USL News Release

 

Tuesday, September 5, 2006
 
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced Monday its USL First Division Team of the Week for the 20th week of the season, honoring Tim Karalexis of Charleston as the USL First Division Player of the Week.

Chasing spot among the top two in the table for a playoff bye, the Charleston Battery earned a surprising seven points out of nine on a West Coast road swing over the weekend with Tim Karalexis and the Battery back line leading the way in three close contests.

Charleston opened the trip in Vancouver Thursday in a 1-1 draw. After giving up a goal to Eduardo Sebrango on the half-hour mark, the Battery defense kept the home side off the board, giving forward Ben Hollingsworth the opportunity to tie the match in stoppage time for a point.

The following night in Seattle against a streaking Sounders squad led by league-leading scorer Cam Weaver, Karalexis and the back line shutout the sensational rookie with Hollingsworth’s 54th minute tally holding until Maykel Galindo found the back of the net. Headed toward another draw Karalexis gave the Battery full points on the night in the 89th with a throw-in to win 2-1. Karalexis hurled the ball into the middle for Teba McKnight, who snapped home a header from ten yards out.  

Two nights later in Portland, the marathon road trip came to a close with a 1-0 victory over the Timbers. In addition to leading the Battery to a shutout Sunday, Karalexis had a chance to double their advantage in the 79th minute when he surged forward from the halfway line carrying the ball to the edge of the box where his right-footed shot missed high and right.

Returning from a torn ACL suffered late last season, Karalexis has seen action in 17 games this season and didn’t miss a minute in the three-game road trip. Friday’s assist was his second of the year.