Battery Hold On for Three Points over Monterey Bay Behind Early Rodriguez Goal

The Charleston Battery set things right after a tough week by gaining all three points against Monterey Bay in what turned out to be a bit of a bruising affair.

Most of the match was played in and around midfield. However, the home side showed stout defensive quality, which evaded them last week, to rally behind an early Arturo Rodriguez goal to earn a victory and stay atop the USL Eastern Conference.

Despite the early goal, the Battery could have gone down early, with the kick-off from the home side going back to Chris Allan, who mishit a pass into a visiting player as Monterey Bay issued an early press. Luckily, the bounce of the ball gave Leland Archer a chance to get back as the traveling side, clad in all white, looked to go through on goal.

And then, solid build up play around the edge of the box found its way to Fidel Barajas, who gave the defense the eyes, but spotted Arturo Rodriguez in space on the overlap, and Rodriguez was able to find the bottom corner of the opposite side of the net to open the scoring for the Black and Yellow.

It was a difficult finish across his body for the midfielder, but one he could be proud of as he raced away to celebrate.

Barajas himself would go clean through just about a minute later, but couldn’t apply the same finishing touch.

Much of the game after that was chippy, and physical, and did not yield many clear-cut chances, though both ‘keepers were forced into flying saves on either side of halftime. First, Trey Muse had to sprawl in the 32nd minute to parry behind a shot from distance following a headed clearance by Derek Dodson. Dodson’s clearance fell to a player in white, and Trey Muse had to be on his toes, getting fully up into the top corner of his goal to keep his sheet clean as he tipped it around the post.

Then, in the second half, off an eerily similar opportunity, Dante Polvara forced a save out of the Monterey Bay ‘keeper, Carlos Hererra, as a headed clearance fell to the midfielder’s feet. He took a touch and then half-volleyed the ball on goal which forced Hererra into a flying save of his own.

The Battery led the game in Possession, shots, (nine, with three on goal,) and Pass Accuracy, but in the end, it was Rodriguez’s lone eighth-minute goal that was the difference. It was a much-needed result after the thrashing at the hands of San Antonio, to ensure that the confidence remained there for the Black and Yellow if nothing else, and at the end of the day, the three points were paramount, regardless of the scoreline.

The Battery next face Rio Grande Valley on May 27th away from home, which kicks off at 8PM ET, with their next home match not until June 2nd, against Indy Eleven.

TOP IMAGE: ARTURO RODRIGUEZ AND FIDEL BARAJAS EMBRACE AFTER THEY COMBINED FOR THE EVENTUAL WINNING GOAL AGAINST MONTEREY BAY FC. ROSS ALMERS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO.