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.