Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery are set for a cross-country trip in Week 16 to face Phoenix Rising FC on Sat., June 22. Kickoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET and the match airs exclusively on national television on ESPN2.
Charleston and Phoenix meet for the first time since last year’s USL Championship Final at Patriots Point. The contest ended in a 1-1 draw that was settled in a penalty kick shootout, a result the Battery will look to atone for this weekend.
The Battery (8W-2L-5D, 29 pts) are looking to bounce back after suffering a 2-0 road defeat in Detroit last weekend. Charleston appeared on the verge of a late go-ahead goal when Nick Markanich hit the woodwork but momentum changed when Detroit were awarded a penalty a minute later. The Battery are searching for their first win since May 15.
Phoenix (5W-5L-5D, 20pts) return to their home ground following a 1-1 road draw against El Paso Locomotive FC in Week 15. Panos Armenakas scored an equalizer in the second half to earn Phoenix a point against El Paso, a game in which Phoenix had the majority of possession and total shots.
Looking at the league standings, Charleston are second in the Eastern Conference and Phoenix are fifth in the Western Conference.
Storylines of the Match
Rematch Seven Months in the Making – It’s been roughly seven months since Charleston and Phoenix saw each other in the 2023 USL Championship Final. Both sides have undergone varying degrees of transformation in that time, notably Charleston’s reloaded roster and Danny Stone taking charge of Phoenix ahead of the new year, replacing Juan Guerra.
Former Golden Boot Face-Off – Saturday will see two of the three co-winners of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot face off in Charleston’s MD Myers and Phoenix’s Rémi Cabral. Myers joined the Battery via permanent transfer in the offseason and Cabral is with Phoenix on loan from MLS side Colorado Rapids.
Arizona Connections – Battery defender Josh Drack will be returning to his home state for Saturday’s contest. Drack hails from Chandler, which is just outside of Phoenix. Additionally, midfielder Arturo Rodriguez competed for Phoenix from 2021-22 and Jackson Conway spent a portion of the 2023 season on loan with the Arizona outfit.
First Trip to Phoenix – Dating back to 2014, all three meetings between the Battery and Phoenix (previously Arizona United SC) have occurred in the Lowcountry. This weekend will feature Charleston’s first-ever trip to the Valley of the Sun.
Searching for Victory – The Battery are still looking for their first win since their May 15 triumph over Birmingham Legion FC. Charleston have drawn two and lost two in league play since that win.
Grinwis Returns – Battery goalkeeper Adam Grinwis made his competitive return in Week 15’s match at Detroit. Grinwis missed the previous month while recovering from an injury sustained in a collision at the end of the Birmingham game. He made three saves while donning a protective face mask in a match for the first time.
Archer Hits 150 Matches – Battery defender and captain Leland Archer hit 150 matches across all competitions for the Black and Yellow last weekend. It’s another milestone achieved for the skipper, who first joined the club in 2018 and is the longest-tenured member of the squad.
From the Training Ground
Midfielder Emilio Ycaza and Head Coach Ben Pirmann previewed the upcoming match prior to heading to Arizona, with key quotes in the video below:
MATCH INFO
Phoenix Rising FC vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, June 22 – 10:30 p.m. ET Kickoff
Phoenix Rising Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
Saturday’s match will air exclusively on national television on ESPN2, which may be accessed through a typical cable or satellite TV subscription. Check your TV’s guide for the exact channel number. Fans may use the ESPN app or website to stream the games by logging in with their TV subscription credentials.
For international viewers, the match will stream via the league’s YouTube channel.
