The Charleston Battery dominated Rhode Island FC en route to a 2-0 victory on Saturday at Patriots Point. Cal Jennings’ brace in the first half and Luis Zamudio’s clean sheet powered Charleston to their first three points of 2025.
The Battery started the match with plenty of motivation behind them, from looking to bounce back from the Week 1 result to exacting revenge from last year’s Eastern Conference Final.
Rhode Island nearly scored first after two minutes, but squandered the opportunity when their dangerous cross inside the box was met without a receiver to knock it in.
The Battery had a moment of their own minutes later, when Juan David Torres’ long ball over the top eventually got to Cal Jennings inside the box, but Jennings' shot was cleared off the line by Clay Holstad. The pairing of Torres and Jennings began to overwhelm Rhode Island early.
Charleston broke the game open in the 15th minute when Jennings struck off a Torres corner kick to give the Battery a 1-0 lead. Torres’ corner kick was pawed away by goalkeeper Koke Vegas, but Jennings shielded the ball brilliantly and then turned and shot the ball into the back of the net.
The goal was the first for Jennings in Battery colors.
As the half wore on, so did the Battery’s pressure on the visitors.
It was essentially déjà vu for Rhode Island when the Battery doubled their lead in the 37th minute. Torres lifted a corner kick toward goal and Jennings was there at the near post to head it home and make the score 2-0.
The first half brace doubled Jennings’ goal tally for 2025 and the assist was Torres’ first of the campaign.
Charleston took the 2-0 lead into the break after holding Rhode Island to only two shots (0.07 xG) in the first half. The trio of Leland Archer, Graham Smith and Houssou Landry did amicable work to neutralize any advance by the visitors.
The Battery came out of the break swinging early, with Torres and Jennings leading the charge again. The Colombian played a sublime through ball to Jennings, but Jennings’ attempt for a hat trick was saved by Vegas.
Charleston’s defense would solidify more as the half wore on as they aimed to maintain the shutout. Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio made a crucial punch on a cross in the 53rd minute to keep Rhode Island at bay.
Johnny Klein nearly added a third goal for the Battery in the 67th minute when he sliced and diced through Rhode Island and into the box, but his shot was saved. On the opposite end, Klein blocked a Rhode Island shot in the 77th minute which was then cleared away by Houssou Landry.
Zamudio delivered in the 80th minute with a highlight-reel save to keep Rhode Island off the board. He again made a crucial save in the 88th minute to deny Joe Brito.
A noteworthy moment came in the 84th minute when Joey Akpunonu entered the game off the bench to officially make his Battery debut.
Charleston saw out the 2-0 victory, a bit of fitting revenge after last year’s Eastern Conference Final against Rhode Island. After two draws in the initial two meetings between the sides, the result marks Charleston’s first-ever win over Rhode Island.
The shutout was Zamudio’s first of 2025 and with the Battery. He recorded two saves, six clearances, one high claim and two punches in the evening.
Leland Archer recorded match-highs with seven clearances and four interceptions.
Juan David Torres led the game with five chances created.
