League leaders riding high

Charleston hosts Seattle after Tuesday's big win

Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier

Charleston midfielder Stephen Armstrong and the Battery host the Seattle Sounders tonight.

Charleston Battery midfielder Stephen Armstrong woke up a little early Wednesday morning.

Less than 10 hours earlier, the Battery had beaten Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo in penalty kicks in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and Armstrong was still fired up.

"That next morning the adrenaline was definitely still there," said Armstrong, who scored in the penalty-kick shootout against the Dynamo. "I woke up way too early and I couldn't get back to sleep thinking about it. It was a great win for us and I know everyone probably reacted differently, but I was still pretty pumped up a day or two after we beat (Houston)."

Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser hopes the high that the Battery experienced in Tuesday night's win over the two-time defending MLS champions won't turn into a hangover for his team in their USL First Division game tonight against Seattle. The Battery will take on the Sounders tonight beginning at 7:30 at Blackbaud Stadium.

Like the Battery, the Sounders are coming off an impressive win over an MLS team — a 2-0 win against Chivas USA — Tuesday night in the

U.S. Open Cup.

"If we have an emotional letdown against Seattle we're in trouble," Anhaeuser said. "They beat Chivas USA pretty easily and they won our league last year. Seattle is moving up to the MLS next season, so they are probably as good or better than some teams in the MLS right now. We've got to be ready to play an MLS-caliber team.

"We've got lot of experience and a lot of discipline on this team, so I don't think we're going to have any kind of a hangover from Tuesday night."

The game with Houston went into overtime and the Battery had eight players on the field for the entire 120 minutes of action. As a result, the Battery took two days off and held a brief training session on the July 4th holiday.

"There are no vacations this time of year," said Battery defenseman Kevin Nylen. "I think it was great to get away from the game for a couple of days. A lot of the guys who played all 120 minutes needed a break. After you play a game like that you're drained physically and emotionally.

"Two days off gives you a chance to get out of the element and not think about the game and that should recharge everyone's batteries. I know I'm ready to go." Anhaeuser said he's planning on resting several of his more "veteran" players tonight against the Sounders.

"I'm going to give a few guys a break to rest their legs," Anhaeuser said. "You might see three, four or five changes in the starting 11 from Tuesday night. I feel like we've got a deep squad and we've got guys that can step in and do the job. That's the nice thing about where we are and where our fitness is as a team.

"I am a little concerned about a couple of guys that it might have an adverse effect on them because they played all 120 minutes, but I don't think it will."

Charleston and Seattle played to a 1-1 draw in the Battery's home opener in April.

"They got a late equalizer and I think the guys remember that," Anhaeuser said. "I think that's a game we felt like we deserved three points instead of the one point we got."

Despite a quarterfinal match-up with Dallas on the horizon this coming Tuesday, Armstrong said the team's focus is squarely on the Sounders.

"Our No. 1 focus right now are the league games," Armstrong said. "The Cup games are a great incentive for us and we're looking forward to playing Dallas, but we've got to think about getting points in the league. We've got a deep squad and everyone is fighting to get on the field, so I don't think we're looking ahead at all."

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com and check out the new Battery blog at, www.charleston.net/blogs/battery/.