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DC United's Marco Etcheverry & Ben Olsen
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1/16/2003 12:19:35 PM
Battery to play DC United
Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery will face three-time MLS Cup Champions DC United as it prepares for it’s 2003 A-League campaign. The match is set for Saturday, March 29 at Blackbaud Stadium, kickoff 7:30 pm. Tickets for the DC United exhibition are on sale now and are priced at $6 - $12. The match is included in all 2003 Charleston Battery season ticket packages.
Charleston Battery Head Coach, Chris Ramsey, “Obviously playing a team of DC United’s character is going to be another test for our squad. There’s been a certain amount of reshuffling from both sides and the timing of this match gives us a chance to iron out any potential problems before the A-League season begins.”
This will be the third visit to Blackbaud Stadium for DC United. In 1999 Charleston defeated DC 4-3 in a thrilling US Open Cup encounter, with the winning goal coming in OT. The following year United responded by knocking the Battery out of the same competition defeating Charleston by a score of four goals to none.
The match continues a pre season tradition for the Charleston Battery of playing Major League Soccer teams as preparation for the A-League season. Last year the Battery played the Dallas Burn and the New England Revolution during it’s pre season, defeating the Burn 4-1 before losing narrowly to the Revs 2-1.
DC United is one of the most successful franchises in Major League Soccer history. United is a three-time MLS Cup Champion, winning in 1996, 1997 and 1999. They also won the US Open Cup in 1996 and the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1998. Late last year United became the first MLS side to travel to England where they defeated Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League 1-0 in an exhibition match.
DC is led by second year Head Coach, Ray Hudson. Hudson joined United in 2002 after two seasons coaching the Miami Fusion. As a player Hudson was a five-time NASL All-Star, a native of England he also played 40 matches for England’s Newcastle United. In 2002 Hudson led DC on a late season charge that saw them just miss the playoffs.
The DC United roster was bolstered this week with the announcement that United has acquired US World Cup star Earnie Stewart. Stewart joins United after 14 successful years in Holland where his 111 goals rank as the most scored by any international based US player. A twelve-year veteran of the US Men’s National Team, Stewart has 84 caps, and has scored 15 goals. 11 of his caps came in World Cup Finals matches an all time US record he shares with Cobi Jones.
Stewart joins a DC United attack that has been led for the last seven years by Marco Etcheverry. A longtime member of the Bolivian National Team Etcheverry was MLS’s 1998 Honda MVP. He has played 166 MLS games, all for DC United, accruing 14,299 minutes, scoring 28 goals with 94 assists.
Also in the middle third will be the newly acquired Dema Kovalenko and US Men’s National Team winger, Ben Olsen. Kovalenko arrives at DC from the Chicago Fire where he enjoyed four solid seasons while Olsen returned to full fitness in 2002 after being sidelined for the whole of the 2001 season with an ankle injury.
Other midfield options include, Ryan Nelsen, now entering his third MLS season. A native of New Zealand and a member of the Kiwi National Team, Nelsen led United in scoring in the 2002 season (4).
The United defense has been strengthened for 2003 with the addition of US Men’s National Team defender Mike Petke. Petke arrives at DC after five years with the Metrostars. A former captain of the US U21 Men’s National Team, Petke made his full US debut in 2002. Also in defense is Honduras National Team defender Milton Reyes and South African National Team defender Ivan McKinley.
DC United has a tradition of nurturing young talent and has several prospects on its roster. Midfielder Bobby Convey and forward, Santino Quaranta are both active members of the U20 US Men’s National Team. Convey was the youngest player ever signed by Major League Soccer. His record was broken however, when the league signed Quaranta at the even younger age of 16 years and four months.
United’s roster also boasts the young El Salvadorian striker, Eliseo Quintanilla. Still only 19 years old, Quintanilla has three full National Team caps for El Salvador.
DC United Exhibition Tickets – Included in all 2003 Season Ticket Packages
Tickets for the Major League Soccer exhibition match vs. DC United are on sale now. Prices range from $6 - $12. Season ticket holders and fans that purchase season tickets before March 29, will receive complimentary tickets to the game. Season ticket packages for the entire 2003 season begin at $90 or $300 for a family pack of four tickets. To purchase game tickets, season tickets or for more information please call the Charleston Battery ticket hotline, (843) 971-4625 or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
(Photo Credit: DC United)
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