Monterey Bay F.C. Suffers 1-0 Defeat to Charleston Battery at Patriots Point in South Carolina
MOUNT PLEASANT, South Carolina (Saturday, May 20, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (3-4-4, 13 points) fell 1-0 to the current leaders in the Eastern Conference, Charleston Battery (5-2-3, 18 points) at Patriots Point in Week 11 of the USL Championship regular season.
Monterey Bay looked dangerous immediately following the opening whistle when Christian Volesky created a turnover right off of the first kick to spark a one-man counter just seconds into the match. Volesky was forced a bit wide by the Charleston Battery defense, and his shot from a difficult angle missed wide to the right. Charleston earned an opportunity of their own in the 5th minute, but the shot from just outside the six-yard box missed to the outside of the left post. Three minutes later, Arturo Rodriguez’ shot from inside the 18-yard box snuck inside the right post to give the hosts the 1-0 lead. Monterey Bay F.C. earned a set piece in the 33rd minute of the match. Mobi Fehr’s cross into the mix was cleared out of the box by Charleston to the feet of Chuy Enríquez, who looked to erase the Union’s deficit with a long distance shot at goal, but his shot was denied by the crossbar and out for a goal kick. One final first-half chance came for the Union in the 45th minute when Walmer Martínez’ whipped a ball into the box toward Volesky, but the ensuing header was off target and the sides entered the break with the hosts out in front at the midway point.
The hosts came inches from extending their lead following a set piece in the 51st minute. In a similar situation to the one Enríquez found himself in for the Union just minutes before the end of the first half, the ball fell to Dante Polvara’s feet just outside the box. Polvara’s shot dipped on target at the last second, but a leaping fingertip save from Carlos Herrera kept Charleston from a second. In the 64th minute following a short spell of possession in the Battery’s half of the pitch, Chase Boone looked to get the Union on the scoreboard, but he was whistled for offside and the goal was disallowed. Enríquez created a short corner opportunity for the Union after winning a foul on the left endline in the 76th minute, but the chance was cleared away momentarily. A turnover by Charleston after trying to push forward gave Monterey Bay another opportunity with numbers, but a shot by Ugo Okoli missed wide of the right post. For the next several minutes, the Crisp and Kelp began to bring an onslaught of pressure in search of a leveler, but the Battery managed to thwart each opportunity and the match ended 1-0 in favor of the hosts.
Up Next: Monterey Bay takes on FC Tulsa on First Responders NIght at Cardinale Stadium on Wednesday, May 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast locally via KION on FOX 35 (46.2 over the air, 35 Dish, 47 DirecTV and 3/702 HD Xfinity), with live streaming available on ESPN+.
Notes:
– Now representing the Battery, former Union midfielder Robbie Crawford became the first former Monterey Bay player to face the Crisp and Kelp in a match in Club history.
– Monterey Bay F.C. leading goalscorer and forward Alex Dixon exited the match early in the 24th minute due to an injury and was replaced by 20-year-old Jesse Maldonado.
– Missing the match due to injury were Sam Gleadle (thigh), Alex Lara (ankle), James Murphy (hamstring), Hugh Roberts II (groin), and Grant Robinson (hamstring).
Match: Charleston Battery vs Monterey Bay F.C.
Date: May 20, 2023
Venue: Patriots Point; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Weather: Partly cloudy and 79 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Charleston Battery 1 0 1
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 0 0
CHS: Arturo Rodriguez (Fidel Barajas) 8’
Lineups:
Charleston Battery (4-2-3-1): Trey Muse; Derek Dodson, Deklan Wynne, Leland Archer, A.J. Paterson; Dante Polvara (Andrew Booth, 66’), Fidel Barajas (A.J. Cochran, 79’), Chris Allan, Arturo Rodriguez (Joe Schmidt, 90+2’), Robbie Crawford; Augustine Williams
Subs not used: Daniel Kuzemka, Juan Sebastian Palma, Charles Dennis, Aidan Apodaca
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Carlos Herrera; Walmer Martínez, Mobi Fehr, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; Adrian Rebollar, Nevello Yoseke (Simon Dawkins, 82’); Chase Boone (Ugo Okoli, 71’), Chuy Enríquez, Alex Dixon (Jesse Maldonado, 24’) (Max Glasser, 71’); Christian Volesky
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Jason Johnson
Stats Summary: CHS / MB
Shots: 9 / 11
Shots on Goal: 3 / 1
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 2
Fouls: 14 / 12
Possession: 55.9% / 44.1%
Misconduct Summary:
MB: Walmer Martínez (caution) 22’
CHS: Arturo Rodriguez (caution) 55’
MB: Nevello Yoseke (caution) 56’
CHS: Leland Archer (caution) 69’
MB: Mobi Fehr (caution) 73’
Officials:
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
Assistant Referee 1: Brian Marshall
Assistant Referee 2: Joe Suchoski
Fourth Official: Izlen Peksenar
