Battery blanks Miami

Charleston goalie records second shutout of season
Battery 2, FC Miami 0

Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser looked up at the scoreboard and knew he had very little to complain about.

Stephen Armstrong and Byron Alvarez each scored and Dusty Hudock made two crucial saves as the Battery beat Miami FC, 2-0, Saturday before a crowd of 3,596 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery, which won for the first time this season, improved to 1-1-2 (5 points) and will play its first road game of the season next week against the expansion Carolina Railhawks. Miami FC dropped to 1-3-0 (3 points).

It was the most complete performance of the season for the Battery, which opened the campaign with four straight home matches.

"You look up at the scoreboard and see that we scored two goals and got a clean sheet," Anhaeuser said. "I love those kind of wins. You got two goals, so you can't complain about the offense and you get a zero on the scoreboard, so there's nothing you can about the defense. We put the complete package together tonight.

"We generated some quality scoring chances and we shut them down. I think we only gave them two or three shots on goal and Dusty made the one or two saves he needed to make. Then we got two great goals. You have to commend the effort."

Hudock, who was forced to make just two saves, said it was the best overall performance of the season for the Battery.

"I thought we played very well," Hudock said. "I thought 2-0 was indicative of the performance we had out there. I thought we dominated the game. I thought we were very strong on the ball and we were solid defensively. You can't ask for much more than that."

After coming close to scoring in each of the Battery's first three matches, Alvarez finally broke through with his first goal of the season.

"I was more relieved that we won the game," Alvarez said. "That is what's really important. I was glad to contribute, but happier we won."

Charleston took a 1-0 lead on Armstrong's second goal of the season in the 29th minute.

Midfielder Lazo Alavanja played the ball down the right side to striker Michael Todd, who served the ball into the

box to Gordon Chin. Chin took a shot that Miami keeper Pat Hannigan made a diving save on. Armstrong was there for the loose ball and easily chipped the ball past Hannigan for the score.

"Gordan had another strong game for us," Anhaeuser said. "When he finally gets fit, he's really going to be a force out there."

Miami FC threatened in the 39th minute. After a scramble in the 18-yard box, the ball bounced out to Miami FC midfielder Sean Cameron, who blasted a shot on goal that Hudock punched away to end the threat.

"It's not always important how many saves you make, but when you make them," Hudock said. "At that point in the match that was important to keep them off the scoreboard."

Miami FC had another excellent scoring chance in the 70th minute. Former Brazilian World Cup midfielder Zinho dribbled the ball through the middle of the Battery's defense to the 18-yard box. Charleston defender Brandon Curran finally knocked Zhino off the ball, but it bounced to Sean Fraser, who blasted a shot that went just wide of the net.

The Battery pushed its advantage to 2-0 in the 85th minute on Byron Alvarez's first goal of the season.

After a corner kick the ball bounced out to Chin who served the ball into the 6-yard box. Alvarez half-volleyed the ball past Hannigan for the score.

"Gordon served me a great ball," Alvarez said. "I just tried to put the ball where the keeper wasn't."

Reach Andrew Miller at 937-5599 or apmiller@postandcourier.com.