Palmetto State Report: December 18
Heat win UPSL title; 2026 USL schedule release; New boss for the Triumph: River hosts playoff match
Heat claim the Mid-Atlantic crown and play Arlington in Round of 32
The South Carolina United Heat cruised to a 7-1 win over Charleston United in the UPSL Premier Mid-Atlantic final last weekend in Columbia. Heat forward John Ighede posted another first-half hat trick to propel the Heat back into the UPSL National tournament. Ighede also posted a first-half hat trick in the previous round versus the Coastal Kings. Up next is a Round of 32 trip to neutral site WRAL Soccer Park in Raleigh, NC where the Heat will face Arlington SA. Arlington enters the match as the champs (9W-0L-1T) from the Virginia North Conference and scored a blistering 54 goals allowing just 6 during the fall season. Kickoff is set for 4 PM on Saturday, December 20 in Raleigh.
USL schedules released for the Battery and Triumph
The USL schedules dropped this week and the Battery and Triumph have an exciting slate of games scheduled for 2026. The Battery will open the 2026 season at home hosting the 2025 champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds on March 7. The Triumph kickoff their 2026 campaign hosting the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday, March 14.
USL Cup matches will be played from April to July as the Battery host the Hounds and Charlotte Independence this tournament. The Triumph host Loudoun and Richmond in their home Cup matches.
Must-see matches for the Battery will include home matches versus expansion side Sporting Jax on May 2, USLC Finalist FC Tulsa on June 13, western conference power Sacramento FC on July 18, and the Battery’s most recent nemesis Rhode Island FC on September 26.
Can’t-miss matches at the Triumph include the April 11 match versus the expansion New York Cosmos, the April 8 match at bitter rivals Tormenta, the August 15 match versus theUSL1 champs One Knox, and the September 30 home match against those birds from Tormenta.
Triumph names Dave Dixon as new Head Coach
The Greenville Triumph have their new boss. Former Charlotte Independence assistant Dave Dixon was named the Triumph’s head coach this week. In addition to coaching with the Independence, Dixon has served as a coach with the Indy Eleven, Mississippi Brilla, and Charlotte Eagles. Dixon brings a wealth of USL knowledge to the Upstate including his USL2 Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and his USL2 National Championship in 2017 both with the Charlotte Eagles.
River City set to host UPSL playoff match
River City’s successful return to the UPSL continues as they will host a UPSL Division 1 playoff match this Sunday afternoon at Irmo High School. Kickoff is set for 3 PM. River posted a 5W-4L-1T record this season and ended up in a wild four-way tie (16 points) for second place in the conference. The tiebreakers all fall in favor of River City and they get to host this playoff match due to all these factors checking in as the No. 2 seed.