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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery opens season versus defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps

January 28, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC. United Soccer Leagues has announced the details for the 2009 USL First Division season. USL unveiled the alignment, playoff details, and regular season and Fox Soccer Channel schedules for the 2009 competition, which will conclude with a championship series in October. The Charleston Battery opens on the road, April 11 versus the 2008 champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Battery's home opener is set for the following weekend, Saturday April 18 versus the Montreal Impact.

Set to kick off with 11 teams, including the expansion Austin Aztex and promoted Cleveland City Stars, on April 11, the USL First Division will again see each team play 30 matches with three against each opponent. The season will come to a close September 20 with seven teams advancing to the postseason. Not returning to the USL First Division are the Seattle Sounders (MLS expansion) and the Atlanta Silverbacks.

The biggest change will be the expansion of the two-leg, aggregate score series format, used in earlier rounds in USL-1 since 2000, to the USL First Division Championship. It will mark the first time the format will be used for a top-level US-based league since the North American Soccer League's 1970 season.

The Commissioner's Cup winners as regular season champions will automatically be seeded into the Semifinals with the remaining six sides squaring off in the First Round. The teams will be paired in the Semifinals with the lowest remaining seed playing the regular season champion.

Battery featured five times on FOX Soccer Channel

The USL on Fox Soccer Channel schedule, which will include five episodes of the behind-the-scenes show USL Breakaway in 2009, opens with the Montreal Impact visiting the Miami FC Blues Friday, April 24 at 8:00 pm ET. The Charleston Battery will be featured five times on FSC; @ Austin 06/05, vs Puerto Rico 6/25, @ Vancouver 8/7, vs Portland 6/28 & vs Miami 9/11.

Fox Soccer Channel's schedule includes second leg matches from the USL-1 Quarterfinals and Semifinals and both legs of the USL-1 Championship. The 2009 campaign will mark the eighth straight year USL's top league will be featured on America's premier soccer network.

2009 Charleston Battery Schedule

Date Away Team Home Team Time

Carolina Challenge Cup

Saturday, March 07, 2009 Toronto FC (MLS) @ Charleston Battery 7:15 PM

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Real Salt Lake (MLS) @ Charleston Battery 7:15 PM

Saturday, March 14, 2009 DC United (MLS) @ Charleston Battery 7:15 PM

USL1 Season

Saturday, April 11, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Vancouver Whitecaps 10:00 PM

Saturday, April 18, 2009 Montreal Impact @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Friday, April 24, 2009 Minnesota Thunder @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 02, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Miami FC Blues 8:00 PM

Saturday, May 09, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Carolina RailHawks 7:00 PM

Friday, May 15, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Montreal Impact 7:45 PM

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Miami FC Blues @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 23, 2009 Rochester Rhinos @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 30, 2009 Cleveland City Stars @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Friday, June 05, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Austin Aztex 8:00 PM FSC

Sunday, June 07, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Austin Aztex 7:00 PM

Saturday, June 13, 2009 Portland Timbers @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Thursday, June 18, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Puerto Rico Islanders 8:00 PM

Saturday, June 20, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Puerto Rico Islanders 7:00 PM

Thursday, June 25, 2009 Puerto Rico Islanders @ Charleston Battery 8:00 PM FSC

Sunday, July 05, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Montreal Impact 3:45 PM

Saturday, July 11, 2009 Carolina RailHawks @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Friday, July 17, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Cleveland City Stars 7:00 PM

Saturday, July 18, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Rochester Rhinos 7:35 PM

Friday, July 24, 2009 Carolina RailHawks @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Thursday, July 30, 2009 Austin Aztex @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Friday, August 07, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Vancouver Whitecaps 11:00 PM FSC

Saturday, August 08, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Portland Timbers 10:00 PM

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Cleveland City Stars @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Thursday, August 20, 2009 Vancouver Whitecaps @ Charleston Battery 7:30 PM

Friday, August 28, 2009 Portland Timbers @ Charleston Battery 8:00 PM FSC

Sunday, September 06, 2009 Minnesota Thunder @ Charleston Battery 6:00 PM

Friday, September 11, 2009 Miami FC Blues @ Charleston Battery 8:00 PM FSC

Friday, September 18, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Rochester Rhinos 8:00 PM

Sunday, September 20, 2009 Charleston Battery @ Minnesota Thunder 6:05 PM

All times E.S.T. All home games played at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island

2009 Season Tickets

2009 Charleston Battery season ticket packages are on sale now; packages include reserved seating for all 15 regular season games and start at only $150. There are a limited number of Three Lions Club memberships available; TLC membership includes preferred seating, tickets to all regular season, US Open Cup and post-season games, complimentary parking and a catered pre-match buffet. Season Ticket holders also receive a 50% discount on tickets for the 2009 Carolina Challenge Cup featuring Major League Soccer's DC United, Real Salt Lake; to purchase season tickets or to request more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



USL First Division Stories from January 28, 2009


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