Patricia Ring/Ring PhotographyEli Dent helped the South Carolina United Battery to a strong Academy showing on Sept. 17 and 18.Dakotah Millard scored twice in the Under-15/16 Battery’s 4-0 win over the Kickers, while Hamilton Carlin scored four goals in the team’s 6-1 victory over the Rush.
Meanwhile, Eli Dent was the Battery’s under-17/18 weekend standout, scoring two goals in each of the team’s 5-0 win over the Kickers and 7-1 victory over the Rush. Travis Naylor also scored once against the Kickers and twice against the Rush.
For the South Carolina Battery program, the results could signal the start of a strong season. Last year’s under-15/16 squad finished second in the Southeast Division. The under-17/18 team, however, managed only 24 goals in 25 matches and missed the playoffs.
"We talked about the guys starting fast and strong, and you never know," said Clark Brisson, South Carolina United Battery academy director and coach of the 17/18 squad. "We thought that we had two, pretty good teams.
"Our emphasis has been on creating and scoring goals this year," Brisson added. "Scoring early really built a lot of confidence for both teams. We created our chances and just took our chances, which I think that we're going to do throughout the season."
Striker Wesley Eads and midfielder Nestor Jaramillo each had one goal in both games, and midfielder Nico Rittmeyer converted a goal against the Rush.
"As far as knowing and having a feel for what the outcome would be, I don't think that I had any expectations, other than I was ready to support my teammates and to give it all that I could," said Dent, a 16-year-old high school junior.
Dent is considering the College of Charleston, University of South Carolina, Northwestern and High Point universities.
"As far as making a decision, it's kind of hard to tell. I'm not really going to make a decision any time soon," said Dent, who carries a 3.6 grade point average.
For the younger United Battery team, Carlin accounted for first four goals of a 6-1 triumph over the Rush. Michele Bottari and midfielder Erik Clark also scored.
The goals in the under-15/16 team's 4-0 shutout of the Kickers were comprised of two from midfielder Dakotah Millard and one each from strikers Rex Epps and Avery Ryan.
Carlin joined the United Battery toward the end of last year, adding scoring punch to the program's playoff surge.
"I had played for Mount Pleasant for the premier league season, and then I joined the Academy toward the end. We just kept getting better toward the end of the season, and I thought that we would be pretty good this year, so I decided to come back," Carlin said.
"We have a lot of new players, but they all work together really well. When we make substitutions, the level doesn't drop. It stays the same. It's great, because everyone brings something to the game."
Multiple Goal Scorers
The following is a list of players who scored multiple goals during Development Academy matches last weekend.
Under-15/16
4, Hamilton Carlin, South Carolina United Battery, in a 6-1 win over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
3, Jaime Villarreal, LA Galaxy, in 4-4 tie with De Anza Force
2, Amir Abraham, Georgia United, in 7-0 victory over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
2, Paul Arriola, Arsenal FC, in 3-0 victory over Crossfire Premier
2, Eli Carrasco, Georgia United, in 5-0 victory over Richmond Kickers
2, Ilya Dmitriakov, FC Dallas, in 7-0 victory over Classics Elite
2, Zachary Dunbar, FC Dallas, in 7-0 victory over Classics Elite
2, Aaron Meyer, FC Dallas, in 7-0 victory over Classics Elite
2, Dakotah Millard, South Carolina United Battery, in a 4-0 victory over Richmond Kickers
2, Nick Miller, Georgia United, in 7-0 victory over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
2, Franciso Miranda, Georgia United, in 5-0 victory over Richmond Kickers
2, Brian Pachecho, Pateadores, in 3-0 win over Cal Odyssey
2, Brian Pachecho, Pateadores, in 2-2 tie with San Jose Earthquakes
2, Aaron Redling, Georgia United, in 7-0, victory over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
Under-17/18
2, John Chronopoulos, Santa Cruz Breakers, in 3-2 victory over Chivas USA
2, Caleb Clarke, Vancouver Whitecaps, in 5-1 victory over Real Salt Lake
2, Marco Delgado, Chivas USA, in 3-2 loss to De Anza Force
2, Eli Dent, South Carolina United Battery, in 7-1 victory over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
2, Eli Dent, South Carolina United Battery, in 5-0 victory over Richmond Kickers
2, Nicholas Escalante, Chivas USA, in 3-2 loss to Santa Cruz Breakers Academy
2, Reece Holcomb, Birmingham United, in 3-2 victory over Richmond Strikers
2, Raul Mendiola, LA Galaxy, in 5-1 victory over Santa Cruz Breakers
2, Travis Naylor, South Carolina United Battery, in 7-1 victory over Virginia Rush AJ Auxerre
2, Jake Stenberg, Strikers FC, in 3-1 win over Cal Odyssey
2, Jonathan Top, FC Dallas, in 3-1 win over Classics Elite
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