Battery tops Rhinos, moves into first

Battery 1, Rhinos 0

Rochester, NY. — Randi Patterson scored his league-leading fifth goal of the year to lead Charleston to a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday night at PaeTek Park.

The win elevates Charleston (4-1-2, 14 points) into first place in the USL First Division.

Patterson's pace caused the Rochester defense problems all evening, and he finally made it count in the 59th minute with a darting run behind the two central defenders. Latching on to a pass from Lazo Alavanja, Patterson coolly lobbed Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow from the edge of the penalty-area.

Charleston took the game to Rochester from the opening whistle. Ian Fuller came close with a long-distance effort in the 5th minute that missed just wide of the left upright.

At the 25-minute mark, Rhinos midfielder Mauricio Salles brought the crowd to life with an acrobatic bicycle-kick attempt from the top of the box. Charleston goalkeeper Keith Wiggans scrambled back and just managed to turn the ball over the bar with a fingertip save.

In the 28th minute, Patterson won the ball 12 yards out with his back to goal. He set the ball back for midfielder Ozzie Alonso, but Alonso's right-footed strike was saved by Vallow.

Rochester fought back and won a free-kick just outside the box in the closing moments of the first half. Former Battery player Luke Kreamalmeyer took the shot but his attempt struck the wall and flew out for a corner.

The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium next Saturday for a match against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.