Joe Kuzminsky

Week 1 of the USL Championship is right around the corner and it feels so good to be back! A new season brings a fresh start for all thirty-five Championship clubs with hopes of being crowned champions in November. Charleston begin their quest for a fifth championship, and first in the modern era, against Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, March 8th.

Here’s a quick look ahead to this weekend’s opener.

New Kids in Town – Charleston added a number of new faces to the roster in what is a revamped Battery roster. Rennico Clarke, Logan Gdula, and Deshawon Nembhard join the backline, while Robbie Crawford, Jesus Ibarra, and Mauro Cichero look to add an offensive spark to the squad. The team wraps up preseason play tonight against the College of Charleston and this weekend’s match against ATLUTD2 could see a number of debuts for the first-year players.

Strong Out of the Gate – The season is a marathon, not a sprint, but three points on opening weekend can set the tone for the rest of the year. ATLUTD2 has yet to drop points in their first two opening matches since joining the Championship in 2018. Charleston has enjoyed similar success winning three of their last six openers while suffering just one defeat. Sunday’s match presents a unique challenge for Charleston who haven’t opened the season on the road since 2013.

It’s A Party – Our first watch party of the season will be hosted by Baker & Brewer! Make the match part of your Sunday Funday plans with $3 craft beers and some of Charleston’s best pizza. The party starts at 3:00 P.M. with kickoff set for 3:30 P.M. Can’t make it out to Baker & Brewer? The match, along with every other USL Championship match, will be streamed on ESPN+.

Charleston Battery are on the road for the first three weeks of the season before making their home debut at Patriots Point on March 28th. Tickets for the historic home opener are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL! We’re ready to #PackThePoint…are you?

Mason didn’t see much action during the USL Championship regular season making just one start in three total appearances. Like teammate Jay Bolt, Mason’s season was cut short due to an injury that sidelined him for the second half of the season. Mason did make an impact in the U.S. Open Cup, starting all three of Charleston’s cup matches.

Mason put in a solid performance against Greenville Triumph SC in the Second Round. He started alongside Tah Brian Anunga in midfield and played ninety minutes, setting the tone defensively for Charleston. He was involved in eighteen duels throughout the match, a team-high, winning possession in ten of those battles. Mason added two tackles, two clearances, and two interceptions while winning possession for Charleston six times.

The first year Trinidad and Tobago international also started against Nashville SC in the Third Round. This time he pushed past the ninety-minute mark, playing the first eight minutes of extra time before being replaced. Mason improved upon his numbers against Greenville winning possession for Charleston thirteen times and nearly doubling his number of tackles, clearances, and interceptions.

Ten minutes into Charleston’s Fourth Round battle against Atlanta United, Mason picked up an injury and was replaced by Angelo Kelly. The injury would keep Mason from being able to establish any momentum in his first season with the club. Anunga’s transfer to Nashville SC will provide an opening Mason could fill heading into 2020.

Don’t miss out on a chance to be part of history! Purchase your season tickets for our inaugural season at Patriots Point online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery, the oldest continuously run professional soccer club in the United States, entered a new era on Wednesday as the sale of the USL Championship team to HCFC, LLC was officially announced.

“The Battery are an indelible part of the Charleston community,” said Rob Salvatore, who will lead the club’s new ownership. “As one of the most historic professional soccer organizations in the United States, this club has brought people throughout the Lowcountry together for decades. As ownership and custodians of the club, we will honor and respect that history while bringing new energy, experience and resources to grow the club’s connection to the community both on and off the field.”

Under Salvatore’s leadership, the Club also announced it will commence play at the Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant starting next season. While more details on the club’s move will be provided in the coming weeks, HCFC is committed to ensuring the new venue is both fan- and family-friendly, while also allowing for the type of intense, raucous atmospheres seen throughout the USL Championship.

“This new venture between the College of Charleston and the Charleston Battery is a tremendous collaboration that will benefit the Towne of Mount Pleasant, the College and soccer fans in the metro-Charleston area,” said College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “By moving the Battery closer to College facilities – which are closer to downtown – more families, young professionals and students will be able to take in professional soccer matches. The College of Charleston is happy to play a role, a small one at that, in this next chapter of the Battery’s story.”

“Our guiding light has and will continue to be our supporters and engaging the community in order to return the club to relevance,” continued Salvatore. “We want to empower an inclusive and diverse supporters’ culture that resonates on both local and national levels. A concerted and fresh approach to how we engage the community, coupled with the changes we envision at Patriots Point will help facilitate that.”

With the ownership change, HCFC takes control of one the United States’ most successful Second Division soccer clubs. The Battery have previously won league titles in 1996, 2003, 2010 and 2012, and in 2008 were the most recent lower-division club to reach the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In addition, the club has qualified for postseason play in 12 consecutive seasons, while winning the Southern Derby in four of the last five.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Rob, his family and the entire HCFC ownership group to the USL Championship,” said USL President, and former Battery player, Jake Edwards. “Our league is experiencing a tremendous period of growth, and as someone who has had the privilege of playing for the club, I know firsthand how wonderful the Charleston community is and how important they are to the future of the USL Championship. Under Rob’s leadership, we believe the future of professional soccer in Charleston is incredibly bright.”

Over the coming the months, Salvatore will embark on a series of community listening sessions with the primary focus of gaining valuable feedback from the community on how the club can further bind itself to the city it represents. More information on those sessions will be made public in the coming weeks.

“The most important thing we can do this offseason is listen,” said Salvatore. “Our group brings a very unique profile with entrepreneurs who have built consumer brands and community driven businesses, marketers, major league sports owners and even a former professional soccer player, so we are confident that we have some very exciting ideas on how we can improve and grow the organization, but we need to make sure those ideas align with the views and beliefs of our supporters. It’s very important that we’re making decisions together.

“We may own the team, but it belongs to Charleston. It is paramount that we earn and keep the community’s trust. That starts by listening and being transparent.”

To all Charleston Battery fans and supporters,

Last night’s result in Nashville ended what was an exciting 2019 USL Championship season. The boys in Black and Yellow fought to the very end and put in a gutsy effort to finish the year, but without the support from our loyal fans, none of it would be possible. From our U.S. Open Cup run to Jarad’s match-winning penalty against Ottawa, you, the fans, were backing us all the way. Our final home match at MUSC Health Stadium was one we’ll never forget, even though it was a little rainy (nothing we aren’t used to at this point), and the support was even better.

While we won’t be lifting our fifth championship trophy this season, we are excited about the successes that lie ahead, both on and off the pitch for the Charleston Battery. The Battery will continue its quest for a 5th star in the 2020 USL Championship season at the Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, home of the College of Charleston Cougars and now the Charleston Battery.  

“It’s been a pleasure working with College of Charleston staff and look forward to the positive partnerships that will result from this move,” said Charleston Battery Owner Eric Bowman. “We’ll also be working to enhance the facilities at Patriots Point to meet all USL Championship requirements and create an unforgettable game-day experience. Our venue will be more easily accessible to people in the downtown area, and give our fans the opportunity to explore the best spots in town before and after the matches.” 

Details concerning ticketing and preseason scheduling will be available on our website in the weeks to come. We hope to have you with us in what will be an unforgettable 2020 season!