Preview | Detroit City FC vs. Charleston Battery

Presented by MUSC Health

Matchday Preview

The Charleston Battery are set to travel to the Midwest for a Week 15 match against Detroit City FC on Sat., June 15. Kickoff at Keyworth Stadium is 4 p.m. ET and the match will air on ESPN+.

Charleston and Detroit meet for the first time in 2024 this weekend. The Battery held the edge in the 2023 series, winning 0-1 at Keyworth thanks to Augi Williams’ goal in the second half.

The Battery (8W-1L-5D, 29pts) head to Michigan following a 0-0 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday. The result was the second consecutive scoreless stalemate for the Battery in USL Championship action. Goalkeeper Daniel Kuzemka has posted three shutouts in his past four matches.

Detroit (6W-3L-2D, 20pts) have enjoyed ample success in the initial third of the season under first-year head coach Danny Dichio. DCFC defeated Rhode Island FC in Week 14, a 0-2 result on the road, powered by goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Victor Bezerra. The victory snapped a five-game winless run in league play for the Michigan outfit.

Looking at the Eastern Conference standings, the Battery are in second and Detroit are in fifth.

Storylines of the Match

Michigan Connections – It will be a visit back home for Michigan natives Ben Pirmann and Adam Grinwis. Coach Pirmann, a Detroit native, played for Michigan State University before coaching the Spartans as an assistant and Detroit City as the head coach until 2018. Grinwis hails from Grand Rapids and played at the University of Michigan and then-USL PDL side Michigan Bucks.

Return to Winning Ways – The Battery will look to get back in the win column in Week 15. Come kickoff at Keyworth Stadium, a complete month will have passed since Charleston’s last win, on May 15 against Birmingham Legion FC. Since then, the Battery have posted three draws and one loss.

Tough Keyworth – Detroit have found their best form at home and are undefeated in their last six matches across all competitions at Keyworth Stadium. The Battery are 1W-1L-0D across their two away trips against DCFC.

Kuzemka Stays Solid – Goalkeeper Daniel Kuzemka has turned in a series of strong performances while deputizing for Adam Grinwis. Kuzemka has posted three shutouts in his last four matches while showcasing his range and athleticism in his saves.

Top Goalkeeping Overall – The combination of Grinwis and Kuzemka has placed the pair as the top goalkeeping duo in the league. Charleston are the league’s leader in shutouts with eight between both shot-stoppers.

A Familiar Face on DCFC – Potentially lining up for Detroit on Saturday will be former Battery defender Matt Sheldon. Sheldon joined Detroit this past offseason and was a member of the Battery’s 2022 team.

New Nationally Televised Games – On Wednesday, the USL announced a new national television broadcast partnership with TelevisaUnivision, bringing more of the league’s matches to Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States. Two Battery matches, both home, were included in the initial slate to air on TUDN: August 10 vs. Memphis 901 FC and October 5 vs. Detroit City FC.