Paterson scores a brace as the Charleston Battery defeat Antigua - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

The Charleston Battery defeated the Antigua Barracuda's by a score of three goals to none Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,444.  Nicki Paterson scored a pair of goals and Dane Kelly added a third to lift the Battery to victory. 

"We have to keep our composure and that's what we did in the second half" said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser "we didn't lose control, we won three nothing and got the three points."

After the first 20 minutes of the game the Barracudas were forced to play with ten men for the remainder of the match after Lawson Robinson was ejected for a physical confrontation with Dane Kelly.  Kelly had received a yellow card for his reaction to an Antigua tackle; Robinson took exception to the referee's decision and was sent off for striking Kelly. 

Not long after, Ryan Richter was taken down from behind at the top of the 18 yard box for a free kick.  The Charleston Battery's leading goal scorer Nicki Paterson stepped up and bent a hard shot to the near post past Antigua goalkeeper, Keita Decastro to put the Battery ahead 1-0.

In the 45^th minute forward Dane Kelly took on an Antigua defender with speed down the left side of the field toward goal and with poise he neatly placed the ball home to boost Charleston to a 2-0 lead.

In the second half the Battery was awarded with a penalty kick when Kyle Hoffer was tackled inside the box.  Paterson took the shot and netted his second of the night slotting the ball neatly into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Battery goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was credited with two saves en route to his shutout. 

With the win the Battery improve to a 8-3-0 record and hold the second place spot in the USL PRO standings.

The Charleston Battery's next game is Saturday, June 23^rd as they take on the Harrisburg City Islanders home at Blackbaud Stadium.

Scoring Summary         Goal (Assist)                Minute

Charleston Battery        Paterson                       33

Charleston Battery        Kelly                            45

Charleston Battery        Paterson                       62

Charleston Battery: Andrew Dykstra, John Wilson (Flatley), Colin Falvey, Kyle Hoffer, Mike Azira, Nicki Paterson (Prince), Jose Cuevas, Amadou Sanyang (Wiltse), Navion Boyd (Romero), Ryan Richter, Dane Kelly (Donatelli)

SHOTS: 13; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 3; OFFSIDES: 7; PENALTY KICKS: Paterson; CAUTIONS: Kelly; EJECTIONS: NONE

Antigua Barracudas: Decastro, Dublin (Dublin), Robinson, Griffith (James), Thomas, Mack, Mitchum, Burton (Byers), Blakely, Smith (Thomas), Skepple

SHOTS: 5; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 1; OFFSIDES: 0; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Dublin, Robinson, James, Blakely, Thomas; EJECTIONS: Robinson