USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery set for MLS champions

Published on June 30, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston SC. The ULS First Division Charleston Battery host Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo Tuesday night (July 1) at Blackbaud Stadium in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; gates open at 6 PM with kick off set for 7:30 PM ($10 - $18, (843) 971-GOAL / www.charlestonbattery.com). The Battery (7-3-3, 24 points) enters the game in first place in the USL First Division, Houston (4-4-7, 19 points) is in third position in MLS's Western Conference.

Tuesday's game is a rematch of the 2007 third round fixture that the Battery won 1-0 in overtime. Stephen Armstrong scored the only goal of that match, converting a penalty in the 108th minute.

The Battery enters the game on the back of a 3-1 home win versus the Rochester Rhinos in a game played last Saturday night. Stephen Armstrong, Randi Patterson and substitute forward Aaron King supplied the goals as the Battery completed a three-game season sweep of the Rhinos; Patterson's goal was his team-leading seventh of the year.

Houston is the two-time defending MLS Cup Champions. After relocating to Houston in 2006 (from San Jose) the Dynamo has reeled off back to back MLS Cup wins. The Dynamo has also been one of the most successful franchises off the field averaging 19,000 fans per home game during the 2006 regular season and hosted three consecutive crowds of greater than 30,000 in 2007, including two playoff games.

Houston's roster includes US Men's national team forward Brian Ching and midfielders Ricardo Clarke and Brad Davis. Midfielder Stuart Holden and defender Patrick Ianni are expected to feature for the US Olympic team this coming summer. Houston also has a pair of Canadian Men's national team players, goalkeeper Pat Onstad and striker, Dwayne De Rosario.

The winner of Tuesday's match will face the winner of the FC Dallas (MLS) vs Miami FC Blues (USL1) fixture; that game is being played on Tuesday night in Dallas. If the Battery and FC Dallas win Charleston will travel to Dallas for a quarterfinal on Tuesday, July 8. If the Battery and Miami win Charleston will host the Miami FC Blues at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 1.

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. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

At stake in the tournament is $180,000 in prize money broken down as follows: $100,000 to the champion, $50,000 to the runner up and $10,000 to the team that advances deepest into the tournament from each of the Division II, Division III and amateur levels. The winner of the U.S. Open Cup also receives an automatic berth into the CONCACAF Champions League.

U.S. Open Cup Third Round Tickets Tickets for the Charleston Battery (USL1) vs Houston Dynamo (MLS) third round U.S. Open Cup match are on sale now for $10 - $18 with discounts available for groups of ten or more and current Charleston Battery season ticket holders; Three Lions Club members receive complimentary tickets to all U.S. Open games. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

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USL First Division Stories from June 30, 2008


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