Palmetto State Report: March 6
Lots of matches and news coming in fast…
It’s going to be a busy weekend of soccer around the Palmetto State as USL regular season matches kickoff as well as UPSL preseason training moving into high gear. Here are some of the huge storylines around the state.
Charleston Battery debut their new threads for 2025.
The new kits are out in the Lowcountry and these solid color uniforms will definitely stand out on the field this season. The new kits will be for sale at the opening match on Saturday as well as on the Battery website team store.
Battery to play three nationally-televised games this season.
The Battery will be featured three times this season on the CBS Sports Network in matches versus Birmingham, NCFC, and Sacramento. There will be a total of 10 additional matches streaming for free on the Golazo Network.
Charleston’s three nationally televised matches on CBS Sports Network are:
July 2 | Birmingham Legion FC vs. Charleston Battery | 8 p.m. ET
July 6 | Charleston Battery vs. North Carolina FC | 5 p.m. ET
October 5 | Sacramento Republic FC VS. Charleston Battery | 7 p.m. ET
The 10 Battery matches on the free streaming platform Golazo Network are:
March 8 | Charleston Battery vs. Louisville City FC | 7:30 p.m. ET 2025 Season Opener
March 15 | Charleston Battery vs. Rhode Island FC | 7:30 p.m. ET
April 12 | Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 7:30 p.m. ET
May 17 | Charleston Battery vs. San Antonio FC | 7:30 p.m. ET
August 9 | Louisville City FC vs. Charleston Battery | 8 p.m. ET
August 16 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Charleston Battery | 7 p.m. ET
August 23 | Charleston Battery vs. Loudoun United FC | 7:30 p.m. ET
August 30 | Rhode Island FC vs. Charleston Battery | 7 p.m. ET
October 11 | Charleston Battery vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 7:30 p.m. ET
October 18 | Charleston Battery vs. Detroit City FC | 7:30 p.m. ET
Greenville Triumph add more defensive depth
Connor Evans and DJ Benton join the Triumph roster ahead of their 2025 season opener slated for March 8 versus USL One expansion side Westchester FC. Evans joins from the collegiate ranks while Benton makes the move from Knoxville. Both had been on trial this preseason with Greenville and made good on the opportunity signing this week.
Triumph and Liberty to host matches at Clemson’s historic Riggs Field
Both the Triumph and Liberty will call Riggs Field home this coming June in a pair of USL matches at Clemson University.
The Liberty will host regional power Asheville City in their USL W League clash on Friday, June 6 at 7 PM. The following day the Triumph welcome in FC Naples for their 7 PM home-away-from-home match at Riggs Field.
USL Two, USL W League, and UPSL schedules for 2025
There are some very exciting matches on the schedule this coming summer and teams are in full preseason mode getting ready for a historic campaign in 2025.
The SC United Heat have played a pair of preseason friendlies versus Crown Legacy and Carolina Core over the past two weeks and open their UPSL season on March 15 visiting the NC Ballers.
The UPSL Mid-Atlantic Premier Conference has some new clubs for 2025 as well as some old rivals all set to begin play in mid-March. There are both North Carolina and South Carolina Divisions this season and each team will play 10 regular season matches in some must-see moments around the state this spring.
Back-to-Back UPSL Premier National Champions Soda City FC as well as Charleston United and Boiling Springs are in preseason mode tuning up for their Premier Division season.
UPSL First Division clubs Emerald City FC and Palmetto Athletic will meet in Greenwood on Saturday, March 8 for a preseason friendly at 3 PM.
The USL Two and USL W-League schedules have dropped and there will be some great games in Columbia and Greenville this summer.
The USL 2025 regular season kicks off this weekend
Saturday, March 8: Westchester SC at Greenville Triumph, Paladin Stadium-Furman Univ. 4:00 PM
Saturday, March 8: Louisville City at Charleston Battery, Patriot’s Point-Mt Pleasant 7:30 PM