CHARLESTON, S.C. – Nick Markanich made USL Championship history on Saturday night as he notched his 26th and 27th goals of the regular season, setting a league single-season record as the Battery took a 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Patriots Point.

The 24-year-old struck opportunistically in the 37th minute, volleying home a left-footed finish from 10 yards into the right side of the net. The goal sent Markanich ahead of former Louisville City FC star Cameron Lancaster and former Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC star Hadji Barry, each of whom recorded 25 goals in the 2018 and 2021 seasons respectively.

Markanich added his second of the night on the hour-mark as he received a cross from teammate MD Myers just inside the top-left edge of the penalty area and laced home a finish into the bottom-right corner of the net.

“[In the first goal], I was hoping MD would knock it down, which he did, or one of the defenders did, and luckily it bounced right to me,” said Markanich. “I just volleyed it back into the net. The second goal, I knew I was going to get it. I knew what I was going to do when I got the ball, so luckily it went in.”

With the finish, Markanich and Myers set moved to a combined 40 goals this season, setting a new single-season mark for the highest-scoring duo in league history as they surpassed the 39 goals recorded by Solomon Asante and Adam Jahn for Phoenix Rising FC in the 2019 season.

Markanich now has only one individual record left to chase in the Battery’s remaining four regular season games, that of Asante’s 39 combined goals and assists in a regular season for Phoenix in 2019. With five assists on the season, he currently ranks tied for second alongside former FC Cincinnati standout Emmanuel Ledesma on 32 goal contributions this season.

“Nick is having a season for the ages,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “What he has done in this league has obviously never been done before. Nick is focused on doing the details in the dirty work, like our pressing and the double teaming tonight. There were so many chances with Juan David, MD, Jackson, Emilio, Arturo, and Nick.”

Currently in his second season with the Battery, Markanich is set to head across the Atlantic Ocean this winter after Charleston agreed a transfer in August with LaLiga2 club C.D. Castellon. Before then, Markanich will attempt to lead the Battery to a fifth league title, with the side having already sealed its place in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.