skip navigation

THE MORNING TEA – Battery Legend Van Schaik Nears Milestone

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/19/20, 7:30AM EDT

Share

Championship gains first international broadcast deal; Hartford’s Jaidi talks about club’s success

There’s a bumper night of action ahead with 10 games slated in the Championship, including the Southern Derby where a notable landmark is in view for one of the longest-tenured players in the league. Here’s your Morning Tea for Wednesday.

 

THE BIG STORY

If you’d have told current Charleston Battery defender Jarad van Schaik in 2011 when he was trying to break into the professional ranks that nine years later he’d not only still be in action, but coming up on his 150th appearance at a single club, he might not have believed you.

“That first year is all about trying to get that first contract and get my feet in any club I can,” said van Schaik. “It’s crazy how time flies.”

After spending the first two seasons of his career with the Puerto Rico Islanders, Van Schaik first landed in Charleston for the 2013 season, and aside from a brief detour in 2016 with Rayo OKC, he’s been there ever since.

On Wednesday night as the Battery visit North Carolina FC (7 p.m. ET | ESPN+), he could become the fourth player in the Championship’s history to record 150 regular season appearances with one club, joining former Battery teammate Taylor Mueller (200), former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC midfielder Kevin Kerr (183) and former Richmond Kickers defender William Yomby (172) to reach the landmark.

It’s a notable landmark for the 31-year-old Portland, Oregon native, who by his own account didn’t know what to expect when he headed South for the first time seven years ago.

“I was a little shell-shocked at first and wondering if I was going to be able to handle South Carolina,” he said. “I love the city of Charleston, the weather out here is great – it’s a little hot and humid in the summer – but there’s tons of nature, tons of animals, you see alligators, you see eagles, you see deer, and of course it’s food, it’s known around the country for its food and restaurants and bars and shopping. It’s definitely become a second home.”

That Van Schaik is joining Mueller as players to reach the 150-game landmark at the same club is one of the reasons the Battery have maintained their on-field success over the years. The history of the club is one that Van Schaik appreciates greatly, in addition to the supporters that have been backing the club for as long – and in many cases longer – than his tenure in midfield and the back line.

He also has a great appreciation for Battery legend Mike Anhaeuser, whose time at the club now stretches more than a quarter of a century and has provided a place where players can thrive on and off the field.

“I think what I really enjoy about him is he cares a lot, and he treats each person as an individual he cares about and he’ll manage you accordingly,” said Van Schaik. “If you’re a someone who needs something, a day off for an unrelated family reason, for family, he’s always going to let you take care of your family first. I think he really cares about his players and manages their emotions, not just soccer-wide but things outside of that, and really lets you feel like a human and lets you get out of your soccer routine.”

Charleston has made another strong start in its bid to maintain a streak of reaching the postseason that began before Van Schaik arrived seven years ago. Against North Carolina, there will also be the Southern Derby Cup on the line as the two rivals meet for the only time this season.

If, as expected, it turns out to be a landmark night for Van Schaik, he’d certainly like to mark it with a trophy.

“We always have good battles with NCFC, and any time there’s a trophy involved it adds a little fire in your belly, and little something to get after it,” he said. “We take pride in any trophy we can win, we want to win any time we go out there, and this game will be no different. They’re always a tough team, always tough at home, they got a great field to play on, I actually don’t mind playing there, so we’ll see what happens.”

 

TONIGHT'S ACTION

LA Galaxy II vs. Phoenix Rising FC

(3-1-0)
Group B

5:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LA Wins 15% | Draw 19% | PHX Wins 66%
(5-1-1)
Group B
The Gist: Phoenix Rising FC will look to claim its first away win of the season as it visits the LA Galaxy II for an afternoon kickoff in Southern California. The contest is Phoenix’s third road trip of the season, with the current Group B leaders having suffered its lone defeat of the season so far against Orange County SC in addition to a draw with its playoff rival previously. Rising FC has won five consecutive home games to start the campaign, however, and will be looking to pull off another positive display after this past Saturday’s 2-0 win against San Diego Loyal SC. Los Dos return to action with playoff aspirations also front of mind, with the side having picked up three wins in its first four games of the season. The lone loss the side suffered, however, was a 4-0 defeat in Phoenix when the season resumed on July 11 at Casino Arizona Field.
Discipline: None

Loudoun United FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

(1-3-1)
Group F

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Segra Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LDN Wins 18% | Draw 23% | PIT Wins 59%
(4-3-0)
Group F
The Gist: Loudoun United FC hosts its home opener at Segra Field for the 2020 season as it hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Both teams are looking to rebound from defeats on Saturday night as Loudoun fell 2-0 on the road against Louisville City FC, while the Hounds suffered a 1-0 defeat against Indy Eleven. Pittsburgh still holds a six-point edge on the teams – including United – chasing it for a place in the playoffs in Group F, and the visitors will be hoping to emulate their performance on their first trip to Segra Field a season ago when they took a 2-1 victory on the way to the top of the Eastern Conference. Loudoun can close the gap to five points with a win, however, as it hopes for a repeat of its inaugural contest at Segra Field that saw it defeat North Carolina FC 4-0.
Discipline: None

North Carolina FC vs. Charleston Battery

(2-2-1)
Group G

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: NC Wins 45% | Draw 28% | CHS Wins 27%
(3-2-2)
Group H
The Gist: The Southern Derby continues its tradition as North Carolina FC and the Charleston Battery meet for a one-off game to decide the historic rivalry trophy. The Battery are the current holder of the trophy after finishing on top of the three-way battle that also included the Charlotte Independence in 2019, but with the Battery separated from both NCFC and the Independence in the regionalized season structure this will serve as the decisive meeting for the trophy. The Battery are coming off a thrilling comeback victory that boosted their hopes of returning to the playoffs once again as Zeiko Lewis claimed Championship Player of the Week honors for his two-goal performance in a 3-2 win against Atlanta United 2. North Carolina will be hoping to rebound, meanwhile, after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday that left the side in the middle of a battle for the playoffs in Group G.
Discipline: None

The Miami FC vs. Atlanta United 2

(0-3-1)
Group H

7:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: MIA Wins 68% | Draw 18% | ATL Wins 13%
(1-6-2)
Group H
The Gist: Miami FC will look to build off a positive road display as it looks to gain ground on the playoff places at home to Atlanta United 2. Miami earned its first point in the Championship thanks to a 1-1 draw with Group H leader the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday evening as Sebastian Velasquez scored early before the Rowdies replied in the second half. Maybe the most notable performance of the night, however, came from goalkeeper Bryant Gammiero, who recorded three saves in his professional debut and helped Miami hold onto a point late on. The hosts will be hoping to turn the tables on Atlanta, which took a 4-3 win when the sides met earlier this season. With a 10-point gap to bridge between Miami and the second-place Charleston Battery, however, a win is likely crucial to its playoff chances.
Discipline: None

Philadelphia Union II vs. Hartford Athletic

(1-4-1)
Group F

7:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Subaru Park

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: PHI Wins 25% | Draw 22% | HFD Wins 54%
(5-1-0)
Group F
The Gist: Hartford Athletic will try to extend its lead at the top of Group F as it heads to face the Philadelphia Union II. The meeting is the second of the season between the clubs after Hartford took a 3-2 victory at Dillon Stadium on July 25th in a game that saw the Union II jump out to an early two-goal lead before Danny Barrera and Ever Guzman led the host back to victory. Barrera is having a standout season with six assists in 2020, good for second in the league, and he was key to the club’s 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls II in the Athletic’s last outing on Saturday night. The Union II, meanwhile, return to action after claiming their first win of the season – also against the Red Bulls II – and will have hopes of ending Hartford’s two-game winning streak.
Discipline: None

FC Tulsa vs. Austin Bold FC

(2-0-3)
Group D

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: ONEOK Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: TUL Wins 30% | Draw 26% | ATX Wins 44%
(2-2-1)
Group D
The Gist: FC Tulsa will look to continue its undefeated start to the season and build a wider lead on Austin Bold FC as the teams sitting in second and third place in Group D square off for the first time this season. Tulsa holds a two-point edge on Austin with both teams having played five games so far in the campaign after Wednesday night’s hosts played to a 0-0 draw with San Antonio FC last Wednesday night in its home opener. Bold FC almost grabbed all three points off San Antonio on Saturday night as Xavier Baez scored a spectacular first-half finish to put the visitors ahead at Toyota Field, but a late equalizer by SAFC left each side with a point.
Discipline: None

Louisville City FC vs. Sporting Kansas City II

(3-3-1)
Group E

8:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LOU Wins 65% | Draw 21% | SKC Wins 14%
(2-4-1)
Group E
The Gist: Louisville City FC will try to pull level on points with Saint Louis FC for second place in Group E when it plays host to Sporting Kansas City II for the third meeting between the clubs this season. LouCity and SKC II have each taken victory in the prior two meetings, adding to the competitiveness in the race to the playoffs in the group overall, but after a 2-0 victory against Loudoun United FC on Saturday, Louisville is hoping to have turned a corner. Sporting, meanwhile, saw its playoff chances take a hit as it suffered a 3-1 defeat to Saint Louis FC on Saturday night. Finding a way to rebound and emulate the 1-0 victory it earned when the teams last met on July 29 would provide a major boost for Head Coach Paulo Nagamura’s side and provide another twist in the playoff race.
Discipline: Sporting Kansas City II - Jahon Rad (Suspended)

San Antonio FC vs. OKC Energy FC

(4-0-3)
Group D

9:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Toyota Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: SA Wins 57% | Draw 24% | OKC Wins 19%
(1-3-3)
Group D
The Gist: San Antonio FC will look to continue its undefeated start to the season as it reaches the midway point of its regular season when it hosts an OKC Energy FC side that is looking to break a four-game winless streak and keep its playoff hopes alive. SAFC needed a late equalizer against Austin Bold FC on Saturday night to remain as one of four undefeated sides left in the Championship as Jose Gallegos scored in second-half stoppage time to earn his side a point. San Antonio will be hoping, however, to emulate its 3-0 win in Oklahoma City when these two teams late met to remain on course for a place in the postseason. That defeat to SAFC on August 8 came in the middle of Energy FC’s current downturn which has seen it slide to fourth place in the five-team group. After playing to a 0-0 draw against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night, finding a way to turn the tables on their longtime rival is going to be essential if OKC is to get back into the middle of the playoff race with FC Tulsa and Austin Bold FC.
Discipline: None

Real Monarchs SLC vs. New Mexico United

(1-3-1)
Group C

10:00 p.m. ET |
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: SLC Wins 39% | Draw 25% | NM Wins 36%
(4-2-1)
Group C
The Gist: Real Monarchs SLC and New Mexico United meet for the first of two times this week on Wednesday night with the hosts in serious need of victory to start closing the gap on the leaders in Group C. New Mexico bolstered its position at the top of the group with a 1-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday afternoon that saw Chris Wehan score his fifth goals in six games since the resumption of the season. Traveling for every game so far hasn’t proven a hindrance so far to United’s playoff hopes, and with a nine-point lead on the Monarchs going into the two meetings – the second of which arrives on Saturday – New Mexico could take a firm grip on a playoff place with the right results. The defending USL Championship title holders, on the other hand, need to find a way back to the home form that helped carry the side to postseason success a season ago after suffering a 1-0 defeat to El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday. Real holds two games in hand on both New Mexico and El Paso, but it can’t afford to slip further behind now.
Discipline: None

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Tacoma Defiance

(0-3-1)
Group B

10:30 p.m. ET |
Venue: Cashman Field

FiveThirtyEight.com Predictor: LV Wins 36% | Draw 26% | TAC Wins 38%
(2-4-1)
Group A
The Gist: Las Vegas Lights FC will take aim at its first win of the season, while Tacoma Defiance will try to rebound and boost its playoff chances when they meet at Cashman Field. The Defiance have suffered back-to-back defeats to their biggest competition for a place in the playoffs in Group A after losing to Reno 1868 FC and Sacramento Republic FC, and now sit eight points behind both clubs as the midway point of the season arrives on Wednesday night. Las Vegas, meanwhile, is yet to claim victory in four games this season, but almost came away with a point on Saturday night as it fell 1-0 on the road to Orange County SC. In its second outing at home this season, Lights FC will be hoping to find a way into the winner column while putting another dent in Tacoma’s playoff hopes.
Discipline: None
 

THE SOCIAL CIRCLE

 

THE USL LOWDOWN

- The United Soccer League has struck two new media rights deals with SiriusXM and Caribbean broadcaster Flow Sports. Front Office Sports’ Ian Thomas has the details including those on the league’s first international television deal.

- Hartford Athletic Head Coach Radhi Jaidi believes he is ready to coach at the top level and become the first African manager in the Premier League. After leading Hartford to a successful start to its second season, the former Southampton player and U-23 coach spoke with Sky Sports’ Dave Reed about his new path in the United States.

- Orange County SC is undefeated through five games of what has been a challenging season. The Los Angeles Times’ Kevin Baxter writes that it’s been even more impressive than it sounds as the side has given up just one goal and trailed for just 10 minutes this season – and it has done so while emptying its thin bench, using five lineups in as many games.

- New Mexico United produced a bounce-back performance on Saturday against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC that saw its defense shine in a 1-0 win. KQRE’s Jared Chester reports the club is hoping that form continues as it goes into a crucial pair of games against Real Monarchs SLC in Utah this week.

- Phoenix Rising FC has shown what it’s capable of at Casino Arizona Field this season, posting five wins out of five on its home turf. Now it faces four consecutive games on the road over the next three weeks, starting on Wednesday against the LA Galaxy II, that the Arizona Republic’s Dana Scott writes might end up being the biggest challenge of the club’s regular season.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos