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.