Battery inches closer to regular season title
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Charleston Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans recorded a six-save shutout as the Battery fought the Real Maryland Monarchs to a scoreless tie Sunday night at Richard Montgomery Stadium.
The tie moves Charleston to within one point of claiming the USL-2 regular season title.
The Battery (10-3-4, 34 points) are now eight points ahead of the second- place Richmond Kickers; both teams have three games remaining.
The Charleston Battery
The Monarchs (3-7-7, 16 points) put the Battery on the back foot from the opening whistle and Keith Wiggans was called into action in only the 4th minute, saving from close range after a goal-mouth scramble.
The Battery had to wait until the 25th minute for their first scoring opportunity after midfielder Jon Gruenewald earned a free kick just outside the box. Mike Zaher took the kick but saw his curling left-footed attempt miss just wide of the far post.
Wiggans was busy again just before halftime as he parried away a fierce driven shot from forward Jyler Noviello. Wiggans parried the attempt and managed to steer the ball around the post and behind to safety.
Noviello had another chance just after halftime as he tried a speculative shot from 20 yards out. Wiggans saw the shot late as it came through a crowd of players, but he got down quickly and palmed the ball wide to concede a corner.
Wiggans denied midfielder Rod Dyachenko from close range in the 51st minute and then the Battery began to fight back as substitute forwards Rudolph Mayard and Lamar Neagle were both inserted into the game.
Mayard banged a shot high just after the hour mark, and he was involved again minutes later but was called offside as the ball was slipped through to him just inside the box.
Neagle almost scored a winner for the Battery in the 80th minute, but his snap header from six yards out brought a superb save from Monarchs goalkeeper Brian Levey, who just managed to turn the ball around the post.
The Battery returns to action Saturday with a 7 p.m. road match against the Charlotte Eagles (5-7-5, 20 points).
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