Another 1-0 loss for the Charleston Battery

The Charleston Battery once again fell into a trap that's been all-to-familiar this season: lots of great scoring opportunities, and no goals.

In other words, the Battery lost 1-0 to the Rochester Rhinos Saturday night.

The game was at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,613 and Rochester goalkeeper Neal Kitson made saves as the Battery offense failed to find a breakthrough goal. Substitute midfielder Drew Cost scored the game-winner, slotting home for the visitors in the 68th minute.

Charleston started brightly and Kitson was called into action in the 7th minute saving smartly to deny Nicki Paterson who drove a hard shot at goal from twenty yards.

In the 27th minute Paterson picked out forward Dane Kelly ten yards out with a curling cross. Kelly rose well and snapped a header down on target but again Kitson managed to make the save.

Both teams struggled to turn quality possession into quality chances on a warm and muggy evening but Rochester took advantage of their best chance converting just after the hour mark. Charleston failed to clear the ball properly following a long throw and Cost made no mistake drilling a low shot past Charleston goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.

A minute later Charleston should have leveled as Dane Kelly went through on goal but a heavy final touch allowed Kitson to scramble the ball to safety.

Charleston continued to press and in the 90th minute substitute forward Seedy Bah slipped behind the back four with the ball. Bah smashed his shot on target but Kitson made a reaction save to preserve his shut-out.

The Battery heads to Orlando, FL next week for a pair of games versus Orlando City on Wednesday and Saturday. Both games kick off at 7:30 PM and are available locally on 1340 AM and via an audio stream atwww.charlestonbattery.com.

Referee: Patrick Baker
Assistant Referees: Agostino Minasola, Justin Bogner
Attendance: 3,633
Weather: 90 Clear

Charleston Battery: Andrew Dykstra, Nigel Marples, Colin Falvey (Stephen Armstrong 81), John Wilson, Mike Zaher, Alex Caskey (Brandon Massie 71), Nicki Paterson, Cole Peverley (Kevin Jackson 71), Zach Prince (Jon Gruenewald 63), Dane Kelly, Levi Coleman (Seedy Bah 58)

Players Not Used - Keith Wiggans, Mark Wiltse

SHOTS: 12 (Paterson 5); SAVES: 1 (Dykstra 1); FOULS: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 4; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Marples 87; EJECTIONS: (NONE)

Rochester Rhinos: Neal Kitson, Tyler Bellamy, Alfonso Motagalvan, Anthony Hamilton (Andrew Hoxie 85), Tyler Rosenlund (Quavas Kirk 75), Max Ferdinand (Drew Cost 58), Troy Roberts, Connor Tobin, Kenold Versailles (Tony Donatelli 58), TJ Gore, Michael Tanke (JC Banks 58)

Players Not Used - Ryan Kenny, Isaac Kissi

SHOTS: 9 (Ferdinand 3); SAVES: 6 (Kitson 6); FOULS: 10 (Bellamy 3); CORNER KICKS: 1; OFFSIDES: 1; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Hoxie 89; EJECTIONS: (NONE) 

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