Zeiko Lewis, the Charleston Battery forward, netted a brace in his team’s first pre-season match against Minnesota United in Melbourne, Florida, yesterday.

The 25-year-old scored in the fifth and nineteenth minutes in a 3-2 loss at the Titan Soccer Complex.

“I am happy to start pre-season off on the right foot with two goals,” Lewis said. “I hope I can continue this throughout the rest of preseason and then into the season.”

The teams were tied at 2-2 at the break before Minnesota grabbed a late winner.

Despite the defeat, Lewis, who is in his second season at the United Soccer League Championship side, said there were positives to take away from his team’s performance.

“The team put in a good shift,” he added.

“We only just started preseason so competing with this team who has been in pre-season for a couple of weeks is a sign of good things to come moving forward.”

Charleston are away to Atlanta United 2 in their USL Championship season opener on March 8 before hosting the Philadelphia Union II in the first match at their new ground at Patriots Point on March 28.

Lewis and his team-mates are back in action today against Inter Miami.