Battery fires blanks against Pittsburgh

It was just an unlucky night for the Charleston Battery.

Despite launching 17 shots on goal, the Charleston Battery and Pittsburgh Riverhounds played to a scoreless draw Saturday before a crowd of about 4,000 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery, which beat Charlotte, 2-1, Friday night, are 3-1-1 (10 points) on the season and trail first-place Richmond by just two points in the American Division. The Riverhounds are 1-2-1 (4 points).

The Battery generated plenty of scoring chances, but never were able to get on the scoreboard.

"It was really disappointing not to get the three points tonight," said Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser. "We created a ton of quality scoring chances and couldn't find the back of the net. It wasn't just one player, it was a two or three that couldn't convert. We did play last night and sometimes that takes that little extra out of you that you need to take advantage of those scoring chances when you get them."

The Battery displayed plenty of energy especially in the opening 30 minutes of the game.

"I put some of the big guns out there to start the game and we came out flying at the beginning of the game," Anhaeuser said. "I put all of our weapons out hoping to get that early goal. When you do that you sometimes don't have the legs to put out there late that can be game changers."

The Battery defense was solid, allowing just six shots on goal and single scoring chance in the final minute of the game.

"You can't lose if they don't score on you," said Charleston captain John Wilson. "We had some chances and we were just unlucky we couldn't finish. We got the shutout and we got the point, so the game wasn't a total loss."

The Battery attack threatened early and often.

The Battery nearly scored in the 23rd minute on Levi Coleman's breakaway. Coleman picked off a pass at midfield and sprinted past the last Riverhound defender. But Coleman's blast form just outside the 18-yard box sailed wide of the net.

"I just think everyone got a little over-excited, I know I did," Coleman said. "The ball popped up on my ankle and went straight instead of the bend I was looking for."

Charleston had another excellent scoring chance just two minutes later when JC Mack crossed the ball into Battery striker Dane Kelly inside the six-yard box. But Kelly's header hit the post as the Battery came up empty again.

The offensive frustrations continued for the Battery in the 37th minute when Coleman scored an apparent goal on another breakaway. However, the lanky forward was ruled offside on the play and the goal was disallowed.

"That's a tough call because I don't think I was off on that play," Coleman said. "I'm going to have to look at the video. Maybe the ball was played an instant late, but I felt like I was on. That was very unlucky."

The Battery continued to pressure the Riverhounds defenders, drawing a free kick from about 20 yards out. Midfielder Cole Peverley sent a bending ball to the far post, but Pittsburgh keeper Hunter Gilstrap, a former College of Charleston star, made a diving stop to end the threat.

The Battery's final chance to score came in the 71st minute when a rebound bounced out to Kelly. But the striker's attempt sail just over the cross bar.

Headers

--Charleston captain Stephen Armstrong (calf) missed the game with an injury.

--Pittsburgh coach Justin Evans played for the Battery in three seasons in 2002 and 2004-05.

--Charleston keeper Andrew Dykstra was out of the lineup with a broken foot. Dykstra is expected to miss three weeks after having surgery last week.