Preview | Charleston Battery vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Presented by MUSC Health

It’s that time of year again, match preview season! The Charleston Battery kick off their 2023 campaign right at home when Phoenix Rising FC on Sat., March 11. The match at Patriots Point will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET with gates opening at 6 p.m. ET.

The Battery and Rising FC have never previously faced each other, making Saturday’s meeting the inaugural fixture. Charleston did play Phoenix during their Arizona United SC era, winning 2-0 in the Lowcountry thanks to a Dane Kelly brace.

Charleston enter the 2023 season with renewed optimism under Head Coach Ben Pirmann, the reigning USL Coach of the Year, as he leads a squad composed of core returners and exciting new additions.

Among the returners for the Battery are top scorer Augustine Williams and veteran defenders Leland Archer and AJ Paterson, both the club’s longest-tenured players on the roster. Newcomers Trey Muse, Emilio Ycaza, Nick Markanich and Chris Allan, among others, will look to add a new dynamic to the Black and Yellow.

Phoenix are led by head coach Juan Guerra, who took the helm midway through last season. Rising FC have been a formidable side in the Western Conference since joining the league in 2014 as Arizona United SC. The Arizona club have twice reached the USL Championship Final (2018 and 2020) but were kept out of postseason play last year and will look to bounce back, starting on Saturday.

Erickson Gallardo is one to watch for Phoenix, who joined the club this offseason. The right winger notched nine goals and six assists for Venezuelan side Zamora FC, averaging a goal contribution every 137.4 minutes in the regular season.

Battery newcomer AJ Cochran will get a chance to face his former club this weekend. Cochran played for Phoenix from 2019 to 2020 and earned an All-League nod in 2019.

The interconference clash will also kick off the Battery’s 30th anniversary season, as the Black and Yellow are the oldest continuously operated club in the United States.

From the training ground

Head Coach Ben Pirmann and forward Augi Williams discussed the Phoenix fixture in the key quotes below.

Coach Pirmann on the start of the season…

Training has been good, [the team is] intense, they work hard. We’re still a long way away, we’re trying to put our ideas together and continue to further our identity, but the attitude’s been great. It’s a good group of young men and we keep improving. It’s been a long five weeks but now that we’re closer to Saturday night, it’s something we’re excited about. 

Coach Pirmann on what Phoenix bring to the table…

Phoenix are a top club. They’ve got one of the best coaches in the league, so they’re going to make us suffer when they’re in possession. Hopefully, we can make sure we’re organized and not let them get into a good rhythm. I think it’s going to be a 50-50 game. 

Williams on completing the preseason…

It’s been a long process, we’ve been trying to work together and learn about each other, but it’s a great feeling to be out there Saturday and, hopefully, we get the three points. It’s an exciting feeling to be able to play against one of the best teams and to prove that you can compete with them. 

Williams on opening the 2023 campaign at home…

It’s amazing to start the season again at home and in front of our amazing fans. There’s no better feeling than to be at home, you’re in front of the people who support you the most. We’re excited and want to bring that happiness to them again that they’ve been searching for, for a while. I think there’s no better day to do that than on Saturday.

As of posting, Handwalla Bwana is listed as out.