Battery Ties Mariners

The Charleston Battery tied 2-2 with the Virginia Beach Mariners tonight (Tuesday, August 12, 2003) at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,525. The Battery scored two second half goals and held a 2-1 lead until the 82nd minute when the Mariners leveled the scores. Charleston improves to 12-7-5, 43 points and remains in first place in the Southeast Division. Virginia Beach stays in third position with a record of 10-5-8, 35 points.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the third minute. Former US National Team forward, Roy Lassiter converted a penalty-kick after Battery defender, John Wilson had bundled Mariners midfielder Jeff Bilyk over in the box.

The Mariners held the lead until the 52nd minute. Paul Conway broke a tackle on the right-flank and whipped a cross into the middle. Forward, Josh Henderson came across to meet the ball and flashed a header past goalkeeper, Joe Larson. The goal was Henderson’s team-leading 8th of the season.

Nine minutes later the Battery took the lead. Again the goal was created with a good cross from the right-side, this time from Ryan Trout. Midfielder, Ted Chronopoulos ran through from the left side of the penalty-area and powered a header into the goal.

Virginia Beach tied the game up in the 82nd minute. Substitute midfielder, Gary Williams hooked the ball back into the middle from deep on the right-side. Substitute forward, Carlos Garcia was first to the ball and he tucked it past Battery goalkeeper, Chris Doyle for the goal.

Charleston had two chances to win the game in the last five minutes of regulation. Ted Chronopoulos missed just to the left of the goal in the 85th minute and Josh Henderson headed over the top in the 88th. In OT neither side could break the deadlock, the final score, Charleston Battery 2 – Virginia Beach Mariners 2.

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