Louisville City FC will on Saturday conclude a stretch of four straight home games when it hosts the Charleston Battery, one of the United Soccer League’s most-storied franchises and a conference rival LouCity has already played four times. Game time at Louisville Slugger Field is 7:30 p.m.
Here’s what to know about the Battery.
Record: 9-4-3 (30 points) in 16 matches
Conference: Eastern
Standings: 4th
Coach: Mike Anhaeuser
History: Along with the Richmond Kickers, the Battery operate the longest continuously running American soccer franchise. Anhaeuser has served as both coach and general manager since 2015, guiding the Battery to what was then known as the USL PRO title in 2012.
Series with LouCity: In regular-season matches, LouCity leads 2-1 over the Battery, who saw their 29-match home unbeaten streak ended May 28 when Louisville last visited Charleston. The two clubs also met last year in the playoffs. USL MVP Matt Fondy scored both goals in a 2-0 victory that propelled Louisville to the semifinals.
Current form: The Battery have won three straight in USL play and, in all, four out of their last five to advance up the Eastern Conference table since last playing LouCity. All but one of those results — Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Richmond Kickers — was decided by a single goal.
What to know: Charleston took a hiatus from league competition Wednesday while hosting first-division Scottish club Rangers F.C. After playing to a scoreless draw at half, the Battery made nine changes out of the locker room to rest for Saturday’s meeting with LouCity. Rangers F.C. went on to win, 2-1.
Player to watch: On loan from Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact, forward Romario Williams is also a member of Jamaica’s U23 team. The University of Central Florida product — named 2013’s American Athletic Conference Player of the Year — has tallied 7 goals in 15 appearances this season for the Battery.
Another to know: Justin Portillo, a central midfielder in 2014 voted Charleston’s Newcomer of the Year, has continued to start — and often finish — the Battery’s attack this season. The 23-year-old from New Orleans ranks second on his team in goals with 4 and leads Charleston with just as many assists.