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MATCH PREVIEW: Red Bulls II vs. Battery

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New York Red Bulls Communications

MATCH INFORMATION


New York Red Bulls II are set to host the Charleston Battery on Sunday night for their first game at Columbia University. Red Bulls II are coming off of their fourth loss of the season, a hard-fought 2-1 loss at the hands of Harrisburg.  Charleston will enter Sunday’s match looking to rebound from just their first loss of the season.  A 1-0 loss to FC Montreal halted the perfect campaign for the Battery, seeing the team’s seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end.


This will be the first game NYRB II plays at Columbia University. Fans are invited to RSVP for free tickets to celebrate to occasion.


NYRB II were the first – and remain the only – team to get a result against the Battery at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston.


NEW YORK RED BULLS II

NYRB II (2-4-2) fell last week after a late own goal while playing with 10 men. The teams were off to the races from the sound of the first whistle. End-to-end play ensued and Red Bulls II struck first in the 9th minute. A corner swung in by Stolz was headed down in the box and reached Chris Tsonis. The forward took a touch which reached Jean-Baptiste. The Brooklyn native blasted his shot into the upper right-hand corner to give Red Bulls II the lead inside 10 minutes.


Harrisburg City responded with the equalizer in the 23rd minute. Enric Valles launched a long aerial pass from just inside the New York half of the field and found McLaughlin in-behind the Red Bulls II defense. He slotted his chance into the lower left corner to even the match at 1-1.


In the 91st minute, a cross from Harrisburg’s Enric Valles swung across the face of goal and bounced off of a back-tracking NYRB II defender for the deciding score.


Notes:

  • Leo Stolz was ejected in the 86th minute for receiving his second caution on the day.  The 2014 Mac Herman Award winner will miss the match vs. Charleston. Stolz has one goal on the year and has captained NYRB II several times.
  • Red Bulls II will be playing at Rocoo B. Commisso Soccer Stadium, the home field for Columbia University.


CHARLESTON BATTERY

The Charleston Battery (5-1-2) have set the pace in USL this season.  The club started the season with a seven-game unbeaten run.  That streak came to an end last week with a 1-0 loss to FC Montreal.  The Battery are 2-1-1 on the road this season.


Charleston’s has scored consistently this this season.  The team averages two goals a game, while allowing an average of 1.25 per contest.  Dane Kelly, Heviel Cordoves, and Zach Prince each have three goals to their name.  Kelly has been the most notable with 21 shots on the year – seven more than the next player on the Battery.


The Battery’s previous game was the first time the side has been held scoreless.  Charleston has scored three goals on three different occasions.  On the defensive side, they’ve kept the damage to a minimum, not having surrendered three goals in a game this season.  Charleston currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind conference-leading Rochester.


Notes:

  • Following the match vs. Red Bulls II, the Battery will return home to face Charlotte.  That will be the first of back-to-back games at home.
  • Charleston has a +6 goal differential on the year, with 16 goals scored and only 10 allowed.


CHARLESTON BATTERY FACTS

  • Charleston Battery were founded in 1993.  Along with the Richmond Kickers, they are the oldest continuously operating professional club in the United States.
  • Their home stadium, Blackbaud Stadium, has been the site of their home games since 1999.
  • Since 2005, their head coach and general manager has been Michael Anhaeuser.
  • In January of 2014, it was announced that the Battery had signed a one-year deal to become the USL Pro affiliate of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.  This season, they’re the affiliate with the Houston Dynamo.
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