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On Thursday afternoon, the United Soccer League released the full 2020 USL Championship regular-season schedule. The Charleston Battery open their 28th season on the road against Atlanta United 2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia on March 8th. Charleston follow up the season opener with trips to Birmingham and Hartford before hosting Philadelphia Union II, formerly Bethlehem Steel FC, in the inaugural match at Patriots Point.

Charleston begin their defense of the Southern Derby Cup on the road against Charlotte Independence on April 11th. The Battery will square off against the Independence three times this season, with two of those matches being played at home. Charleston’s first match against North Carolina FC will be played at home on May 16th before heading to Cary for the reverse fixture on October 2nd.

The summer months look kind to the Battery with an extended run at home beginning on June 20th against Sporting Kansas City II. Charleston are at home for seven of the following nine matches which include big games against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (July 18th) and reigning Eastern Conference champions, Louisville City FC (July 25th).

The Battery welcomes Eastern Conference newcomer, Miami FC, to the Palmetto state on May 10th and again on July 5th. Miami FC joined the USL Championship at the end of the 2019 season. Charleston plays their last home game of the regular season on October 11th against St. Louis FC before playing their season finale against Pittsburgh on October 17th.

All Battery home and away matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ but two games will be broadcast across the ESPN Networks as the USL Championship’s Game of the Week. Charleston’s first meeting with Memphis 901 FC on Wednesday, April 29th at 8:30 PM EST will be featured on ESPN2 while the Battery’s October 2nd match against North Carolina FC will be aired on ESPNews. Both games are away matches. For a complete list of every USL Championship Game of the Week visit uslchampionship.com.

The full 2020 regular season schedule can be found below or by visiting the schedule page. Times for each match has yet to be determined and will be confirmed as that information becomes available. Season tickets are on sale for what will be a historic first season at Patriots Point and can be purchased online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

Full Charleston Battery Schedule (by month, home matches in bold)

March 8th, Atlanta United 2

March 15th, Birmingham Legion FC

March 21st, Hartford Athletic

March 28th, Philadelphia Union II

April 2nd, New York Red Bulls II

April 11th, Charlotte Independence

April 18th, Saint Louis FC

April 29th, Memphis 901 FC

May 10th, Miami FC

May 13th, Charlotte Independence

May 16th, North Carolina FC

May 23rd, Tampa Bay Rowdies

May 30th, Louisville City FC

June 6th, Loudoun United FC

June 20th, Sporting Kansas City II

June 27th, Charlotte Independence

July 5th, Miami FC

July 12th, Philadelphia Union II

July 18th, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

July 25th, Louisville City FC

July 29th, Sporting Kansas City II

August 8th, Loudoun United FC

August 15th, Atlanta United 2

August 21st, Birmingham Legion FC

August 30th, Indy Eleven

September 5th, New York Red Bulls II

September 12th, Hartford Athletic

September 16th, Indy Eleven

September 19th, Tampa Bay Rowdies

September 26th, Miami FC

October 2nd, North Carolina FC

October 6th, Memphis 901 FC

October 11th, Saint Louis FC

October 17th, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Leland Archer will set his sights on 2020 and third season in Charleston following two productive years with the Battery. The former Cougar will return to Patriots Point where he played four years as a standout defender at the College of Charleston.

Following Taylor Mueller’s departure to Tacoma, Archer will be called upon to replace the former captain. And Archer has proven he can step up and fill the void. In his first two seasons with the club, Archer made thirty-one appearances starting all but one of those matches. The 24-year old has made 133 clearances and 44 interceptions while logging over 2,500 minutes since his arrival with the Black and Yellow.

Unfortunately, an injury sidelined Archer for the last seven matches of the 2019 season and both of Charleston’s playoff games against Ottawa Fury FC and Nashville SC. Despite the injury, Archer finished with 21 blocks on the year, good for the second-highest total on the team. Archer also played a part in four of the Battery’s eight shutouts during the regular season.

It was a big year for Archer on the international stage as he received his first call up to the Trinidad and Tobago senior team ahead of the 2019 Gold Cup. Archer has previously made appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago U-17 team.

Don’t miss out on a chance to be part of history! Purchase your season tickets for our inaugural season at Patriots Point online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

Charleston’s leading goalscorer is back for the 2020 season! Zeiko Lewis, who spent his first full season with the Battery in 2019, will remain as one of the Battery’s most dangerous attackers.

Lewis wasted no time in making an impact for the Battery, scoring his first goal for the club seventeen-minutes into his debut against Hartford Athletic. The former Boston College forward would go on to lead the attacking line picking up his second of the season three weeks later against Charlotte Independence.

Zeiko would finish the year with eight goals while also sharing a team-high five assists. The shifty playmaker showcased his quality with jaw-dropping goals against Atlanta United II and Hartford Athletic, winning USL Goal of the Week for his curling effort against the Independence.

Lewis also led the team in shots (49) and chances created (46) on his way to taking home Offensive Player of the Year for the Charleston Battery. He capped off an impressive year by being named USL Championship Player of the Week in the final week of the regular season.

Don’t miss out on a chance to be part of history! Purchase your season tickets for our inaugural season at Patriots Point online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

On Monday afternoon, the United Soccer League announced the home openers for each Championship club for the 2020 season. Charleston Battery will play host to Philadelphia Union II on March 28th in their inaugural season at Patriots Point.

Philadelphia Union II, formerly Bethlehem Steel FC, will make the trip to the Palmetto State as the first club to play in Charleston’s new home. The two teams split wins in 2019, scoring a combined ten goals, including a 5-1 win for Charleston to close out the regular season. Charleston have faired well over the last few years in their home openers winning three straight matches from 2015-2017.

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Battery’s ticket office at (843) 971-GOAL. Information about single-game tickets will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2019 Nigel Cooper Most Valuable Player is set to rejoin Charleston Battery for the 2020 USL Championship season. A veteran leader on and off the pitch, Jarad van Schaik will look to lead the Battery to new heights in his sixth season with the club.

Van Schaik showcased his versatility in 2019 filling in at a number of different positions including left midfield, left-back, and center back, where he finished out the regular and postseason.

In all, Van Schaik started and played in thirty-two of Charlestons thirty-four regular-season matches while making two playoff starts against Ottawa Fury and Nashville SC. Van Schaik logged over 2,800 minutes during the regular season finishing second on the team only behind goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky.

Van Schaik’s contributions on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball helped Charleston book a spot in the USL Championship playoffs, the team’s 12th consecutive postseason appearance. Van Schaik finished the year with three goals, including two stunning strikes against Nashville SC back in April. 

Jarad led the team in passes (1,577) and interceptions (83) and was rewarded for his on-field performances being named to the USL Championship Team of the Week twice last season.

Don’t miss out on a chance to be part of history! Purchase your season tickets for our inaugural season at Patriots Point online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

We’re less than three months away from the start of the 2020 USL Championship season and season tickets are officially on sale! Being a Charleston Battery season ticket holder comes with some pretty sweet perks and is the best way to get the most out of supporting the boys in Black and Yellow!

Significant Pre-Match Savings – Who doesn’t love saving money? Season tickets are the best bang for your buck giving you the lowest prices on seats on a game by game basis.

Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Gift – Stand from the crowd with a one of a kind 2020 season ticket holder scarf.

Dedicated Charleston Battery Account Rep – Looking to upgrade or renew your season tickets? One of our dedicated account reps will handle all of your ticketing questions.

Special Meet and Greet Events – Receive invitations to exclusive meet and greets with Charleston Battery players and staff. 

10% Off Team Merch – New colors and a new logo mean new merch! Rock your team’s colors cheaper than everyone else with a discount at the Charleston Battery pro shop. 

U.S. Open Cup Tickets* – Charleston knows how to make a run in the oldest domestic knock-out tournament in the United States. Receive free tickets to the first round of the cup!

Pre-Sale Tickets for Open Cup and Playoff Matches – Be the first in line to purchase tickets for the U.S. Open Cup and USL Championship playoff tickets.

Pre-Sale for Priority Parking – Don’t worry about parking on game day. Reserve your spot right next to the stadium.

* If a USL League 2 teams or lower

Season tickets start as low as $170 (that’s just $10 per match!). Don’t miss out on what will be a historic first season at Patriots Point! You can purchase 2020 season tickets online or by calling (843) 971-GOAL!

On Tuesday, Joe Kuzminsky was awarded the 2019 Save of the Year for his stop against Nashville’s Daniel Rios in the second round of the USL Championship playoffs. It turned out to be an all Kuzminsky final as Charleston’s number one keeper edged out his save against Hartford earlier in the year.

Kuzminsky, who made 97 saves this season, beat out the likes of Alex Tambakis, Diego Restrepo, and David Ochoa on the way to the finals. Kuzminsky finished tied for the third-most saves in the league while keeping eight shutouts in the process.

Check out both saves from the final below, including Kuzminsky’s Save of the Month (July) against Hartford Athletic!

April 7th, 2012. Charleston Battery holds a 2-1 road lead over the Richmond Kickers in the opening match of the season. Coach Mike Anhaeuser takes a look towards his bench with the hopes of preserving the lead and leaving Richmond with three points. Anhaeuser calls on twenty-four-year-old Taylor Mueller, who replaced Zach Prince in the 74th minute, to keep the Kickers from finding a late equalizer. Mueller and co. would go on to hold off the Kickers attack over the final quarter-hour of the match to start the season 1-0-0. The rest is history.

Over the next eight years, Mueller would go on to win a USL Pro Championship and help extend Charleston’s active playoff streak to thirteen years, making 214 appearances for the club in the process. He sits third in all-time appearances for the Battery behind only John Wilson and Dusty Hudock. In 2015, Mueller would don the captain’s armband leading the backline as Charleston became one of the most dominant defensive units in the USL Championship over recent years. On Tuesday, Mueller said goodbye to the Battery and reflected on his time with the club.

“Moving on from the club was a very difficult decision for me,” said Mueller. “I had an incredible eight-years here in Charleston and it was a special time in my professional career. This club gave me a chance and I have quite a few memories that I’ll never forget.” Included in those memories was the 2012 USL Pro Championship that forced Mueller to learn the ropes as a first time professional. “I started things off with a bang, winning a Championship in my first season, and taught me what it took to win a championship in this league.”

In his final season with the club Mueller lead the team in clearances and blocked shots, 142 and 25, respectively while playing a part in every shutout for the Battery this season, highlighted by a gutsy performance with ten men against high flying Indy Eleven at MUSC Health Stadium. Mueller even had a part to play on the offensive side of things, scoring two goals and adding one assist. The veteran defender logged over 2,700 minutes and was named the Derek Revord Defensive Player of the Year. 

“Taylor has grown so much as a professional since he joined the club,” coach Anhaeuser said of Mueller. “And not just as a player on the field. He was such a tremendous asset to the community, whether he was attending community events or out coaching local youth players. He taught other guys how to be professionals.”

From the entire Charleston Battery family, we thank you, Taylor, for your contributions to the city of Charleston, on and off the field.

Friday night marks a new era of soccer in Charleston with the unveiling of the Battery’s new logo and brand. The new crest, presented at Saltwater Cowboys in front of over two-hundred fans, ushers in an exciting time for one of the oldest soccer clubs in the United States.

Club owners, Rob Salvatore and Brandon Lieb, as well as USL President and former Battery player, Jake Edwards, addressed the crowd in a two-hour event at one of Mount Pleasant’s most popular social gatherings. A brief Q&A session preceded the clubs unveiling, outlining the clubs’ short and long term goals.

“Our objective with the brand refresh was to create something truly unique to Charleston,” said Lieb. “We incorporated key elements of the club’s proud history and listened to our supporters throughout the process and believe their input helped to create a crest that honors the club’s past while setting a new direction for its future.”

The black and yellow coloring that has become synonymous with the Battery has been altered slightly but remains as the club’s primary colors. Matthew Wolff, who has designed a number of logos for soccer clubs around the world, was instrumental in working with Battery ownership to create a modern representation of Charleston’s crest. “We were cognizant that some supporters may have a strong emotional connection to the original crest,” said Wolff. “It’s why we kept many of the design elements intact.