The Charleston Battery’s 34-point turnaround between the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons was historic and set the stage for an Eastern Conference title – the club’s first silverware in 12 years – in the postseason.
The start the Battery have made to the current campaign, however, is showing the club is ready to be a contender in the long haul.
By close to every metric, Charleston has been the dominant side in its opening four games of the season. Its current Expected Goals mark sits second in the Championship at 6.26xG, trailing only Hartford – that’s marginally up from 5.98xG through four games a season ago.
Where the side’s control is on display, though, it’s in its defensive numbers. Not only has Adam Grinwis posted two shutouts so far, but the Battery have limited the chances their opponents have created to remarkable effect. The side’s Expected Goals Against mark sits at a league-best 2.16xGA through April – a substantial improvement on its mark of 4.19xGA through four games last season.
That’s a testament to the Battery’s central midfield with Aaron Molloy, Emilio Ycaza and Chris Allan all starting the season positively, but it’s also a sign of the confidence the side now carries that good things are going to happen when it does the right things. Nick Markanich’s game has taken another step forward, notching three goals already, while five different players have found the net overall after MD Myers bagged his game-winner against Miami on Saturday night.
“We had that fight from the beginning,” said Myers. “Got a goal right after we gave up the goal, Nick had a great header. We had that belief the whole time and just trusted our style of play, how we’ve been playing as of late and trusted that the goal would come. Being able to get the three points on the road, especially with a couple of road games coming up, it's huge for confidence and makes travel easier.”
The Battery’s bounce-back a season ago was a story for the ages. This team, though, looks built to last.
Here’s how this week’s rankings look.
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
1 | Louisville City FC (3-0-0) Week 5: v. IND |
Last Week: 1 |
Wilson Harris is the headliner so far, but this LouCity attack has plenty of weapons that can hurt you as Birmingham found out on Saturday afternoon. | |
2 | Sacramento Republic FC (2-0-2) Week 5: @ COS |
Last Week: 2 |
Republic FC wasn’t at its sharpest on Saturday night but still found a way to win. That’s the sort of thing that separates a side from its competitors at the end of the season. | |
3 | Charleston Battery (2-0-2) Week 5: @ RI |
Last Week: 3 |
The Charleston Battery kept the pressure on in Miami and broke a seven-game winless streak against the hosts. The underlying numbers are extremely good early as well. | |
4 | San Antonio FC (2-0-2) Week 5: @ LV |
1 Last Week: 5 |
San Antonio FC’s late goalscoring exploits show no signs of slowing down. For opponents, especially at Toyota Field, the pressure just wears on you and forces a key moment. | 5 | Detroit City FC (3-0-0) Week 5: v. NC |
2
Last Week: 7 |
Le Rouge continue to show us they’re a contender. Victory in Indy was the second comeback win for the side this season, but also its first when trailing at halftime on the road since April 24, 2022 |
6 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (1-0-2) Week 5: @ PIT |
Last Week: 6 |
The Rowdies still need to work on the sharpness of their buildout in possession, but their pressure ended up proving overwhelming for Rhode Island in the end. | |
7 | Orange County SC (2-0-2) Week 5: @ MEM |
1
Last Week: 8 |
Sofiane Djeffal, take a bow. A brilliant goal to lift OCSC into a lead it did well to maintain in the second half against FC Tulsa. | |
8 | Hartford Athletic (2-1-0) Week 5: v. MIA |
4
Last Week: 4 |
Hartford’s first loss of the season didn’t come without a good battle in North Carolina. This weekend’s return home offers the chance to rebound. | |
9 | Indy Eleven (1-2-1) Week 4: @ LOU |
Last Week: 9 |
We’re still feeling positive about Indy despite Saturday’s loss, but it’s going to have to be at its best to get a result against Louisville this weekend. | |
10 | Monterey Bay F.C. (1-1-2) Week 5: @ OAK |
Last Week: 10 |
Monterey Bay might have lost in San Antonio, but there was still plenty to take away for the visitors. Getting back on track in Oakland will be important, though. | |
11 | New Mexico United (2-1-1) Week 5: v. ELP |
5
Last Week: 16 |
That’s the sort of performance we wanted to see from New Mexico. We’re expecting the same against El Paso this weekend as well. | |
12 | FC Tulsa (1-1-0) Week 4: v. PHX |
1
Last Week: 11 |
Tulsa will have to hope that Phillip Goodrum’s removal from the lineup in Orange County wasn’t too serious. There was enough here to earn a result, but his presence is important. | |
13 | North Carolina FC (1-1-2) Week 5: @ DET |
4
Last Week: 17 |
NCFC’s first win since its return from the Championship was just about deserved. Oalex Anderson’s speed and quality is going to be a menace for most opposing defenses. | |
14 | Loudoun United FC (1-1-1) Week 5: @ BHM |
1
Last Week: 15 |
Loudoun United’s weekend off saw it come off looking good by comparison to some others. Sunday’s trip to Birmingham is starting to look like an opportunity. | |
15 | Las Vegas Lights FC (2-2-0) Week 5: v. SA |
6
Last Week: 21 |
Two wins in a row for Las Vegas as Gaoussou Samake and Valentin Noël stole the show in Oakland. Things are starting to come together here. | |
16 | Phoenix Rising FC (1-3-0) Week 5: @ TUL |
4
Last Week: 12 |
Phoenix had Rocco Rios Novo to thank for its defeat to New Mexico United not being heavier. The swings between good and sub-par attacking performances in the opening four games hasn’t been great. | |
17 | Memphis 901 FC (1-2-0) Week 5: v. OC |
2
Last Week: 19 |
Memphis battled all the way in Sacramento and might have stolen a goal at certain points. Bit of a gut-punch to suffer defeat in the end, and they’ll need to rebound fast. | |
18 | Miami FC (1-2-1) Week 5: @ HFD |
2
Last Week: 20 |
Miami continues to be stubborn to play against but also got a lesson in what the upper level of the conference looks like against Charleston and where it needs to progress. | |
19 | Rhode Island FC (0-1-2) Week 5: v. CHS |
5
Last Week: 14 |
RIFC did a good amount right for 25 minutes against Tampa Bay but in the end its defense capitulated under pressure. Getting the Battery next – even at home – is another tough assignment. | |
20 | Oakland Roots SC (1-2-1) Week 5: v. MB |
2
Last Week: 18 |
Oakland needed to take advantage of its positive first half against Las Vegas. It wasn’t able to, and within five minutes of the second half starting was two goals down. | |
21 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (0-3-0) Week 5: v. TBR |
1
Last Week: 22 |
The Hounds got the weekend off to recuperate after three losses to start the season. They’ll try for their first points on Saturday at home to Tampa Bay. | |
22 | Birmingham Legion FC (1-2-0) Week 5: v. LDN |
9
Last Week: 13 |
Legion’s defense was already creaking and Louisville broke it open in emphatic fashion. The attack can’t make up for that. | |
23 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (0-3-0) Week 5: v. SAC |
Last Week: 23 |
Colorado Springs gets Sacramento Republic FC at home as it looks to break its winless start to the season. It’s a big ask, and the Switchbacks need a response. | |
24 | El Paso Locomotive (0-3-1) Week 5: @ NM |
Last Week: 24 |
Locomotive is going to need to match the intensity New Mexico showed this weekend, but it’s had success at Isotopes Park in recent visits and needs to find a result here. |
Tag(s): Power Rankings San Antonio FC CO Spring Switchbacks Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Sacramento Republic FC FC Tulsa Charleston Battery Louisville City FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Tampa Bay Rowdies Las Vegas Lights FC Birmingham Legion FC North Carolina FC Indy Eleven Memphis 901 FC El Paso Locomotive FC New Mexico United Loudoun United FC Hartford Athletic Miami FC Oakland Roots SC Detroit City FC Monterey Bay F.C. Rhode Island FC