USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery Home Versus ASC New Stars in U.S. Open Cup First Round

May 28, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery (USL1) will take on the ASC New Stars (USASA) in the first round of the 2008 US Open Cup. The game will be played at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island on Tuesday, June 10; gates open at 6:30 PM - kick of is set for 7:30 PM ($5 - $10, 971-GOAL / charlestonbattery.com). The Battery advanced to the quarterfinals of the USOC in 2007, losing in OT to Major League Soccer's F.C. Dallas.

The ASC New Stars, Houston, TX, qualified for the 2008 US Open Cup through the USASA Region III tournament; this will be their first-ever appearance in the competition. The New Stars qualified with a 2-0-1 record, and won their group by a single point. The New Stars lost the Region III Final 2-1 to the Clearwater Galactics (Florida) who also qualify for the USOC.

The Battery won three games in the Open Cup in 2007, defeating the Central Florida Kraze, the El Paso Patriots and Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo before falling to FC Dallas (MLS) in the quarterfinals. Charleston has twice advanced to the semifinal stage of the tournament (1999 & 2004).

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world having crowned a champion for 94 consecutive years dating back to 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

U.S. Open Cup Tickets

Tickets for the Charleston Battery vs ASC New Stars game will go on sale on Friday, May 30 for $5 (bleacher) and $10 (Club). 2008 Season Ticket holders can purchase discounted tickets; Three Lions Club members receive complimentary tickets to all U.S. Open Cup fixtures. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

June 12 - First Round - 32 lower division teams enter tournament

June 26 - Second Round - 16 Round 1 winners face off

July 1 - Third Round - Round 2 winners face eight MLS teams

July 8 - Quarterfinals - Round 3 winners

Aug. 12 - Semifinals - Quarterfinal winners

Aug. 24 - Final - Semifinal winners

Composition of participating teams:

8 Major League Soccer

8 United Soccer Leagues First Division

8 United Soccer Leagues Second Division

16 Amateur (8 USL Premier Development League, 8 USASA regional qualifiers)

Total Number of Teams: 40

Total Number of Games: 39

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



USL First Division Stories from May 28, 2008


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