The Charleston Battery earned their first win of the 2024 USL Championship season with a 4-0 victory against New Mexico United in the club’s home opener at Patriots Point as Nick Markanich scored his second goal of the season before Arturo Rodriguez, Aaron Molloy and Jackson Conway found the net in the second half.

Here are three things we took away from the action. 

1. BATTERY’S BIG GUNS SHINE

After a pair of good displays but drawn outings to start the season, the Charleston Battery used their home opener to deliver on the promise those prior performances had offered, and it came in large part thanks to two of the major pieces that led the side’s resurgence to win an Eastern Conference title last season. Nick Markanich and Arturo Rodriguez were both central influences, and both got goals in a highly entertaining display.

Markanich’s second goal in as many games showed the alertness of the hosts as he snapped home a first-time finish off MD Myers’ flicked header on a throw-in. On another night he might have had more, but with four shots and two chances created the influence he can bring in the final third was evident again. Rodriguez, meanwhile, produced a brilliant strike from the top of the penalty area that capped a much more lively performance than a week ago in Oakland, boding well for what’s to come.

2. AARON MOLLOY DOES IT ALL

The thing that draws maybe the most admiration in what Aaron Molloy does for a team is his ability to contribute at every level of a game. On Saturday night, he wasn’t just at the center of the game for the hosts again in midfield, but he delivered key plays in both thirds of the field that helped tilt the game the Battery’s way.

The first came when the game early in the second half as the Battery held a one-goal lead. After a corner from the right drifted over the pack at the near post it arrived at Dayonn Harris at the top-left-edge of the penalty area. Harris’ shot beat Battery goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, but Molloy had drifted back into the right position to make a decisive goal-line clearance and keep the hosts ahead. Then, just past the hour-mark, a finish we’ve become accustomed to with a pin-point free kick into the top-left corner of the net that put the game away. Molloy’s impact has already been felt in Charleston, and he delivered a great home debut here.

3. NEW MEXICO COULDN’T GET A GRIP

The promise in New Mexico’s visit to Charleston was the midfield battle, but the visitors were just unable to find a consistent rhythm in possession after a chippy first half that seemed to take them out of their game. Marco Micaletto (19) and Zico Bailey (17) ranked 1-2 for the side in possession lost and were under 50 percent in their duels, and as the side’s two holding midfielders that isn’t a recipe for success on the road.

United had to battle last weekend in Rhode Island against similar pressure and was able to salvage a point, but tonight the dam burst against a clinical opponent. With a trip to Phoenix Rising FC coming next Saturday, a refocus and increased sharpness on the ball are going to be needed to get things moving back in the right direction.