Battery host Indy in Conference Quarterfinal Clash on Sunday

By: Battery Media

The Charleston Battery are set to host Indy Eleven in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sun., Oct. 22, the opening round of the USL Playoffs. Kickoff at Patriots Point is set for 4 pm.

Charleston and Indy met twice in the regular season, with the Indiana outfit winning the first match and then a draw in the second. The Battery have not beaten Indy since 2019 and will hope the third time is the charm for 2023 on Sunday.

Sunday will mark the first home playoff match for the Black and Yellow since 2018 and the first-ever USL Playoffs game played at Patriots Point. The Battery’s last appearance in the postseason was in 2020, when the club reached the conference semifinal.

Charleston are the No. 3 seed in the playoffs after posting a 17W-9L-8D (59 pts) record in the regular season. The Battery defeated Birmingham Legion FC in the regular season finale, 1-0. Nick Markanich scored the winner in the first half, his 11th goal across all competitions in 2023. Charleston’s 17 wins set a new record for the club in the USL Championship regular season.

Indy enter the playoffs as the No. 6 seed following a 13W-11L-10D (49 pts) mark in the regular season. The Indiana capital club ended the regular season on a three-match unbeaten run, playing the defending champions, San Antonio FC, to a dramatic 3-3 draw. Indy will be looking to bring their strong form with them for their first postseason appearance since 2019.

Nick Markanich is a player to keep an eye on for the Battery. Markanich had two goals in his last three matches of the regular season and will look to make his mark in his USL Playoffs debut.

Sebastian Guenzatti is one to watch for Indy. The skipper was Indy’s top goalscorer (11) this year and was the player who drew the early foul and red card the last time Indy visited the Lowcountry.

The Battery’s Fidel Barajas will be available for selection again after missing the regular season finale while on international duty with the Mexican U-17 national team.

Indy will be without Solomon Asante after the two-time USL Championship MVP picked up a red card in their finale, meaning his suspension will be served on Sunday.

As for the road ahead after Sunday, the winner at Patriots Point will play the winner of the Tampa Bay-Birmingham quarterfinal. The playoff bracket is fixed and does not include re-seeding after the rounds.

Fans attending Sunday’s game can expect a special-edition “Protect the Point” rally towel giveaway. The first 2,000 people through the gates, which open at 2 pm, will receive a rally towel.

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