SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Charleston Battery played Rhode Island FC to a scoreless draw at Beirne Stadium on Saturday. It was the first meeting between Charleston and Rhode Island and neither side could find the back of the net amid the rainy and slick conditions that impacted the whole night. The shutout was goalkeeper Adam Grinwis’ third of the season and the result brings the Battery’s unbeaten streak to five games to start the year.
Charleston and Rhode Island kicked off under stormy skies that made their presence felt throughout the half, as the slick ball on the turf made control come at a premium.
Rhode Island began to find a footing roughly 20 minutes in but were halted when Albert Dikwa was assessed a foul in the box for a collision with goalkeeper Adam Grinwis. The shot-stopper put his body on the line and Dikwa was shown a yellow card.
Juan David Torres shot the Battery’s best attempt on frame in the 36th minute, but goalkeeper Jackson Lee managed to make the save.
The teams went into the break tied at 0-0. Shots were split four for each side and Charleston held just under 60% of possession. Rhode Island picked up four yellow cards to the Battery’s one.
Play resumed in the second half and the rain was not far behind in making its return to play either. Rhode Island tested Grinwis again in the 56th minute but the shot-stopper made a fine diving save to keep the game at 0-0. On the other end, Torres nearly sent his free-kick past Lee from roughly 40 yards out.
Rhode Island were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Conor McGlynn was shown his second yellow card of the night. McGlynn made a late challenge against Nathan Dossantos after Dossantos cleared the ball away.
With a one-man advantage, Charleston pushed numbers forward in search of a breakthrough goal. Nick Markanich hit a shot off the post in the 72nd minute and Torres had a close shot saved in the 89th minute.
The Battery’s final concrete chance was in stoppage time when MD Myers had a well-placed glancing header saved and the rebound was sent back by Aaron Molloy, whose shot was just narrowly tall of the bar.
Charleston and Rhode Island ended the night in a 0-0 draw after roughly 10 minutes of stoppage time.
The draw extends the Battery’s undefeated run to five games to start the year, placing their record at 2W-0L-3D (9 pts), good for fourth in the conference standings.
Goalkeeper Adam Grinwis logged his third shutout of the season, tying him for the league lead.
Head Coach Ben Pirmann and goalkeeper Adam Grinwis discussed the match after the final whistle, with key quotes to follow.
