The Charleston Battery on are the road Saturday for their third game of a four-game road trip. They travel to Harrisburg to take on re-branded Penn FC for the second time already this season.

But this will not be the same team the Battery defeated last month with Ataulla Guerra’s USL Goal of the Week nomination (#salmonseason).

Penn FC, still winless in 2018, has since attempted to bolster its roster with a slew of new signings. They added players in the midfield and desperately-needed strikers, including former MLS, NASL and Battery player Tommy Heinemann, recently released from FC Cincinnati for failing an entry physical.

Heinemann scored Penn FC’s only goal this season against Atlanta United’s MLS 2 team earlier this month.

Here’s what Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser had to say about the Battery coming off of a bye week ahead of Saturday’s match:

“It’s definitely helped. We had a few injuries that were causing a problem, little things here and there, we were down some numbers. Now we’re getting three or four of those guys back and it was good to have the weekend off. It was odd but you have to take it and it did work out a good situation for us to get those guys back.”

Battery defender Jarad van Schaik said this match will feel different than last month’s against Penn FC in Charleston, when he earned USL Team of the Week honors:

“It’s always going to be a little tougher on the road and they’ve added a couple of new guys since they were down here. It doesn’t matter too much to us, but you’ve got to take that into account. We’ve got to go out there and hopefully get another good result.”

Battery players to watch

Ataulla Guerra: Guerra has been consistent for the Battery so far in 2018. He leads the team with six chances created and has seven shots on goal. And Penn FC’s goalkeeper, Romuald Peiser, is probably still haunted by Guerra’s goal in Week 2.

Tah Brian Anunga: Anunga leads the team on the stat leader board for pretty much everything except shutouts, which is reserved for Odisnel “Super” Cooper. He leads the team in passes (203), tackles (20) and interceptions (12). With his brace performance against the Baby Bulls, Anunga will be crucial to moving the ball forward to the front line to get points on the board.

“The Battery 4”: The back line is going to be key to stopping a retooled Penn FC offense. Expect to see Battery rookie Jay Bolt and USL Team of Week defender van Schaik team up with Skylar Thomas and team captain Taylor Mueller to repeat their performance last month — holding Penn FC to three shots with zero shots on target.

Predicted Battery starting XI

Cooper (GK), Thomas, Mueller (C), Bolt, van Schaik, Hackshaw, Anunga, Rittmeyer, Guerra, Higashi and Svantesson.

Available subs: Kuzminsky (GK), Candela, Arambula, Kelly, Woodbine, Mansaray, Wild, Okonkwo.

Penn FC key player

Tommy Heinemann: Heinemann is going to have Penn FC’s best shot to get points on the board, but he has yet to play a full 90 minutes in either of his two appearances this season.

Recent form

Charleston: L | W | L | D

Penn FC: L | D | D

Past meetings (results are for Charleston)

The Battery is 14–5–2 all-time against Penn FC/Harrisburg, 9–1–1 at home and 5–4–1 away.

2018: W (March 31 at home)

2017: W | W

2016: D | W

The DrewOnTarget #DefendCharleston Prediction

Both teams are coming off bye weeks. Penn FC has added several players to the roster, and that will be an issue with the Black and Yellow at full strength and hungry for a win.

Nico Rittmeyer returns from injury, along with Kotaro Higashi and Ryan Arambula.

Expect Penn FC to try to be aggressive in their home opener, but hopefully Svantesson, Higashi, Guerra and Rittmeyer will exploit their gaps.

Final score: 1–0 Battery. #UptheBattery

Game info

Charleston Battery at Penn FC, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21, FNB Field, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

USL Match Center

Broadcast: MyTV Charleston and online with ESPN+

Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr

ARs: Zeno Cho, Tyler Wyrostek

Fourth: Luis Arroyo

Game Hashtag: #PENvCHS

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back after the games for our recaps, read all our Battery coverage here, and, as always, follow Soccer ’n’ Sweet Tea on Twitter for all the latest Carolina soccer news. Up the Battery!