The Charleston Battery (5–3–6) are set to square off with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (6–1–6) for the first time this season Saturday night.

The Riverhounds, after finishing in 13th place in the Eastern Conference last year, elected to rebuild in the offseason. After parting ways with coach Dave Brandt and most of the roster, the Riverhounds signed coach Bob Lilley from the Rochester Rhinos, who took a hiatus for the 2018 USL season. Lilley brought with him seven former Rhino players, re-signed just five Riverhounds, and brought over four former MLS players and eight new players from other USL teams and the defunct NASL.

The gamble appears to have paid off for the Riverhounds, who have lost only one match this year. The Riverhounds sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, six points behind leaders WKRP FC in Cincinnati and just three points in front of the Battery. There’s a traffic jam between second and eighth place in the Eastern Conference, with all the teams separated by just three points. A win and three points for the Battery Saturday night will see them move up near the top of the table and level with the Riverhounds.

USL Eastern Conference Standings for Week 15

Saturday’s match will also be the first between the teams contesting the Old Guard Shield. The Regiment are the current custodians of the OGS, with both the Battery and Riverhounds leading this year’s standings on four points each.

The Old Guard Shield is an independently run shield by The Regiment (Charleston Battery), the River City Red Army (Richmond Kickers), the Flower City Stampede (Rochester Rhinos), the Steel Army (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), and the Capital City Crew (Penn FC). The OGS is for teams that have been in the USL at least 10 years. You can read more about the OGS by following it on Twitter.

The Old Guard Shield at home in Charleston. (Photo Credit: Mike Buytas)

Having gone winless in the last five matches, the Battery and coach Mike Anhaeuser hope that being back in Charleston will help the team get back on track.

“Bottom line is we’re going to have to be good to beat them, but the good thing is we’re at home and we’re very good here. We seem to be a little sharper here than when we’re on the road. We’re prepared for them. They’re a good team. I know Bob (Lilley) is going to come in here defensively organized. He’s probably going to try to sit back a little bit, especially since it’s this warm, and he’s probably going to try to hit us on the counter attack. We have to be ready for it.”

Battery players to watch

Ataulla “The Slayer” Guerra: Guerra is King of the Sauce. With a dazzling display of foot work and wizardry last week in Charlotte, Guerra recorded an assist on Kotaro Higashi’s first USL goal, not before dishing out the nutmegs to the Jacks. The Battery will once again look to the Trinidadian Slayer to move through the Riverhound defense, which more than likely will be eight or nine deep as a coping mechanism to deal with the Charleston summer humidity.

Neveal Hackshaw: Hackshaw will need to lead the back line and shut down the Riverhounds offense with USL leading goal scorer Neco Brett (eight goals) and Romeo Parkes (three goals). The key to that will be to limit fouls committed inside the box, as free kicks and penalty kicks have cost the Battery crucial points in the last five matches.

Predicted Battery starting XI

Kuzminsky (GK), Hacksaw, Thomas, Archer, Woodbine, Anunga, Kelly, van Schaik (Captain), Wild, Guerra, Higashi.

Available subs: Cooper (GK), Bolt, Rittmeyer, Arambula, Mansaray, Svantesson, Okonkwo

Battery players not available

Injuries : Vincenzo Candela — (out), Skylar Thomas — (day-to-day)

: — (out), — (day-to-day) Suspensions : None

: None International duty: None

Riverhounds key players

Neco Brett: The Jamaican midfielder is in a three-way tie in the USL Golden Boot race with eight goals. Guerra is right behind them with seven. However, Brett has only started eight of those matches, being subbed in the other five. When he is on the field, combined with Jamaican forward Romeo Parkes, this combo will drive hard into the attacking third.

The Jamaican midfielder is in a three-way tie in the USL Golden Boot race with eight goals. Guerra is right behind them with seven. However, Brett has only started eight of those matches, being subbed in the other five. When he is on the field, combined with Jamaican forward Romeo Parkes, this combo will drive hard into the attacking third. Daniel Lynd: The Riverhounds keeper has started 10 matches this season while recording five shutouts. That is one more than Battery keeper GI Joe Kuzminsky. However, Lynd has conceded seven goals this season, so it is not impossible for the Battery to put one, maybe more, into the back of the net.

Riverhounds players not available

Injuries : Mouhamed Dabo — (QUESTIONABLE), Kyle Morton — (OUT) Ben Zemanski — (OUT)

: — (QUESTIONABLE), — (OUT) — (OUT) Suspensions : None

: None International duty: None

Recent form

Charleston: D | D | D | L | D

Pittsburgh: D | D | L | W | W

Past meetings (results are for Charleston)

The Battery are 12–5–11 all-time against the Riverhounds, 7–3–5 at home and 5–2–6 away since their first meeting June 9, 2000.

2017 (USL)

1–2 (Loss at home)

2–2 (Draw at PGH)

The DrewOnTarget Prediction

The Riverhounds are having their best season in franchise history. With only one loss while conceding seven goals and recording five clean sheets, they will be a daunting opponent for the Battery, especially since the Riverhounds will likely play eight in the back to defend against Guerra, Higashi and Wild. However, with temps still only in the 70's up in Pittsburgh, the Lowcountry 90+ degree air temps and 70+ percent humidity should open up their defense, and the Battery will capitalize.

Final score: 2–1 Battery

Game details

What: Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Where: MUSC Health Stadium, Daniel Island, S.C.

When: Saturday, June 23, 7 p.m.

Broadcast: MyTV Charleston

Stream: with ESPN+.

USL Match Center

Referee: Daniel Gutierrez

ARs: Benjamin Jackson III, Howard Ash

Fourth: Dallas Rosier

Game Hashtag: #CHSvPGH #OGS

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!