Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Friday, March 21, 2014
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery square off with Orlando City on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the USL PRO season opener; gates open at 6 p.m. ET with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ($10 - $18, (843) 971-GOAL / charlestonbattery.com). Orlando City is the defending USL PRO champion, and is playing its final season in USL PRO in 2014 before moving up to Major League Soccer for the 2015 season.
Saturday’s game will be available locally on SportsRadio 1450 AM and will also be streamed live via the Charleston Battery website. Immediately following the match on Saturday there will be a season-opening fireworks spectacular.
In 2013 the Battery played Orlando twice in the regular season, as the teams tied 1-1 at Blackbaud Stadium before Orlando took a 2-1 in the reverse fixture played in Orlando. After progressing to the USL PRO Playoffs semifinals the Battery were eliminated by Orlando, losing 3-2 at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Orlando defeated the Charlotte Eagles 7-4 in the USL PRO Championship Game to claim its second title. In the past four years only two teams have won USL championships, Charleston Battery (2010 & 2012) and Orlando City (2011 & 2013).
Battery defender Colin Falvey will be unavailable for selection on Saturday as he serves a one-game suspension after receiving a red card in the semifinal match last season against Orlando. The Battery could have some new faces in Saturday's starting line-up, as returning goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper and midfielder Jared van Schaik could be joined by players such as Mamadou Diouf and Adam Mena, who are among those on loan from the Battery's MLS partner, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Orlando City has already begun its squad preparation for the 2015 MLS season and has signed several players with MLS experience in advance of its final USL PRO season. Defender Brad Rusin and forward Corey Hertzog both joined Orlando from the Whitecaps, while midfielder Yordany Alvarez, the 2011 USL PRO Most Valuable Player, returns to Orlando from Real Salt Lake.
Orlando City are the official USL PRO affiliate of MLS’s Sporting Kansas FC, and could also feature former U.S. U20 international Mikey Lopez, who was sent on loan for the season earlier this week.
To purchase tickets or for more information please visit www.charlestonbattery.com or call the Charleston Battery at (843) 971-GOAL (4625).