Dusty Hudock

2009 Third Round: Battery make history with win; Chivas USA’s Open Cup misery continues

June 30, 2009 by

Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, SC | 7:30 p.m.
Match Reports: Charleston | Chivas | Post and Courier | LA Times

	3	FT	1
Randi Patterson 9’, 45’+ Tsuyoshi Yoshitake 90’+				28’ Jesse Marsch

The Charleston Battery reach the Quarterfinals by defeating Chivas USA 3-1 at Blackbaud Stadium. For the Battery, they become the first USL team to reach the round of eight three consecutive years. The first of Randi Patterson’s two goals came in the 9th minute, when a failed Jim Curtin clearance landed in front of him. He volleyed it into the net to give Charleston the early 1-0 lead. However, in the 28th minute, a Sasha Victorine’s cross to Jesse Marsch equalized the game for Chivas USA.

That would be as close as they would get in their attempt to win their first Open Cup game since 2005.Randi Patterson scored his second goal mere seconds before the halftime whistle as he received a pass beyond the Chivas back line. He then proceeded to bend it past goalkeeper Lance Parker to give the Battery a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Charleston closed out the victory in second half stoppage time as Tsuyoshi Yoshitake finished a spectacular volley from 25 yards out.

Chivas USA continues to struggle in the US Open Cup, losing their fifth straight Cup match. Since their inaugural season in 2005, they have a tournament record of 1-4-1, with the draw ending in a historic shootout loss to Dallas Roma FC of the USASA. Their only win came in their first Open Cup game in the Third Round of 2005 when they scored the game-winning goal in the 120th minute of extra time to beat the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division.

Charleston moves on to the Quarterfinals next week to play the Houston Dynamo at Blackbaud Stadium. The game on July 7 will be the third consecutive tournament where the two clubs will have met with Charleston winning the first two (one in extra time, the other in penalty kicks).

2009 Second Round: Lone PK enough for Battery, edge Miami FC in defensive struggle

June 16, 2009 by

Tropical Park – Miami, Fla. | 8 p.m.

Media coverage: Miami Herald | Charleston Battery

Match Statistics

	0	FT	1
				65’ Tyler Hemming (PK)

Tyler Hemming converted a penalty kick in the 65th minute to send the Charleston Battery to the Third Round of the US Open Cup with a 1-0 win over Miami FC.

The Battery got running out of the gate early with a couple of chances. Hemming had a 30-yard shot sail wide in the 15th minute, and then a cross in the 21st minute fell to defender Matt Bobo, whose shot also went wide. Miami got its own chances in the game, with a shot from Diego Serna in the 35th minute and one from Edwin Miranda in the 52nd, with both shots missing off target.

In the 65th minute, Miami defender Cristiano Dias fouled Battery midfielder Chris Williams in the box, which earned a penalty kick for Charleston. Hemming converted a right-footed shot to score the only goal of the match.

The Charleston Battery move on to the Third Round, where they will play Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, June 30.

2008 US Open Cup Final: DC United brings the Open Cup back to the nation’s capital

August 26, 2008 by Aaron Stollar

DC United celebrates their 2008 US Open Cup title. Photo: BehindTheBadge.com

DC United captured their second US Open Cup championship with a 2-1 win over the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division. Luciano Emilio scored in the fifth minute when the ball was cleared just outside the box, and while striking the ball he slips onto the turf, but somehow finds a way to put it in the upper 90 to give DC United the lead.

Emilio injured himself on the play, hurting his groin, and he had to be subsequently subbed out of the match. Charleston answered five minutes later after Chris Williams found Ian Fuller deep in United territory, who fired a shot past DC goalkeeper Louis Crayton to level the match at 1-1.

In the 51st minute, DC United midfielder Fred received a pass in behind the defense and beat Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Fred’s goal would prove to be the game-winner despite some quality chances from the underdogs from South Carolina. It was the first Open Cup championship for United since they became the first MLS team to lift the trophy back in 1996 when they defeated the A-League’s Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0.

2008 Semifinals: Luciano Emilio’s two goals earns him Player of the Round

August 13, 2008 by

D.C. United earned a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 1997 with a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution in the Semifinals. Luciano Emilio’s pair of goals earned him the TheCup.us Player of the Round award, edging out Charleston Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.

BehindTheBadge.com, the official blog of D.C. United, conducted an interview with Emilio following his performance.

2008 Semifinals: Battery beat Sounders in PKs to reach first Open Cup Final

August 12, 2008 by

The Charleston Battery earned a place in the US Open Cup Final for the first time in club history after winning a penalty kick shootout with the Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals. The Battery are the first non-MLS team to advance to the Final since the Rochester Raging Rhinos won the tournament in 1999.

The Sounders struck first with a goal in the 20th minute when a short corner ended up at the feet of Youseff Kante just outside the penalty area. He drove a shot toward goal and the ball took a deflection off of the Battery’s Osvaldo Alonso and ended up in the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

In the 32nd minute, the Battery were on the attack and sent a ball into the box from the right wing. A glancing header by Darren Spicer forced a save by Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander, but he was unable to hang onto it. Randi Patterson was on the doorstep and pounced on the loose ball and tied the game at 1-1, ending Seattle’s single-tournament record shutout streak at 453 minutes.

Both teams were unable to break the deadlock through 120 minutes, despite a few close calls, and the match had to be decided by penalty kicks. The Battery led 2-1 when Sebastien Le Toux had his attempt saved by Dusty Hudock. Mike Richardson had a chance to put the Battery up 3-1, but Chris Eylander came through for Seattle making the stop to keep it close. After both teams traded goals, Hudock saved the attempt by Kevin Forrest in the fifth round to send Charleston to the Open Cup Final.

TheCup.us Fun Fact: Dusty Hudock’s saves in the penalty kick shootout, helped eliminate the Seattle Sounders, the team that he made his Open Cup debut with in the First Round of the 1995 US Open Cup (June 14, 1995). He was given the starting job that night in Seattle’s 9-2 win over the Everett BigFoot of the USISL Pro League, as regular starter Marcus Hahnemann was given the night off.

2008 Quarterfinals: Sounders’ Chris Eylander unanimous as Player of the Round

July 9, 2008 by

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander was a unanimous selection as the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Quarterfinals. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.

Eylander was challenged for the award by Jamie Moreno of DC United, along with goalkeepers Doug Warren of the New England Revolution and Eric Kronberg of the Kansas City Wizards.

The University of Washington alum helped the Sounders earn their fourth straight shutout in the tournament (a Professional Era single-tournament record of 421 shutout minutes), while holding Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of play. After extra time, Seattle earned their second straight trip to the Semifinals with a 6-5 win in the penalty kick shootout.

Eylander made 13 saves in the match, including two stops (Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl) in the shootout to send the Sounders to a date with fellow USL First Division club, the Charleston Battery on August 12 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The goalkeeper took some time to talk with TheCup.us following his Quarterfinal performance.

TheCup.us: First of all, congratulations on the win on Tuesday and for being named “Player of the Round.” The Wizards definitely put some pressure on your net, forcing you to make 13 saves. Was there a moment for you personally, or a particular defensive stop, where you felt like your defense was going to keep this shutout streak going.

Eylander: Thanks a lot for congratulating me. I don’t remember there being a distinct moment where I knew we were going to shut out the Wizards in regular play. We were under pressure in spells throughout the entirety of the game. Playing in any game a breakdown can occur at any time. I was very determined to do everything I could to keep the ball out of the net and help communicate with the players in front of me to dissallow any unnecessary opportunities on goal.

TheCup.us: In the penalty kick shootout, or any penalty kick shootout, do you just guess, or do you try to read the shooter? What’s your approach?

Eylander: PK tactics can always vary. I don’t think any goalkeeper would like to give out their secrets to how they approach penalties. In general, if you can determine any information from the player’s approach to the ball, this is a whole lot better than a random guess.

TheCup.us: Some MLS teams rest their starters for Open Cup games, but even the ones who field strong lineups are still getting knocked off the last couple of years. Do you feel like the talent gap is closing between the USL-1 and MLS or is the motivation for the USL-1 teams greater?

Eylander: Regardless of who the MLS teams are fielding, you can’t look at the last couple of years in Open Cup play and not see that the USL teams are competing very well with them.

TheCup.us: Sebastien Le Toux has already secured a place on the Seattle MLS roster. Is the prospect of getting a contract with the MLS Sounders creating some extra pressure for the rest of the players on the roster? Is that something that’s talked about among your teammates?

Eylander: I think every one of the players on the team would love the oppurtunity to play at the next level up. It may add a bit of pressure for the players. Playing well consistently thoughout the USL season and performing well against other MLS teams would add a lot of credibility for those looking to play at the MLS level. It isn’t something that I have noticed to be talked about much amongst the players. We understand that taking care of business in league and Open Cup play is the most important area of concentration for the team.

TheCup.us: Do you feel like you will be wearing a Seattle uniform next season?

Eylander: I would very much like to be wearing a Seattle uniform next season.

TheCup.us: Looking ahead to the next round, you’ve got Charleston at Blackbaud Stadium on August 12. Is there a different level of pressure when facing a team you’re familiar with rather than a team you rarely play, or have never played? What’s your outlook for the semifinal matchup with Charleston?

Eylander: The good thing about playing in Charleston for the Semifinals is that we have already played there twice this year. We will be much more familiar with the pitch, the environment and the team as opposed to if we were playing an unknown team for the first time away from home. We will also have more time this round to prepare and get players healthy. The semifinals will be a very challenging game. Charleston has a strong team and will give us a tough match.

About the NASR
The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) are a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

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The 2008 Seattle Sounders now hold the record for the longest single-tournament shutout streak, but D.C. United have the high mark for longest streak over multiple competitions.

D.C. United (1996-1997, 564 mins.)
09/04/96 2-0 vs. Carolina Dynamo (GK – Jeff Causey) 90 mins.
10/27/96 2-0 vs. Dallas Burn (GK – Mark Simpson) 90 mins.
10/30/96 3-0 vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos (GK – Mark Simpson) 90 mins.
08/06/97 0-0 (PKW 3-2) vs. Hershey Wildcats (GK – Scott Garlick) 120 mins.
08/19/97 2-0 vs. Tampa Bay Mutiny (GK – Scott Garlick) 90 mins.
09/03/97 2-1 vs. San Francisco Bay Seals (GK – Scott Garlick) 84 mins.

Seattle Sounders (2008, 421 mins.)
09/04/07 1-2 vs. FC Dallas (GK – Chris Eylander) 1 min.
06/10/08 1-0 vs. Arizona Sahuaros (GK – Chris Eylander) 120 mins.
06/24/08 6-0 vs. Hollywood United (GK – Chris Eylander) 90 mins.
07/01/08 2-0 vs. Chivas USA (GK – Chris Eylander) 90 mins.
07/08/08 0-0 (PKW 6-5) vs. Kansas City Wizards (GK – Chris Eylander) 120 mins.

Colorado Rapids (1999, 381 mins.)
07/30/97 1-2 vs. Chicago Stingers (GK – Paul Grafer) 46 mins.
07/13/99 1-0 vs. Seattle Sounders (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
08/13/99 1-0 vs. Tampa Bay Mutiny (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
09/01/99 3-0 vs. Charleston Battery (GK – Ian Feuer) 90 mins.
09/13/99 0-2 vs. Rochester Raging Rhinos (GK – Ian Feuer) 65 mins.

Carolina RailHawks (2007, 329 mins.)
06/12/07 4-1 vs. RWB Adria (GK Chris McClellan) 14 mins.
06/26/07 4-0 vs. Bavarian SC (GK – Chris McClellan) 90 mins.
07/15/07 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire (GK – John O’Hara) 90 mins.
08/07/07 1-0 vs. Richmond Kickers (GK – Chris McClellan) 90 mins.
09/04/07 1-2 vs. New England Revolution (GK – Chris McClellan) 45 mins.

Charleston Battery (2007, 324 mins.)
08/02/06 3-3 (PKL 3-5) vs. FC Dallas (GK – Dusty Hudock) 1 min.
06/12/07 3-0 vs. Central Florida Kraze (GK – Keith Wiggans) 90 mins.
06/26/07 1-0 vs. El Paso Patriots (GK – Dusty Hudock) 90 mins.
07/10/07 1-0 vs. Houston Dynamo (GK – Dusty Hudock) 120 mins.
08/07/07 1-2 vs. FC Dallas (GK – Dusty Hudock) 23 mins.

San Jose Earthquakes (2000-2001, 292 mins.)
08/09/00 0-2 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Joe Cannon) 9 mins.
06/27/01 6-0 vs. Central Coast Roadrunners (GK – Jon Conway) 90 mins.
07/11/01 0-0 (PKW 7-6) vs. Milwaukee Rampage (GK – Jon Conway) 120 mins.
07/24/01 1-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Jon Conway) 73 mins.

Dallas Roma FC (2006, 259 mins.)
06/14/06 2-2 (PKW 4-2) vs. Laredo Heat (GK – Jesse Llamas) 14 mins.
06/28/06 1-0 vs. Miami FC (GK – Jesse Llamas) 90 mins.
07/12/06 0-0 (PKW 4-2) vs. Chivas USA (GK – Jesse Llamas) 120 mins.
08/01/06 0-2 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (GK – Nestor Merlo) 35 mins.

Longest Shutout Streak in Professional Era (1995 – present)
DC United (1996-97) 564 mins.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS (2008) 421 mins.
Colorado Rapids (1999) 381 mins.
Carolina RailHawks (2007) 329 mins.
Charleston Battery (2007) 324 mins.
San Jose Earthquakes (2000-01) 292 mins.
Dallas Roma FC (2006) 259 mins.

2008 Quarterfinals: Third time’s the charm for Battery against FC Dallas

July 8, 2008 by

In 2006 and 2007, FC Dallas crushed the hopes of the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals. This year, it was the Battery’s turn to exact revenge, winning 3-1 in Frisco after waiting out a weather delay.

FC Dallas came out with a relatively strong lineup as they played most of their regulars for the match. They looked the stronger of the two teams out of the gate, controlling play early.

However, in the 28th minute, it was the Battery who struck first. Former Dallas player Lazo Alavanja blocked a clearance by the Dallas defense near the top of the 18 and put it past keeper Dario Sala to give Charleston the 1-0 lead.

In the 39th minute, lightning struck. One hour and ten minutes later, play finally resumed after 9:00 local time. FC Dallas came flying out of the gate once again, with Arturo Alvarez hitting a shot off the post almost immediately out of the dressing room. But once again, it was Charleston who came through. On the counter attack resulting from the play, Ian Fuller received a pass at the edge of the box from Stephen Armstrong, beat his man, and placed the ball inside the near post, giving the Battery the 2-0 advantage.

To be absolutely sure that the Battery would move on, Randi Patterson took the ball all the way from the midfield stripe in the 90th minute and put away Dallas for good. FC Dallas would finally find a way to scrape together a goal and avoid the shutout in stoppage time when Dax McCarty served up a ball inside the box to Kenny Cooper, who made a lunging header into the back of the net, to make the final score 3-1 in favor of Charleston.

The Battery now move on to host USL-1 foe Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals, assuring that a non-MLS team will make the US Open Cup final for the first time since the Rochester Raging Rhinos won it all in 1999.

2008 Third Round: 9-man Battery eliminate Houston Dynamo again

July 1, 2008 by

Last year, the Charleston Battery defeated the Houston Dynamo in the Third Round of the US Open Cup at Blackbaud Stadium, but it took extra time to do so. This year produced the same result, but penalty kicks were needed this time around. Charleston beat Houston 4-3 in penalties after extra time resulted in a 1-1 draw, sending the Battery to the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

Charleston controlled much of the first half, finally punching through in the 31st minute, when Osvaldo Alonso took a free kick from outside the box on the left side, which found Ian Fuller’s head and eventually landed at the feet of Marco Reda, who put it past Dynamo keeper Tony Caig for the 1-0 lead. The second half was a much different story. In the 55th minute, a shot by Franco Caraccio was destined for goal, but Stephen Armstrong was there to clear it off the line. Then it started to really fall apart for the Battery.

In the 74th minute, recent sub Chris Corcoran was given a straight red card after he fouled Chris Wondolowski. Charleston looked to hold on for the last 16 minutes, but it wasn’t to be. A ball served into the box from Chris Wondolowski was headed by Franco Caraccio to Chris’ brother Stephen, who headed it home in the 89th minute to tie the game for Houston. Extra time saw both teams moving somewhat cautiously, but a 102nd minute red card by Marco Reda put the Battery down to nine men for the rest of the match.

Penalties are mostly a guessing game, but there was no guessing needed by Battery keeper Dusty Hudock when on Houston’s third try with the score tied at 2, Geoff Cameron chipped the shot well over the net, giving Charleston the advantage. The Battery led 4-3 heading into the fifth round, which brought pressure on newcomer Franco Caraccio to score the goal that would keep Houston alive. He went left. Hudock dove to his right, making the save and giving Charleston the victory.

Charleston will now travel to Pizza Hut Park next Tuesday to play Houston’s Texas rivals, FC Dallas. Coincidentally, Dallas has knocked out the Battery in the last two Open Cups, needing extra time (or more) to do so on both occasions.

2007 Third Round: Battery upset Dynamo on PK rebound in extra time

July 10, 2007 by

In a hard-fought match at Blackbaud Stadium, the Charleston Battery eliminated the Houston Dynamo 1-0 with a goal in extra time by Stephen Armstrong.

Houston goalkeeper Zach Wells, who bailed out the Dynamo on several occasions, saved the penalty kick by Armstrong in the 106th minute, but Armstrong crashed the net and buried the rebound. It was the fourth win by the Battery over an MLS team in their franchise history (1999 – DC United, 2001 – Metrostars, 2004 – Metrostars).

With the win, the Battery will host FC Dallas for the second year in a row, this time in the Quarterfinals. The game will be a rematch of the thrilling Fourth Round game from last season where Kenny Cooper scored the equalizer, his third goal of the game, in the final minute of extra time to send the 3-3 game into penalties. Dallas would prevail in the shootout, 5-3.

2007 Second Round: Battery avoid another USL-1 upset, edge PDL’s Patriots 1-0

June 26, 2007 by

Anthony Catalano and Ian Bennett celebrate Catalano’s goal in Charleston’s 1-0 victory over El Paso. Photo: Charleston Battery

It took 74 minutes, but the Charleston Battery finally found the goal that would deny the El Paso Patriots another USL-1 scalp, beating the PDL side 1-0.

The Battery pressured El Paso all night, but the Patriots managed to survive most of the match with a clean sheet. In the first half, a header from Tim Karalexis found the post instead of the net. Mike Richardson also also found the woodwork with a shot from a Stephen Armstrong cross.

El Paso goalkeeper Jorge Muniz made several great saves in the second half to keep his team in the game, as well as several near misses from the Battery.

Charleston finally broke through with roughly fifteen minutes remaining. Lazo Alavanja swung a free kick that found Anthony Catalano, whose volley from inside the six-yard box beat a frozen Muniz.

El Paso very nearly sent the match to extra time in the dying seconds, however. After defender Brandon Curran slipped and fell, Omar Mora found himself one on one with Charleston GK Dusty Hudock. With Hudock closing in, Mora’s shot rolled just shy of the goalpost.

Scoring
(CHR) Anthony Catalano 75’