Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery are set to kick off the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs at home against Rhode Island FC on Fri., Oct. 30, in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Kickoff at Patriots Point is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will stream on ESPN+.
Charleston and Rhode Island split the 2026 series with each home side claiming the victory. Rhode Island notched a 4-0 victory over Charleston back in April, and the Battery returned the favor with a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in September.
The Battery (No. 2) enter the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season with Ben Pirmann at the helm, amassing a 16W-9L-5D (53pts) record in the regular season. Charleston ascended to second in the table with their 1-0 victory over Indy Eleven in Week 34, aided by Colton Swan’s late goal. Additionally, the Battery’s win effectively eliminated Indy from playoff contention.
Rhode Island (No. 7) return to the postseason after being dealt a 2-1 road defeat to Hartford Athletic in the final matchweek. After taking a 0-1 lead in the first half, Hartford rallied after the hour mark with two goals to claim the victory. The result sent Hartford past Rhode Island and into sixth in the table, while Rhode Island moved to seventh.
The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are the opening round of the USL Championship Playoffs, and it is a single-elimination match. The Conference Semifinals will be the weekend of November 7-8.
Storylines of the Match
Third Postseason Meeting – This weekend is almost a carbon copy of last year’s opening round matchup, when No. 2 Charleston hosted No. 7 Rhode Island. That game, however, proved to be the second consecutive year in which Rhode Island knocked the Battery out of the playoffs at home. Charleston will be seeking redemption for those past results while aiming to advance to the Conference Semifinals.
Not the Same Story – Unlike last year’s postseason meeting, Charleston’s 2026 roster is reworked, with many players who weren’t on the team for the 2025 quarterfinal. Comparing the Week 34 starting lineup to that of the 2025 playoff match, only four Battery players appeared in both: Luis Zamudio, Douglas Martinez, Graham Smith and Jeremy Kelly. Additionally, Charleston’s revitalized attack is comprised of newcomers Miguel Berry, Colton Swan and Maalique Foster, all double-digit goalscorers in 2026.
Coastal Rivalry Renewed – Charleston and Rhode Island have met eight times already since 2024, and the series narrowly favors Rhode Island. The Battery have two wins, Rhode Island three, along with three draws, across those meetings. Charleston have fared better at home, with a 2W-2D-1L record against Rhode Island at Patriots Point. The clash in September in the Lowcountry was a 2-nil Battery victory thanks to two goals from Emilio Ycaza.
Home Sweet Home – Charleston will look to harness some home-field advantage at Patriots Point, where they have played their best, against Rhode Island. In the 2026 USL Championship regular season, the Battery led the league in wins (11), points won (35), goals scored (37) and goal differential (+26). Should Charleston advance, they would host again in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 6-8.
Opposing Strengths – In the regular season, Charleston amassed the most goals scored in the Eastern Conference (56), including four players in the top-10 for goals scored in the conference: Colton Swan, Maalique Foster, Emilio Ycaza, Miguel Berry. Meanwhile, the Rhode Island defense is rigid, with a league-leading 17 tackles per match during the regular season. Rhode Island’s Swayne Atkinson and Amos Shapiro-Thompson were first and second, respectively, in the league in tackles per 90.
Players to Watch – A player to keep an eye on for both sides is Charleston’s Miguel Berry and Rhode Island’s Hugo Bacharach. In Championship play, Berry recorded team-high 13 goal contributions (8G/5A) while leading the side with a +7.17 Goals Added mark with his versatile ability to both create and score goals. Bacharach, on the other hand, has been a two-way threat as a central midfielder, tallying three goals, two assists, 41 tackles won and 33 interceptions.
Kelly Runner-Up – Congratulations are in order for Jeremy Kelly’s strong regular season, where the midfielder tallied nine assists in league play. The total made him a runner-up in the Championship’s Golden Playmaker race, one off the pace of the league lead. Kelly has 10 assists overall in 2026 and still has the opportunity to set a new single-season career high (11) and the club’s single-season record (12).
Fight for Fifth Title – The Battery, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the club’s first league title this year, the 1996 USISL Pro League, officially start their hunt for a fifth league crown. Charleston have won four league championships: 1996, 2003, 2010 and 2012. They additionally claimed silverware via the 2010 regular season title and 2023 Eastern Conference trophy.
Playoffs at the Point – Friday will mark the ninth consecutive playoff match hosted by the Battery, dating back to 2023.
The Road Ahead – Friday’s winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals set for November 7-8, where they will face the winner of the No. 3 Detroit City FC vs. No. 6 Hartford Athletic match.
From the Training Ground
MATCH INFO
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Charleston Battery vs. Rhode Island FC
Friday, October 30 – 7 p.m. ET Kickoff
Patriots Point
HOW TO WATCH:
Friday’s match will also stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally. The match will also air on local television on Palmetto Sports and Entertainment Network, channel WCSC 5.3 (SD) and WZCH-TV 35.3 (HD) in Charleston. Check with your TV provider for the exact channel number.
On radio, the game will air on SiriusXM FC (channel 188).
A limited amount of tickets for Friday are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
