My final article for 2018 will make 90 articles written this season covering the Charleston Battery here at Soccer ‘n’ Sweet Tea. It goes along with the 2,769 miles driven for six away games that encompassed both USL and U.S. Open Cup matches. Quite a season.

Even without a playoff run, 2018 will go down in the books as yet another successful campaign for the Black and Yellow. Pundits and critics alike predicted the Battery to finish no better than 13th place on the table, in no small part to the offseason departures of fan favorites Forrest Lasso, Justin Portillo, and two thirds of the Cuban Dream Team of Heviel Cordoves and Michael Chang.

But with a cast of new fan favorites, the Charleston Battery endured injuries and grueling travel schedules to finish 4th on the table, and for the 11th consecutive season qualified for a playoff spot.

The season was cut short for the second year in a row by the Baby Pink Cows in the first round of the USL Playoffs. But contrary to Twitter rumors this week, there will be sweet revenge to be had next season.

Charleston Battery Player Awards

The Battery asked and the fans answered. The fans chose the players they felt best fit four categories: Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player, while the team itself voted one player for the David Vaughan Memorial Award. This award is given to the player who exemplifies attributes that David would most admire: commitment and loyalty, unselfishness, tenacity and toughness, a fighting, never say die spirit, and a relentless desire to win.

Newcomer of the Year: Jay Bolt

The rookie defender from the University of North Florida made his presence known on the field and won over fans for his tenacious play on the pitch. Bolt ended the 2018 season appearing in 27 matches, starting in 20 with 1,808 minutes played. He tallied 2 assists, 36 clearances, 36 interceptions, and won 20 tackles, 109 duels and 34 aerial duels.

Defender of the Year: Taylor Mueller

After playing in every minute of every USL match in the 2017 season, and captaining the club to its highest finish in the USL Cup era, the Captain wins the award in his seventh season while providing leadership on the back line.

Mueller ended the regular season starting in 32 matches and led the team with 2,876 minutes played. The Captain recorded 170 clearances (led team), 25 blocks (led team), 57 interceptions and won 27 tackles, 127 duels and 79 aerial duels (led team). He was named to the USL Team of Week in Week 19.

Mueller also eclipsed Zach Prince to become fourth on the Battery list of All-Time appearances. At his current pace, Mueller could eclipse Paul Conway and move into third on the all-time appearance list in Week 19 of 2019.

Offensive Player of the Year: Ataulla Guerra

In his third year with the Black and Yellow, the King of Charleston came into his own this season. Directing the attack up front, Guerra racked up three USL Team of Week awards and the USL Player of the Month award for July.

He also made 30 appearances, starting in 28 of those, while tallying 2,393 minutes. Guerra was persona non grata in every teams defending third. He recorded 15 goals (led team), 5 assists (led team), and 32 chances created (led team). Guerra went on to score his sixth international goal for Trinidad and Tobago after being called up for international duty late in the season.

Most Valuable Player: Tah Brian Anunga

The second year player from Cameroon assumed the midfield role vacated by Justin Portillo to lead the team in several key performance indexes. Starting in 32 matches and recording 2,851 minutes, Anunga led the team in passing with 1,661 passes and was tied with Kotaro Higashi for best passing accuracy with 83.1 percent. Anunga recorded 17 clearances, 5 blocks, 82 interceptions (led team), 195 duels won (led team), and 44 aerial duels won.

David Vaughn Memorial Award: Joe Kuzminsky

The second-year goalkeeper saw his first minutes in 2018, and he made every single minute count. Kuzminsky started 24 matches and recorded 2,160 minutes. His 12 clean sheets alone put him above 25 USL teams and put him fourth-best in the entire league. GI Joe helped the Battery record the fourth lowest goals conceded in the league.

With 65 saves in 87 shots faced, he recorded a 74.7 percent save success rate including two vital penalty kicks that resulted in a win on the road in Pittsburgh and a win at home against NCFC.

Most Memorable Event for the 2018 Season

Coach Mike Anhaeuser celebrates his 25th anniversary

Coach started with the Battery in their second season way back in 1994 as a midfielder. After retiring from play in 1998 after an injury, he moved into the assistant coach role and then into the General Manager/Coach seat in 2005. Anhaeuser has been part of all four of the Battery’s championship runs, one as a player, one as an assistant coach, and two as the head coach, in the process earning his way into the USL Hall of Fame.

Tributes from players and others underscore what a vital part of the organization Coach has and will continue to be.

This momentous night was followed up by Coach securing win number 200 in his head coaching career at home a month later.

USL Honors

Twelve different Battery players were recognized by the USL, as was Coach Anhaeuser who was awarded USL Coach of the Month for July.

Ataulla Guerra — USL Player of the Month for July

Jarad van Schaik — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 2)

Gordon Wild — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 7; 9 (reserve); Wk 18 (reserve))

Skylar Thomas — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 7; 15)

Ataulla Guerra — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 8 (reserve); 12; 25 (reserve))

O’Brian Woodbine — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 16)

Neveal Hackshaw — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 18; 29 (reserve))

Taylor Mueller — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 19)

Joe Kuzminsky — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 19 (reserve)

Nico Rittmeyer — USL Player of the Week (Wk. 20)

Patrick Okonkwo — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 24 and 26 (reserve))

Tah Brian Anunga — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 28)

Victor Mansaray — USL Team of the Week (Wk. 29)

SNST’s Key Players in 2018

There were several key players who made a huge impact in 2018 for the Black and Yellow. Whether in an offensive or defensive role, these players proved themselves on the pitch and won the hearts and minds of the Battery faithful.

Nico Rittmeyer

Nico, a second-year, homegrown midfielder and product of the Battery soccer academy, made 32 appearances and 18 starts while recording 1,836 minutes. Scoring four goals this season, his first two were a brace against Richmond.

Rittmeyer tallied four assists (second behind team leader Guerra) and saw double duty in the midfield on the wing and up front in the attack. Expect big things in 2019 from the USL Week 20 Player of the Week.

Angelo Kelly

The rookie from Iowa solidified his position in midfield opposite Anunga with his solid play this season, making 21 appearances with 17 starts and logging 1,566 minutes.

He tallied 687 passes for a 80.3 percent passing accuracy, but his defensive stats are as impressive as his ball handling skills. With 16 clearances, 10 blocks, 37 interceptions, 24 tackles won, 99 duels and 17 aerial duels won, Kelly also recorded two assists, including a critical last minute cross into the box in Pittsburgh to find Guerra and secure the win.

He also produced this beauty in Atlanta, connecting with the King of Charleston in early October for his 15th goal of the year.

Neveal Hackshaw

The third year defensive juggernaut came into his own in 2018. From the creation of Curtis, Hackshaw’s coif complete with his own Twitter handle, to his performance on the pitch, Hackshaw made his mark with style this season.

Leading the Battery with 33 appearances, he started 32 matches and recorded 2,843 minutes (second to Mueller).

With Curtis in tow, Hackshaw shredded opposing teams offensive attacks. Recording 146 clearances, 10 blocks, and 45 interceptions, he also won 34 tackles and 184 duels, and with the “Curtis Advantage,” won 74 aerial duels.

Hackshaw recorded two assists and one goal, off Gordon Wild’s bananenflanke set piece in the Battery’s win over reigning USL Champions Louisville City FC at home in July.

The Atlanta Connection

While no longer affiliated with Atlanta United, the Battery were still the beneficiaries of two player loans. Atlanta homegrown player Patrick Okonkwo and German international fussballspieler Gordon Wild both contributed to the Battery offense up front.

Okonkwo found form late in the season, making 24 appearances, recording five goals and securing one assist, making the USL Team of Week twice.

Wild made 33 appearances and 20 starts, finding the back of the net seven times and tallying three assists. It was truly wonderful to see the power he displayed. If you are an Atlanta United fan, definitely keep Wild on your watchlist.

Looking forward to 2019

And with that, the 2018 season comes to a close. The players have had their final meetings with Coach Anhaeuser, physicals have been completed, and players are returning home for the offseason.

However, it is only a little more than 100 days until the Battery are set to host the Carolina Challenge Cup (107, but who’s counting). Mark your calendars as #CCC19 is scheduled for February 16th, 20th, and 23rd, 2019. We know which MLS teams have been selected to join the party, but we’re not allowed to say. Follow me on Twitter to find out as soon as I get clearance.

Thanks for reading our articles this season. If you want to look back and reminisce on all of our Charleston Battery coverage since starting SNST in March 2017, you can click here.

Enjoy the holiday season and our winter break however you do, and get yourself ready for 2019, as the Battery will be set once again to go after their fifth championship as a club.

One last time for 2018… UP THE BATTERY!