The Charleston Battery advanced past Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC with a 1-0 victory in the USL Championship Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday at Patriots Point. Nick Markanich scored the deciding goal in the 8th minute and the Battery’s defense stood strong to see out the shutout win.
The result punches Charleston’s ticket to the Conference Semifinals on Sun., Nov. 10, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Patriots Point.
Charleston, debuting their new black-and-gold Playoff Kit, were off to a fast start in the defense of their Eastern Conference title and in the first playoff meeting with Riverhounds SC since 2001.
Golden Boot winner Nick Markanich beat Golden Glove winner Eric Dick and broke open the game in the 8th minute with a goal that gave the Battery an early 1-0. Charleston’s pressure paid off as Chris Allan connected with Arturo Rodriguez, and Rodriguez whipped in a perfect cross to Markanich inside the box. Markanich dove head-first into the ball and sent it to the back of the net.
The goal was Markanich’s 29th of the season, adding to his single-season club record. Rodriguez’s assist was his sixth of 2024.
Things began to settle down as the half wore on and the teams were limited to off-target shots.
Aaron Molloy came up big in the 38th minute with a sliding block inside the box to deny Danny Griffin, who had a dangerous look opportunity to tie the score.
Just before halftime, Rodriguez almost doubled the Battery’s lead in the 42nd minute. Juan David Torres played a brilliant cross to a wide-open Rodriguez, but Rodriguez’s first-time shot to the far post was saved.
The Battery took the 1-0 lead into the break.
Play resumed in the second half with Pittsburgh looking to get on the board. Chris Allan, deputizing at left-back again, made a crucial block in the opening minute of the half on Bertin Jacquesson’s shot inside the box.
The Battery defense continued to bow up as Riverohunds SC made more advances into the final third. Mark Segbers made an important block in the 65th minute and goalkeeper Adam Grinwis made a crucial high claim minutes later to halt the visitors’ progress.
Charleston’s defense came up with another strong stand in the 70th minute when Pittsburgh were driving into the final third. Jay Chapman made a glancing block on Griffin’s shot from inside the box and a clear look on goal. Nathan Dossantos then cleared the rebound.
On the other end, the Battery looked to be awarded a penalty after Emilio Ycaza appeared to be taken down in the box in the 75th minute, but no call was given.
Chapman made another important block in the 80th minute to keep Riverhounds SC at bay. In total, the Battery blocked six Pittsburgh shots.
MD Myers came off the bench in the second half and nearly doubled the Battery’s lead to seal it, but his attempts on target in the 89th and 96th minutes were both saved.
The Battery held on for the 1-0 win, knocking Pittsburgh out of the playoffs in their first win over the Pennsylvania side in 2024, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The next round will take place at Patriots Point on Sun., Nov. 10, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on national television (CBS Sports Network) and kicking off at 3 p.m. ET.
With the 1-0 result, Charleston recorded their first shutout since August 24. It’s an impressive feat considering Pittsburgh entered the match on a four-game winning streak, which included a win over the Battery on October 12.
Head Coach Ben Pirmann, forward Nick Markanich, defender Nathan Dossantos and midfielder Aaron Molloy addressed the media after the match, with key quotes to follow.
Coach Pirmann on his immediate takeaways from the victory…
Everybody knows we’re about processes. We’re about growth mindset and constantly improving. And, the processes matter, but they’re over now. It doesn’t matter about getting better, it just matters about getting results. We tweaked a few things we knew Pittsburgh wouldn’t be ready for, and that went massively in our favor.
The boys played great. We could have had three or four there. The game plan was completely different than what was probably anticipated, but the execution and effort by our players tonight, the 18 of them, was incredible. Great job to the staff, great job to the players. They worked their tails off. We had a couple of moments where we had to make big blocks. But to be fair to them, [Pittsburgh] made some big blocks as well to keep it 1-0. I’m very proud, very proud. All that matters is advancing.
Coach Pirmann on the impact of the home support in the playoffs…
We can’t win without our supporters. The Regiment, La Barra, and every single person who’s dialed into this community for over 30 years. We can’t win without them and tonight when [Pittsburgh] started pushing us back, our supporters got us back out on top and put us on the front foot. We need everybody next Sunday, we need you in the afternoon, we need you so we can advance to another final.
Markanich on his match-winning goal in the 8th minute…
We knew that we had to get the first goal. If they would have got the first goal it, would have been hard to come back. We stuck with the first goal, great ball from Arturo. We talked about it pre-game, finally cut in and either find me or Jackson the box. And that’s what exactly we did. We stuck with the lead, we stuck with the game plan, and everyone that came on and played an amazing game. So just getting ready for next weekend.
Dossantos on the Battery’s defensive stand in the second half…
The boys gave everything tonight. You saw guys just all over the field, making plays, making blocks, getting in front of the ball, putting their bodies on the line. That’s what this time of year is about. How much you win, the sacrifice, how much you wanted to give, to get a result like this, and in front of this crowd, I think we just fed off of that. The boys are animals tonight. That’s the only way to put it.
Definitely starting on the front foot, it’s a mentality thing as well. It gives us that confidence, and then knowing that they’re going to have to come to us, they’re going to be drawn out. It allows us to get those front players running in behind. You see what those guys can do when they’re in space and they have time. They’re making plays everywhere.
The boys did a great job this week. Then also defensively, we’ve been such a strong team all year. To get the clean sheet tonight, that’s massive. And like I said, everybody was making plays.
Molloy on his assessment of the win over Pittsburgh…
We knew they were going to come out flying. It was something that we talked about in the locker room at halftime, we talked about matching their energy and giving it a little bit more. And that’s what I thought we did. Man for man, I thought everybody [did] really well, the lads that were on the pitch, the lads that were on the bench, lads that came in, the fans, everybody was there behind us, everyone played a vital part.
Charleston’s next match will be in the Conference Semifinals against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sun., Nov. 10, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET at Patriots Point. Tickets for the game are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups and Scoring Summary
Lineups
CHS: Grinwis, Chapman, Segbers, Smith, Dossantos, Allan, Molloy, Torres (Biek, 85’), Rodriguez (Crawford, 90+3’), Markanich (Ycaza, 72’), Conway (Myers, 72’)
PIT: Dick, Osumanu (Sample, 63’), Hogan, Suber, Biasi, Walti, Griffin, Etou (Blackstock, 63’), Jacquesson (Dien, 79’), Kizza, Mertz (Forbes, 79’)
Scoring Summary
CHS – Nick Markanich, 8’ (Rodriguez)
