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Paul Conway and the Battery advance to face MLS's MetroStars on July 20 at Blackbaud Stadium
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7/1/2004 1:05:39 PM
Battery to host MLS's MetroStars
Charleston, SC - The Charleston Battery will host Major League Soccer's MetroStars in the fourth round of the 2004 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 20; kick off is set for 7:30 PM. The Battery earned the right to play the MetroStars by defeating the PSL champion Wilmington Hammerheads by a score of two goals to none at Blackbaud on June 30.
The MetroStars are in first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference with a record of 5-5-4, 19 points and enter the 2004 Open Cup in this round. Although currently playing their home games at Giants Stadium they have recently announced plans for a move to a soccer-specific stadium in Harrison, NJ for the 2006 season.
This will be the second meeting between these two Clubs. In 2001 the Charleston Battery knocked the MetroStars out of the Cup with a 4-1 win in a second-round US Open Cup game played at Blackbaud Stadium.
The MetroStars are led by Head Coach Bob Bradley; their roster includes a host of domestic and international talent. The defense is anchored by veteran US National Team defender Eddie Pope. Pope has worn the captain's arm'band for the US in recent games and has amassed 59 international caps scoring 5 goals. Pope started in each of the US's five World Cup matches in the team's historic run to the 2002 quarterfinals.
The midfield includes former Furman stand-out and current US U23 player, Ricardo Clark. Alongside Clark is Honduran National Team midfielder Amado Guevara. Guevara is the all-time leader in appearances for Honduras with 77 caps and 15 goals.
The Metrostars strike'force is spearheaded by former Milwaukee Rampage forward, John Wolyniec. Wolyniec won the 2002 A-League Championship with the Rampage; he has earned 2 caps for the US Men's National Team, both in 2004.
Forward Fabian Taylor has made an immediate impact in his first season with the MetroStars scoring 4 goals in 11 games played. A member of the Jamaican National Team, Taylor has 29 caps with 9 goals.
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 which advances deepest in the tournament from each of the Division II, Division III and amateur levels.
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.
Open Cup Tickets
Tickets for the Charleston Battery's fourth round US Open Cup match vs Major League Soccer's MetroStars are on sale now priced at $15 - $20. Three Lions Club members receive complimentary tickets to all Battery Open Cup matches. Season Ticket holders receive a $3 discount on their seats and have until July 17 to claim their seats. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
Contact: Andrew Bell. Media Director. (843) 971-GOAL. (843) 670-2408 (cell). (843) 856-6958 (fax).
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