The Charleston Battery tied 1-1 with the Rochester Rhinos Saturday night at Marina Auto Stadium in front of 5,789. Randi Patterson scored a second-half equalizer to earn Charleston a point as the Battery improves to 8-3-8, 32 points and moves into sole possession of first place in the USL First Division.
The first chance of the game fell to the Battery in the 4th minute after Charleston earned a corner-kick. Midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake whipped the ball in to the near post but forward Tom Heinemann’s curling header was saved by goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Rochester opened the scoring in the 28th minute after midfielder Tiger Fitzpatrick worked his way past his marker on the far side. Fitzpatrick rolled the ball to the middle of the penalty-area where for forward John Menyongar who blasted past Wiggans from eight yards out.
The Battery leveled in the 37th minute with a nicely taken goal by striker Randi Patterson. Patterson turned past Rochester defender Brent Sancho at the apex of the box. Patterson took a quick step inside then curled the ball past Melia into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Charleston almost scored again minutes later after Heinemann found himself one on one with Sancho just outside the box. Heinemann cut inside the defender but his shot was smothered by Melia on the goal-line.
The Battery came close in the 48th minute after the ball was worked out to Charleston right-back Frankie Sanfilippo. Sanfilippo carried the ball to the bye-line but his chipped cross was just too high for Patterson to finish.
Charleston threatened again minutes later after Tyler Hemming stole the ball for the Battery just inside the Rochester half. Hemming passed quickly to Yoshitake whose shot from just inside the box dipped over the bar.
The best chance of the second half fell to the Rhinos in the 79th minute after the ball was curled in to the near post. Defender Kenny Bertz met the cross and snapped a header down at the goal but Wiggans reacted well and just managed to turn the ball around the post with a fingertip save.