The Charleston Battery kicks off their 26th season in the USL against FC Cincinnati during Irish Fest at MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday, March 17. Saturday’s match marks the third consecutive year the Battery has opened their season against FC Cincinnati.

The Battery have a 3-0-2 all-time record against FC Cincinnati since they joined the league in 2016 and have won both matches played at MUSC Health Stadium. In order to continue his success against the USL newcomers, Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser will have to find goals from a different place this time around.

Despite bringing back 12 players from the team that earned the Club’s highest finish in the USL Cup era a year ago, Anhaeuser’s 2018 roster doesn’t include anyone who has previously found the back of the net against FC Cincinnati. Forrest Lasso, Justin Portillo, and Romario Williams, who all tallied goals against FCC last season, left the Battery in the offseason along with Maikel Chang and Heviel Cordoves.  

The Battery will turn to newcomers Ian Svantesson, Gordon Wild, and Victor Mansaray along with returners Ataulla Guerra and Kotaro Higashi to fill the scoring void left by the offseason departures. Svantesson, who signed with the Battery in December of 2017 after scoring 11 goals for Tulsa Roughnecks last season, has begun to form a cohesive partnership with Guerra. The two linked up well through preseason where Svantesson scored two goals against MLS sides in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

Other key returners for the Battery include captain Taylor Mueller, right back Quinton Griffith, starting goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper, and defensive midfielder Tah Brian Anunga. The 12 returning players earned over 185 starts between themselves last season, with six of them playing 1,500 minutes or more. Perhaps most importantly, Anhaeuser brings back a veteran back four and goalkeeper for the 2018 season that includes Cooper, Mueller, Griffith, Skylar Thomas, and Jarad van Schaik.

FC Cincinnati underwent more roster changes than Charleston in the offseason, losing 15 players from the team that finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last season. Among the departures were starting goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, leading goal-scorer Djiby Fall, and defensive stalwart Harrison Delbridge.

Following the mass exodus, Cincinnati Head Coach Allen Koch brought in 17 new faces. The pool of new players includes Lasso who made 53 appearances and scored seven goals for the Battery in the previous three USL seasons. Other key additions include former Sacramento Republic goalkeeper Evan Newton, Argentinian attacking midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma, and former Montreal Impact defender Blake Smith.  

Both sides enter Saturday’s match coming off of successful preseasons. The Battery finished with a 3-1-3 record, earning a win against Minnesota United and a draw against Atlanta United. FC Cincinnati ended their preseason with a 4-1-2 record and wins over Tampa Bay Rowdies and Indy Eleven and a draw with New England Revolution. Anhaeuser and Koch rotated their squads heavily throughout preseason, so Saturday’s match will prove a different test for both sides.

The match is scheduled to kickoff at 7:05 PM. Irish Fest begins when gates open at 5:30 PM and includes $3 Guinness pints, Irish Dancing, a t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 adult fans through the gates and post-game fireworks on the field with the team. Tickets are for purchase at tickets.charlestonbattery.com or by calling 843-871-GOAL.

Charleston Battery vs. FC Cincinnati will be broadcast live on MyTV Charleston and charlestonbattery.com.