The Charleston Battery (1-0-1) were held to a scoreless draw by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (0-0-2) Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,221. Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap saved an Amaury Nunes penalty in the 70th minute as Charleston were forced to settle for a point in their home opener. Despite the tie Charleston remain in first place in the USL Second Division. The Battery out-shot the Riverhounds by a margin of fourteen to five but Gilstrap was superb throughout the match. In addition to the penalty save he denied Alioune Gueye from point-blank range blocking a volley in the late going. The first chance of the game came in the 2nd minute as the Battery earned a free kick just outside the box. Midfielder Rudolph Mayard curled it over the wall but Gilstrap saved at the near post. Charleston threatened again in the 17th minute as defender O'Brian Woodbine made a surging run down the right side. Woodbine clipped a cross into the middle but forward Tom Heinemann saw his glancing header flash wide. Pittsburgh's first chance came just before the break as forward Chad Severs was brought down at the edge of the box. Tommy Gray hit the shot but Battery goalkeeper Tim Melia got across quickly and pushed the ball wide with a diving save. The pivotal moment of the match came in the 70th minute after Mayard was bundled over in the box. Substitute forward Amaury Nunes stepped up to take the kick but Gilstrap blocked the first effort then smothered the rebound throwing himself in front of the shot. The crowd urged Charleston forward and the Battery looked to have scored five minutes before full-time as Alioune Gueye hammered a volley at the goal from ten yards out, but saw his effort parried away by Gilstrap. The Battery heads to Rockville, MD Tuesday for a 6:30 PM match versus the Real Maryland Monarchs; listen live at www.charlestonbattery.com or locally via 950 AM.
