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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Carolina Challenge Cup Kicks Off Saturday

March 17, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston SC. The 2006 Carolina Challenge Cup kicks off Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island with a Major League Soccer double-header featuring the Charleston Battery vs Houston Dynamo at 6 PM then DC United versus Red Bull New York at 8:15 PM. DC United's 16-year old soccer sensation Freddy Adu is in Charleston and will be making a return visit to the tournament. Tickets are on sale now priced at $15 - $25; discounts are available for series tickets (includes all 6 games) and for 2006 Charleston Battery season ticket holders.

Red Bull New York

Highlighting the Red Bull New York roster (and perhaps the tournament rosters) is the former French international Youri Djorkaeff. Djorkaeff won the World Cup with France in 1998 and is the first men's World Cup winner to play at Blackbaud Stadium. A native of Lyon, France, Djorkaeff also has vast experience at the domestic level; he's played in the English Premiership, the German Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A and the French First Division.

Regarded as one of the top players in Major League Soccer, Honduran midfielder Amado Guevara joined the then MetroStars in 2003; Guevara was named MLS MVP in 2004. On an international level Guevara is the all-time leader with the Honduran national team in games played (88).

Anchoring the Red Bull back-line is veteran goalkeeper Tony Meola. Meola has played (and started) 253 games in Major League Soccer during his ten years in the league. A native of Kearny, New Jersey Meola has appeared in more games for the U.S. National Team (99) than any other goalkeeper. He is second in Men's National Team history to Kasey Keller for the most wins in U.S. History (37) and is second all-time with 32 career shutouts for the U.S.

DC United

Despite his youth DC United forward Freddy Adu remains the most visible and recognized face in US Soccer. Adu (16) made his full national team debut in January and remains on the bubble for Bruce Arena's 2006 World Cup squad. Despite missing a number of games due to his time with the U-20 U.S. National Team at the FIFA Youth World Championships, Adu was impressive in his second MLS season in 2005. Adu, who spent time both in the midfield and at forward, scored four goals and dished out six assists in 25 games (16 starts). He tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals, while notching two game-winning assists.

Veteran forward Jaime Moreno returns to DC United for an eleventh MLS season (ten with DC, one with the MetroStars). Moreno has been in impressive form over the past several years, in 2005 he played 29 games (28 starts), and scored 16 goals - his highest goal output since scoring 16 in 1997 and 1998 - and notched seven assists. His 16 goals were the second most in MLS. During the season, the native Bolivian moved into second place on the MLS all-time goals scored list (94), surpassing former teammate Roy Lassister (88) and moving to within six of current leader Jason Kreis (100).

DC Midfielder Ben Olsen has been called into camp by US National team head coach Bruce Arena for next Wednesday's match with Germany. Olsen is in Charleston however and could feature in the game Saturday versus Red Bull New York. In 2005 despite being pulled away from United to compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the U.S. National Team in July, Olsen was again the heart of the Black-and-Red midfield. The crafty central midfielder started 22 of the 23 games he played in, notching two goals and four assists.

Houston Dynamo

Head coach Dominic Kinnear has brought back the majority of the squad that made San Jose (now Houston) the most successful side in MLS during the 2005 regular season. US national team striker Brian Ching has forced himself into the reckoning for a spot on this summer's World Cup squad and is slated to play in the match Wednesday versus Germany. Ching could feature in both Saturday games during the Carolina Challenge Cup.

Brian Ching's strike partner at Houston is Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario. De Rosario will be familiar to Battery fans as a former member of the Richmond Kickers; his MLS career includes 27 goals in 108 games played. In 2004 he the won Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Year for his strike on 8/7 vs. DC United. Capped at the U-20, U-21, Olympic and full national team levels, De Rosario has been a part of Canada's national teams since he was 16. In 2000 De Rosario was a key member in Canada's Gold Cup winning squad where he was a teammate of Charleston Battery player-assistant coach, Mark Watson.

The task of policing Houston's midfield in 2006 will once again fall to former Furman stand-out Ricardo Clark. The Jonesboro, GA native played 28 games for the Earthquakes in 2005 scoring 7 goals and adding 4 assists.

Charleston Battery

Head coach Mike Anhaeuser brought back several familiar faces during the off-season including all-time Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock and veteran defender Mark Watson. Hudock returns to Charleston after spending the 2005 campaign with the Rochester Raging Rhinos. Hudock played six seasons for the Charleston Battery (1999 - 2004) and was a member of Charleston's 2003 USL First Division Championship winning team. Hudock has twice been named USL First Division Goalkeeper of the Year (1997 & 2002).

Mark Watson returns to the Battery for his fourth season with the Club after spending 2005 with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In addition to his playing duties, Watson joins Anhaeuser's coaching staff as an assistant coach. Between 2002- 2004, Watson played 74 games for Charleston scoring 3 goals. Watson was a member of the 2003 USL 1st Division championship. In 2002, Watson was named USL First Division Defender of the Year.

Midfielder, Ben Hollingsworth returns to the Battery for his second season after a stellar rookie campaign that saw him score 4 goals and 1 assist in 27 games played. Hollingsworth was voted the Battery's 2005 Most Valuable Player, and also received the David Vaughn Memorial Award and Newcomer of the Year Award.

A native of Mount Pleasant, SC, Hollingsworth, 5-11, 180 lbs., 22 years, attended the College of Charleston, where in 73 games played, he scored 16 goals and 14 assists. Prior to playing at the College, he attended Bishop England High School for two years, and he also was a student at US Soccer's national residency program in Bradenton, Florida.

Tournament Schedule

Saturday, March 18 Charleston Battery vs Houston 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 18 DC United vs Red Bull New York 8:15 PM

Wednesday, March 22 Charleston Battery vs Red Bull New York 6:00 PM
Wednesday, March 22 DC United vs Houston 8:15 PM

Saturday, March 25 Red Bull New York vs Houston 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 Charleston Battery vs DC United 8:15 PM
All games played at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island.

2006 Season Tickets

2006 Charleston Battery season ticket packages are on sale now starting at only $120. A limited number of memberships to the exclusive Three Lions Club and Battery Club are also still available. To purchase season tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

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