Battery won't look past Cup foe

Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser learned a valuable lesson two years ago in the 2005 U.S. Open Cup.

It's a lesson that Anhaeuser hopes his players won't have to learn all over again.

The Battery hosts Central Florida, a team in the USL's Premier Development League, on June 12 at Blackbaud Stadium in the 2007 U.S. Open Cup's opening round.

Two years ago, the Battery traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on another PDL team in the opening round of the Open Cup and was unceremoniously bounced from the soccer tournament by the upstart Menace, 3-2.

To ensure the Battery remained at home for this year's opening round, team officials put in a strong bid to host a matchup.

"It's a blind draw, so there's no telling where you could end up," Anhaeuser said. "We wanted to make sure we were at home. There's a lot at stake and we wanted to make sure we had a chance to get out of the opening round. We don't want another repeat of what happened in 2005."

A year ago, the Battery beat Sonoma County, 1-0, and Portland, 3-1, in the first two rounds of the event before losing to the MLS' Dallas Burn in penalty kicks.

"We made a great run in the Cup a year ago," Anhaeuser said. "We certainly had our chances to beat Dallas and get to the next round."

Central Florida is 3-1-0 in the PDL. Justin Cooke, a former Ohio State standout, leads the Kraze with six points on two goals and two assists, while Noah Herbert, out of Stetson, has two goals.

"I don't know much about their personnel, but I know they'll be young and they'll be hungry," Anhaeuser said. "It'll be a challenge."

Open Cup tickets are $10 for non-season ticket holders, and $5 for season ticket holders. For further information, call 917-4625.

Smothering defense

Take away 15 minutes of the first half of Charleston's game against Montreal and the Battery has the best defensive unit in the USL First Division this season.

Through six games, the Battery had allowed just five goals, or less than a goal game. Only Portland, which has allowed four goals, has given up fewer goals. "We built this team around defense," Anhaeuser said. "If you don't give up any goals, the worst you can do is get a draw. Besides the first half against Montreal, we've been very sound, very solid defensively."

The Battery gave up three goals, including two in the first 10 minutes of the match, against the Impact. "We made a couple of mental mistakes that ended up in the back of our net," Anhaeuser said. "We made some adjustments and since then we've played very well defensively."

One of those adjustments was moving Tim Karalexis to the middle of the Battery's defense. He started the season at right back before being moved to the middle in the third game.

"I just think Tim's game is more suited for the middle," Anhaeuser said. "He's proven he can play on the outside, but he's more valuable to us in the middle."

Keeper Dusty Hudock has three shutouts already on the young season. "Dusty's has come up with the saves when we've needed them," Anhaeuser said.

Forwards on target

--Forward Ian Fuller has a pretty good shooting percentage. The former Clemson star has taken just two shots, but both have resulted in goals.

--After not scoring in the team's first three games, striker Byron Alvarez has goals in two of his last three games.

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