Palmetto State Report: September 11
Battery defeat Indy, UPSL is Back, Triumph exit USL Cup
Battery win 2-1 over Indy at a sold-out Patriots Point
The Charleston Battery defeated the visiting Indy Eleven 2-1 last Saturday night at the sold-out Point to clinch a 2025 playoff berth. Cal Jennings scored a brace and climbed back to the top of the USL Championship Golden Boot race with 14 goals scored. Charleston is now in second place in the Eastern Conference four points behind Lou City at the top of the table. With just seven regular season matches to play, the Battery are locked into a top two-finish in the East but would like to claim home-field advantage for the playoffs. Home matches versus the Roots, Switchbacks, Detroit, and Legion bookend around a tough west-coast schedule to face El Paso, Orange County, and Sacramento.
UPSL Premier Mid-Atlantic South results
The opening weekend of the PSL Premier season was very kind to the South Carolina clubs as the Heat defeated Charlotte 1-0 on the road and Boiling Springs earned a 3-3 draw at home to Pre-College DA. The massive result of the weekend, however, was the 4-2 win posted by Charleston United over the spring champs Asheville FC. Charleston had four different players score goals with Stephen Rocca, Theo Wichmann, Max Henderson, and Eli Pilcher all finding the nets for the hosts. Match Day Two will see all four South Carolina clubs battle in Columbia this coming weekend. Soda City host Boiling Springs on Saturday at 6 PM at Irmo HS before the SC United Heat host Charleston United on Sunday at 5 PM at SE Freight Lines Soccer Complex.
Triumph exit USL Cup in semifinal at Hartford
The Greenville Triumph fell 1-3 on the road at Hartford Athletic on Wednesday night to exit the USL Cup. Greenville was the lone USL League One club remaining in the competition came up just short in the semi-final. Evan Lee scored the Triumph goal in the 74th minute to level the game 1-1. Hartford grabbed two goals late in the 85th minute and second-half stoppage time to provide the separation on the night. Greenville now will turn all their focus to earning a USL League One playoff berth and has South Georgia Tormenta visiting the Upstate on Saturday night for a 7 PM kickoff.