Battery Downs Eagles 4-2 Win Preserves Unbeaten Home Record

The Charleston Battery defeated the Charlotte Eagles tonight (May 31, 2002) at Blackbaud Stadium, by a score of four goals to two. 3,325 fans watched as the Battery secured the full five points. Charleston improves to 6-1-1, 29 points, second place in the Southeast Division. Charlotte drops to 5-4-1, 22 points and third place. The game was the first of a two match-series, the second game takes place tomorrow in Charlotte. Both matches double as US Open Cup qualifiers, the winner of the series will secure a berth in the Cup competition.

The Battery scored the first goal in the 10th minute. Forward, Raul Diaz Arce won a loose ball inside the penalty area. He slipped it across to forward, Paul Conway who immediately blasted it into the goal. It was Conway’s team-leading 5th goal of the season.

In the 14th minute Charleston doubled its lead. Battery pressure resulted in a corner kick from the near side. After a goalmouth scramble that included a ricochet off the crossbar, the ball broke to defender, Mark Watson, inside the 18-yard box. He picked his spot and stroked the ball past the Eagles keeper, and into the goal.

Charlotte pulled a goal back before the break with a nice finish from striker, Jacob Coggins, the score at half-time, Charleston Battery 2 – Charlotte Eagles 1.

After the break the Battery upped the tempo and scored the third goal in the 65th minute, securing the bonus point. Midfielder, Steve Klein made a brilliant run from the middle, breaking several tackles in the process. He was finally challenged inside the box, but the ball squirted out to Ryan Trout. Trout drove the ball into the goal with his left foot.

One minute later the Eagles scored again, defender, Hugo Galeano volleyed home from the edge of the 6-yard box.

With the game still there to be won Charleston finished it off in the 68th minute with a good strike from midfielder, Morgan Zeba. Paul Conway picked Zeba out at the edge of the penalty area and threaded the ball through to him. Zeba rode a challenge and then chipped the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. The final score, Charleston Battery 4 – Charlotte Eagles 2.

Text taken from the wayback machine.