Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Thursday, July 11, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery takes on the Charlotte Eagles Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the final regular season match of the USL PRO season (8 p.m., FOX Soccer) for both teams. The game will decide which team advances to the postseason with the fourth and final American Division playoff berth up for grabs. The Battery (9-9-5) enters the match in fifth position, one point behind the Eagles (9-8-6). A win would see Charleston leapfrog the Eagles into fourth position and the playoffs.
The Battery enters the game on the back of two tough road losses in Orlando, Fla. last week. Charleston lost 1-0 to Orlando City on August 3 and then suffered a 2-1 loss in the second match played on August 6. Forward Dane Kelly scored the lone Battery goal in a chippy game that saw Battery captain John Wilson red-carded. Wilson serves a suspension Friday and is unavailable for selection.
The Charlotte Eagles lost 1-0 on Wednesday night to the Harrisburg City Islanders in a game that would have secured Charlotte fourth place in the American Division if they had won. Jose Angulo scored the lone goal for Harrisburg in the 87th minute.
The Battery have beaten Charlotte twice already this season winning 1-0 on the opening day of the season thanks to a Mark Bloom own goal and then earning a 2-1 road win on April 29. After conceding early the Battery fought back in that game with goals from Seedy Bah and Nicki Paterson securing the comeback victory.
The Battery and the Eagles share a 19-year rivalry and along with fellow USL PRO side the Richmond Kickers are the longest continuously operating professional soccer teams in the United States.
The Battery first played the Eagles in both clubs’ inaugural seasons back in 1993. The teams met twice that year with the Battery winning both games, 3-1 at home and 1-0 in the return fixture.
Over the past 19 years the teams have met 30 times in competitive fixtures (regular season, postseason and U.S. Open Cup) with Charleston winning 21 games, losing five with four ties.
Charlotte has won the USL Championship twice, in 2000 and most recently in 2005 and has reached the final on eight occasions including 2008 and 2009; Charlotte missed the playoffs in 2010, finishing fourth (top three advanced).
The Eagles are led by one of the most experienced coaches in U.S. Soccer in Mark Steffens, who is currently in his 15th season as head coach for the Eagles.
Free mini soccer balls courtesy of Piggly Wiggly
The first 500 children through the turnstiles on Friday will receive a free soccer ball courtesy of Piggly Wiggly. Immediately following the game there will be a spectacular season final fireworks display!
Friday’s game is being televised nationally on FOX Soccer; gates open at 6 p.m. with kick off set for 8 p.m. Tickets are available starting at just $10 to purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.