Charlotte Independence fell to the Charleston Battery 2-0 on Saturday night at Transamerica Field on the campus of UNC Charlotte in their 2017 season opener.
On-loan Rapids defender Dennis Castillo came off the bench for the final 14 minutes, to replace Bilal Duckett. Rapids' 17-year-old Academy goalkeeper, Kainoa Likewise, was an unused sub, though he did feature - and impress - the following day for Independence Reserves.
Charleston took away all three points, but the home side had their chances. The Independence nearly netted the breakthrough goal in the early going as they earned the match’s first corner in the third minute. Defender Luke Waechter put his head on the cross from Lewis Hilton but the shot skimmed just over the crossbar.
The Independence went on to fire off eight first-half shots and six more in the second but were denied the first goal of the season. The game was scoreless after the first 45 minutes as goalkeeper Cody Mizell kept the Battery at bay.
The Battery recorded 12 shots in the game, 11 of which came after the break, and moved ahead in the 70th minute through Romario Williams - on loan from Atlanta United FC. Defender Forrest Lasso headed home a cross from a free-kick to double the lead seven minutes later.
Charlotte will look to snag their first points of the season this coming Saturday, in week three of the USL regular season, when they travel to Orlando City B.
