Charleston Battery to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds tonight at Blackbaud Stadium

Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser finally feels like he’s got his team in place.

While there might be a player or two still out there to sign, the addition of Jamaican strikers Dane Kelly and Navion Boyd gives Anhaeuser the sense that all the pieces of the puzzle are in place.

Both are expected to make their season debuts when the Battery takes on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds today at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

“Dane and Navion are going to play a huge role for us this season, so to not have them in the lineup for the first three games has left us a little short-handed,” Anhaeuser said. “They are definitely going to add some danger to our attack and add to our team speed.”

Boyd and Kelly were teammates this past season in Jamaica for Tivoli Gardens FC.

A year ago as a rookie, Kelly played in 17 games for the Battery, scoring six goals and adding one assist.

Boyd is a member of the Jamaican national team and has scored one goal in 17 appearances for the Reggae Boyz. Boyd has played for Tivoli Gardens since 2005, scoring 26 goals in 75 games.

“They’ve only been here two days, so we don’t want to rush them into the lineup and risk an injury,”Anhaueser said. “They’ll be available to play (tonight). They’ve played on the same team for a couple of seasons in Jamaica, so they’ve already got good chemistry together.”

The Battery is 2-1-0 on the young season with both wins coming on the road. The Battery lost their home opener, 2-1, to Richmond last weekend.

“We really should have gotten at least a point against Richmond, but they’re a good, defensive, veteran team,” Anhaeuser said. “We’re not going sit back. We’ve got some quality up front. We’re going to attack teams, especially when we’re at home.”

Meanwhile, keeper Andrew Dykstra, who has been on loan from Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, will remain with the Battery until mid-May, Anhauser said. Dykstra earned a shutout win in the 3-0 victory over the Charlotte Eagles last Tuesday night.

“We’ve got some injuries at keeper right now and needed Andrew to stay a little longer,” Anhaeuser said.

Ryan Richter was named the USL Pro player of the week following his performance against Charlotte. Richter scored his first goal as a Battery player in the game and has now accumulated three points through three games played.