The USL Championship announced Tuesday that four Charleston Battery players earned selection to the Team of the Week for Week 6. The list of players includes Derek Dodson, Dante Polvara, Nick Markanich and Augi Williams. Williams’ exceptional showing during the week earned him Championship Player of the Week, presented by Konami eFootball.
The slate of honors caps off a strong week for the Battery, who rose to the top of the Eastern Conference standings after road victories over the Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Tulsa, extending their unbeaten start to the season to six games.
Williams scored the equalizing and match-winning goals against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, with his match-winner coming in the final minute of stoppage time after the Battery caught Tampa Bay on a counterattack. From there, the Sierra Leone international curled his shot around the goalkeeper and into the net from roughly 40 yards out. Augi leads the team with four goals and is tied for the second-most goals in the league.
Dodson turned in two impressive performances in Week 6, including recording the assist in the Battery’s opening goal in the 2-1 victory over Tulsa. On the week, he racked up five tackles won, 13 recoveries and 17 duels won, including a perfect 11 of 11 duels won against Tulsa.
Polvara provided the heroics at Tulsa with a match-winning goal in the second half. The tally marked Polvara’s first goal in the professional ranks. Across both victories, Polvara registered eight tackles won, 13 duels won and completed 82% of his passes.
Markanich continued his strong 2023 season into this week, scoring the opening goal in Charleston’s victory at Tulsa. The 23-year-old put in strong shifts in both wins, recording three chances created, six tackles won and 17 duels won. The selection is Markanich’s third this season and second in back-to-back weeks.
Head Coach Ben Pirmann congratulated the four players on their Week 6 awards.
“It’s always great for our club and our players to be recognized,” said Coach Pirmann. “It’s an indicator that they’re working so hard for each other and that we are constantly improving.
“Derek has done a great job all season long at the back, getting up and down and putting his stamp on the match in all the phases. Dante has stepped up in his performances after a late arrival to the team and scored a great goal to get us the winner in Tulsa.
“Nick and Augi continue to be tough in our attack, they have been able to provide goal involvements but also have been very good at initiating the defensive structure from the front.”
Williams earned 65 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Sacramento Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello finished second on 18 percent. The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
Charleston will look to build upon the momentum of their back-to-back road wins in their return home, when they face Louisville City FC on Sat., April 22, at Patriots Point. The match will be high stakes as it’s the conference’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 in Charleston and Louisville, respectively. Tickets for the match are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 6
GK – Danny Vitiello, Sacramento Republic FC
D – Koa Santos, Loudoun United FC
D – Derek Dodson, Charleston Battery
D – Lucas Stauffer, Las Vegas Lights FC
M – Kalil ElMedkhar, Loudoun United FC
M – Sam Hamilton, New Mexico United
M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
M – Dante Polvara, Charleston Battery
F – Augustine Williams, Charleston Battery | Player of the Week
F – Zach Ryan, Loudoun United FC
F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery
Bench: Oliver Semmle (LOU), Kevon Lambert (PHX), Gaoussou Samaké (LDN), Jeremy Kelly (MEM), Charlie Adams (SD), Rodrigo Lopez (SAC), Prince Saydee (HFD)
