good solid central defender.  Wiltse has also been seeing alot of time as a right back.  There are currently six defenders on the roster; Falvey, Marples, Wilson, Zaher and with recent signing of Dugoni.  Flatley could be good cover in the center and Wiltse good cover on the outside.

Midfielder Alex Caskey played a good match against the College of Charleston earlier in the week and has to be being looked at.  Midfield will be a tough position to break the starting line up in.  Armstong, Jackson, Gruenwald, Prince (who is listed as a mid and forward) along with new boys, Evan Taylor Nicki Paterson and Cole Peverley will make it difficult. 

JC Mack has done well through the preseason, in fact, one website is already anouncing that he has signed.  His speed and tenacity will be welcome to the team while the Battery looks for a tandem to take over for Tommy Heinemann and Lamar Neagle, both who have moved on to MLS.

We think that the four players with the best shot are Wiltse, Flatley, Caskey and Mack.  Bateau and Yearwood could still be included as they are more or less local players and likely wouldn't have big salaries.

The big unknown is Nico Rittmeyer.  The kid is fast, reads the game well, crosses well and knows how to put the ball on target.  If research is correct, he is only a junior in high school and 17 years old. Is he looking to go professional and possibly bypass the college route?  Hopefully we find out some more info on him but regardless, he is one to watch.

Battery announce Armstrong as Player/Assistant

Its official now, Stephen Armstrong will be a player/assistant coach for the Battery in 2011.

There seemed little doubt that Stephen was returning this year, he has been helping with Battery camps throughout the winter, was involved in the player trials and was a major contributor to the team during the Carolina Challenge Cup and other preseason matches.  Today's announcement makes it official on his role as an assistant coach.

He has become a fan favorite since joining the Battery in 2006.  According to the Battery Press Release he has played 113 games (sixth all-time), scored 24 goals (fifth all-time) and added 11 assists (fifth all-time).  What he brings with his experience both on and off the field can only help a young squad. 

Three new signings

The Charleston Battery announced that they have signed goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, defender Graham Dugoni and forward Seedy Bah.

Andrew Dykstra

Dykstra played the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Chicago Fire and appeared 17 time for the MLS club.  He also was a member of the Richmond Kickers Future squad, with 45 appearances between 2004 and 2008.


Dugoni was a member of the Portland Timbers U-23 2010 PDL championship side.  He also played in Norway with Mjondalen.  The 6'2" defender was a four years starter at Duke University as well.



Graham Dugoni



Seedy Bah was on trial with Seattle until the middle of Febuary.   A quick and fiesty looking forward should give most backlines some troubles.  Only 18 years-old he has represented his home Gambia at the U-17 level





Battery Coach Anhaeuser commented, "Seedy is a young and talented forward from Gambia; he will bring a lot of energy and scoring prowess to a youthful front line that we have assembled this season."

Seedy Bah



With today's announcement, there are currently 19 players on the Battery roster, although there still remain some doubt if midfielder Alioune Gueye will return for the 2011 campaign.  It is rumored that he is wanting to play closer to his home in Africa and is in talks with a team in Angola.



Read the Battery press release here