Palmetto State Report: July 3
Soccer updates from South Carolina
Palmetto State Headlines:
Triumph defeat FC Miami and move to top of USL Cup standings
It was a 2-0 win for the Triumph in the latest match day of the USL Cup. Goals from Rodrigo Robles in the 46th minute and Carlos Anguiano in the 85th minute sealed the big second half and victory for the hosts. Greenville on 6 points sits atop the group F standings with just one more group stage game to play. FC Naples visits the Upstate on July 26 and a win by the Triumph will send them into the knock-out stage.
Battery tie 3-3 at Tormenta (claim bonus point in PKs); Battery debut for Kelly
It was a wild 3-3 draw in Statesboro as the Battery revisited their regional rivalry with Tormenta. Battery goals from team captain Leland Archer, Cal Jennings, and Emilio Ycaza looked to be carrying the visitors to victory before a fierce Tormenta comeback leveled the match in second-half stoppage time. A big save from Christian Garner in the Battery net turned away the fifth Tormenta penalty and claimed the extra point by a score of 5-4 in penalties New Battery signing Jeremy Kelly recorded an assist and converted the final, decisive penalty in his Charleston debut.
Soda City bounced from UPSL playoffs by AC Raleigh
Soda looked to be advancing to the UPSL Mid-Atlantic final after Troy Paul and Joseph Davis gave the hosts the lead in this semi-final match in Irmo on Saturday night. AC Raleigh didn’t get that memo and scored deep into second half stoppage time and then won it on an extra time penalty kick to bounce the two-time defending UPSL Premier National Champs out of the playoffs.
Electric City crush Emerald City; Electric earn first-round bye in UPSL playoffs
The UPSL Division 1 Mid-Atlantic regular-season title was already in the trophy case, but Electric City put a huge exclamation mark on the regular season with an 8-0 thumping of Emerald City in Greenwood. Electric City have locked up a first-round bye for the upcoming playoffs and will host their first-ever playoff match on July 12.
Season wraps up for Bantams and Liberty USL W-League teams
The Bantams wrapped up their 2025 season with a 5-0 win over Wake FC to finish in third place in the South Atlantic Division with a 7W-5L-0T record (21 points).
The Liberty wrapped up their 2025 season with a 0-2 loss at Asheville City to finish in second place in the South Central Division with a 7W-4L-1T record (22 points).
USL2 Bantams defeat Wake FC and Charlotte Independence II in final two home matches
It was a pair of home matches and a pair of wins for the Bantams with a 3-2 win over Wake FC followed by a 7-1 dismantling of Charlotte Independence II. The wins keep the Bantams in striking distance of the top of the table sitting on 19 points in third place with road matches at NCFC and Salem City to close out the regular season dates.
Myrtle Beach makes the list of possible 2026 World Cup Base Camp locations
Big news this week out of the Grand Strand as Coastal Carolina University and The Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach were included on the list of possible FIFA 2026 World Cup training sites. 62 sites have been identified in the US, Canada, and Mexico and teams will pick a training location after the December 2025 draw determines the World Cup schedule. Teams will look for a training site that geographically matches their game schedule to minimize travel during the tournament.
Polak reaches milestone appearances mark for Triumph
Tyler Polak recently made his 150th USL League One appearance (176 overall appearances) for the Greenville Triumph. The rugged defender was acquired from the now defunct USL St Louis FC side in January of 2019 after stops in New England (MLS), Minnesota (NASL), Rochester (USL), and Cincinnati (USL) before settling down here in the Upstate. Polak has made 243 professional soccer appearances in his career spanning 2012 to 2025. Simply a club legend…
Part Two of the Palmetto Rewind series will run next week highlighting the former soccer clubs of South Carolina. Next week will be the Upstate edition…look for this article next Tuesday in the Palmetto State Report.