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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery Pre-Season Tournament to feature DC's Freddy Adu

January 27, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston SC. The Charleston Battery will host Major League Soccer's DC United & Columbus Crew in addition to the 2003 PSL Champion Wilmington Hammerheads in the inaugural Carolina Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup is a four team round-robin tournament culminating in a double-header on Saturday March 27 at Blackbaud Stadium. DC United recently selected Freddy Adu in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Adu is expected to make the trip to Charleston.

Charleston opens the tournament versus DC United on Saturday, March 20; kick off 7:30 PM. The Battery hosts the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, March 24; kick off 7:30 PM. The concluding double-header at Blackbaud Stadium will feature the Charleston Battery vs. Wilmington Hammerheads (6:00 PM) and Columbus Crew vs. DC United (8:15 PM).

Charleston Battery Head Coach, Chris Ramsey:

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring quality teams to the Lowcountry on an annual basis. It gives our players a chance to receive some valuable match fitness, plus our fans will get to see some of the top players currently playing in the US."

DC United

D.C. United recently appointed former Chicago Fire player, Peter Nowak as its new head coach. A native of Poland, Nowak also played extensively in Europe and captained Poland's National Team for three years.

United acquired soccer's hottest young prospect earlier this month, selecting 14 year-old Freddy Adu with the first overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. An electrifying goal-scorer who combines pace with standout ball skills, Adu captured the international spotlight during last fall's FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Finland, where he led the U.S. squad into the quarterfinals of the tournament. He later contributed to the U.S. Under-20 National Team in their run to the final eight of the U-20 World Cup in the UAE.

DC's roster includes a host of current and former National Team players including: Bobby Convey, Ben Olsen, Earnie Stewart, Santino Quaranta and Mike Petke (USA), Dema Kovalenko (Ukraine), Eliseo Quintanilla and Ronald Cerritos (El Salvador), Milton Reyes (Honduras) and Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand). Convey, Brian Carroll, Alecko Eskandarian, David Stokes and Doug Warren will represent the United States in Olympic qualifying this February. United also signed 2003 A-League MVP Thiago Martins after the A-League season wrapped-up last year.

This will be the fourth visit to Blackbaud Stadium for D.C. 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. Last March, DC defeated the Battery 1-0 in a pre-season exhibition.

Columbus Crew

The Columbus Crew failed to make the playoffs in the 2003 season finishing one point behind DC United in the Eastern Conference. Columbus has made some significant roster moves since then with the recent additions of Simon Elliott (LA Galaxy), Manny Lagos (San Jose Earthquakes) and Robin Fraser (Colorado Rapids).

The Crew used the MLS 2004 SuperDraft to bolster its defense, selecting U20 National Team defender Chad Marshall and 2004 Hermann award winner, Chris Wingert.

In addition to its four new signings the Crew roster includes US National Team players, Frankie Hejduk, Brian Maisonneuve, Brian West, Kyle Martino & Jeff Cunningham, plus Guatemalan international midfielder, Freddy Garcia.

Columbus will be without the services of US National Team striker Brian McBride who recently completed a move to Fulham of the English Premiership.

The Charleston Battery has only faced the Columbus Crew on one previous occasion, losing 3-0 in the 1999 US Open Cup semifinal.

Wilmington Hammerheads

As reigning PSL Champions, the Wilmington Hammerheads will have a chance to measure themselves against the current A-League Champions, the Charleston Battery, in a USL game of champions.

Wilmington, led by head coach Dave Irving, captured the PSL crown last August with a 2-1 OT victory over the Westchester Flames.

The Hammerheads also enjoyed success in the US Open Cup in 2003, advancing to the quarterfinal stage of the competition where they lost 1-0 to DC United. The Hammerheads progressed further in the competition than any other USL team. The Cup run also included a memorable 4-1 thumping of Major League Soccer's Dallas Burn.

Tournament Schedule

Saturday, March 20 DC United @ Charleston Battery Blackbaud Stadium (7:30 PM)
Saturday, March 20 Columbus Crew @ Wilmington Hammerheads Legion Stadium (7:30 PM)
Wednesday, March 24 Columbus Crew @ Charleston Battery Blackbaud Stadium (7:30 PM)
Wednesday, March 24 DC United @ Wilmington Hammerheads Legion Stadium (7:30 PM)
Saturday, March 27 Hammerheads @ Charleston Battery Blackbaud Stadium (6:00 PM)
Saturday, March 27 DC United @ Columbus Crew Blackbaud Stadium (8:15 PM)

Tickets

Tickets for the games played at Blackbaud Stadium are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets for individual games or for the four match series. Tickets for the March 20 & March 24, MLS games are priced at $15 Club / Box and $10 bleacher. March 27 double-header tickets are $20 Club / Box and $15 bleacher.

Series Tickets (includes all four games played at Blackbaud Stadium)

Non-Season Ticket Holder Series Tickets Club / Box $40 Bleacher $25

Season Ticket Holder Series Tickets

Club / Box $35 Bleacher $20

Group Discount

Groups of 10 or more receive a $2 per ticket discount (available by phone only - call 971-GOAL).

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