Markanich sets new club goal scoring record

Battery Media

The Charleston Battery played Detroit City FC to a dramatic 2-2 on Saturday in a packed house at Patriots Point. The afternoon was dominated by defense in the first half, but the offenses delivered all four goals in the second half. Nick Markanich scored his 28th goal of the year, setting the new club record for most in a season across all competitions, and Juan David Torres fired in a goal for the second consecutive match, but a late Detroit equalizer saw the points shared. 

It was a cagey start to the day in a match between two of the league’s best defenses. While Charleston made more advances early on, neither side recorded a shot in the opening 15 minutes. 

Emilio Ycaza and Leland Archer made a crucial intervention in the Battery’s defensive third when Detroit appeared to be threatening in the 19th minute, both tracked back to dispossess Abdoulaye Diop and thwarted the attack. 

Arturo Rodriguez had the only shot on target of the first half between either team, a 27th-minute attempt from inside the box that forced goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher to come off his line for the save.

Charleston and Detroit went into halftime scoreless. The Battery held roughly 62% possession in the opening stanza. The visitors managed to strike first shortly after play resumed for the second half via Stephen Carroll in the 49th minute. 

The complexion of the match quickly changed, however, as Detroit’s Connor Rutz was shown a straight red card. Detroit were reduced to 10 men for virtually the remainder of the second half. 

Charleston quickly applied heavy pressure on Detroit with the one-man advantage while down 0-1.Juan David Torres produced an opportunity for the Battery to level the score when he drew a foul inside the box in the 70th minute, awarding Charleston a penalty.Nick Markanich stepped up to the spot and buried the goal in the 73rd minute, tying the game at 1-1.

It was a historic moment as Markanich scored his 28th goal of the season, officially breaking the club’s all-time record for most goals scored in a single season (all competitions). He broke the tie with Paul Conway’s mark of 27 set in 2001, two years after Markanich was born. The goal also adds to Markanich’s existing league record for most goals in a single Championship season.

Charleston continued to attack Detroit with momentum on their side. It was not before too long when Torres again delivered for the Battery, this time scoring a goal of his own in the 84th minute. Torres initiated the play and attempted to run a give-and-go with Jackson Conway inside the box. Conway’s pass back to Torres was deflected, but the ball still fell favorably for the Colombian to strike the ball to the far post and beat Steinwascher. The goal was Torres’ sixth of the season. 

In stoppage time, Detroit managed to pull level with a strike from distance and off the post by Laurent Kissiedou, bringing the score to 2-2.Charleston pushed for a third goal in the dying embers of the match but saw their efforts come up empty. Leland Archer nearly won it with a header off a corner kick in the 102nd minute, essentially the last touch of the match, but his attempt hit off the post and the final whistle blew. 

The Battery and Detroit shared the points in the end, a 2-2 result after a physical and gritty afternoon at Patriots Point. Saturday’s draw moves the Battery’s record to 17W-5L-9D (60pts). It was the Battery’s 18th point won from a losing position, no team has recovered more, as of writing.

With 28 goals, Nick Markanich is firmly in first as the top goalscorer across all American domestic leagues this year. 

Charleston’s next match will be away vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Sat., Oct. 12. The Battery return home on Sat., Oct 19, to host Rhode Island FC at Patriots Point. Tickets for the game are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.