Carolina Challenge Cup & An Offseason Update

Its time again to break the offseason silence and with the dawn of the New Year unveil the fresh hopes and aspirations of 2013.  The past year was certainly a prosperous one for the Charleston Battery.  Despite the cancelation of an exhibition with Nottingham Forrest, the Black & Gold provided an entertaining season of football with riveting league play, hosting the New York Red Bulls in the Open Cup, and perhaps the club's most memorable playoff run to date.  Advancing to the Championship match by besting the Rochester Rhinos in penalties, Charleston would go on to win their forth league title, defeating local rivals the Wilmington Hammerheads at Blackbaud Stadium to lift the USL PRO trophy.

Looking forward, this year's Carolina Challenge Cup will showcase more Major League Soccer talent than ever before! The Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, and Vancouver Whitecaps all participated in the MLS Playoffs and the Dynamo finished runner-up to the LA Galaxy.  Estonian international Joel Lindpere was recently acquired by Chicago from the Red Bulls and should be present at the CCC.  Also worth noting, the American legend Jay Demerit, captain of the Whitecaps and USMNT regular, will make his Blackbaud debut when the 'Caps do battle with the Battery in the first round of the tournament.

Concerning league news, the USL PRO has added two new teams for 2013 season and announced a Sacramento expansion side slated for the following year.  VSI Tampa Bay FC and Phoenix FC will liven up the league and provide some fresh challenges for the Pride of the Lowcountry this year.  Sadly, Kyle Hoffer, a defensive lynchpin in Charleston's 2012 Championship squad was the first signing for VSI and Phoenix FC have poached defender Devin Grousis from the Charlotte Eagles.

The Battery Coaching staff completed their yearly scouting visit to Jamaica in mid-December and could likely pepper Charleston's provisional squad with more Caribbean flavor.  The final set of open trials will be held this weekend as players from across the state and across the country will vie for a contract or provisional roster spot with the Battery.  As in years past, this has proved to be a great opportunity to enlist local talent from the Palmetto State as well as prospects from further afield.

Speaking of local talent, there's even more good news for fans of the Beautiful Game in the Midlands.   South Carolina's PDL side, the SC United Bantams (formerly Palmetto FC), have teamed up with the SC United youth soccer program for the 2013 season.  This means the Bantams will split playing home fixtures between Lander University and USC.  The collaboration will now provide a natural avenue for athletes to progress from youth soccer to the college level, and then on to amateur development and professional football.  And who knows?  With a rich crop of collegiate footballers, we may see a few Bantams move up to join the Battery before long!

So here's to the Battery's USL PRO title defense and an incredible year of football in 2013!!

Looking Back on a Summer of Soccer (pt.2)

Continuing our roundup of soccer action throughout the warmer months, we'll now take a closer look at some football happenings here in the States ending our tour with a special focus on what has transpired right here in the Palmetto State.  Now of course the best place to start is the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.  Thanks to our temporary internet blackout, I was unable to convey the results of the Semi- and Final matches.  So, without further ado, lets pick up where we left off.  

US Open Cup

The Seattle Sounders made history in the Cup's Semifinal round by repeating history in a 4-1 whipping of Chivas USA before a capacity crowd at Starfire Sports Complex.  Becoming only the third team in cup history to appear in four finals, the Sounders went in search of an unprecedented four consecutive Open Cup titles.  In a sloppy and otherwise uninteresting match, Sporting KC bested the Philadelphia Union 2-0 in Philly, thus earning the right to host the final match.  

You could not have written a more dramatic script for the Cup Final.  Turbulent weather and a downpour of hail were the precursors to this incredible match.  The defending title holders and Open Cup legends, the Seattle Sounders entered a frenzied, sold-out Livestrong Park to take on a Kansas City side with something to prove.  The match was a defensive war of attrition as each team seemed content on simply survival.  But things changed in the 83rd minute as Sporting were awarded a penalty courtesy of a Zach Scott handball.  The eleven year Sounders veteran was punished as Kansas City took the lead by converting the kick.  However, the scapegoat turned hero by redeeming himself with a finely placed headed goal two minutes later.  Extra time could not separate the two and the game was to  be decided on penalty kicks.  In the third round, a spectacular Gspurning save gave Seattle the edge, only for the score to be leveled with a Sounders miss in the next round.  The drama reached a crescendo when another Gspurning save was called back because the keeper was off his line.  The Sporting player righted his wrong, and Seattle's Eddie Johnson missed his penalty to hand Kansas City the Cup.  

Although history eluded the Seattle Sounders, they didn't leave Livestrong Park empty handed.  Oddly enough, since the match ended in a draw, the Sounders unbeaten run in the Open Cup remains intact and the boys in Rave Green have the potential to continue the streak when the tournament begins again next year.  Also, former Charleston Battery Osvaldo Alonso was distinguished as the Player of the Tournament owing largely to his prolific scoring habit and incredible midfield form en route to the Cup Final.  

It was another fascinating year in the nation's most exciting soccer competition and well met with a thrilling conclusion with the Final.  With the trophy only just engraved, I'm already anticipating next year's draw!!  

Palmetto Bantams FC

The Bantams faced a steep learning curve in the South Atlantic Division of the Premier Development League.  Their season finished 4-5-7, not bad considering the club was built from the ground up in only a year's time.  The Bantams discovered how to play to the crowd, kicking off the campaign with a win and finishing their schedule with a rousing franchise-best performance, flattening the Northern Virginia Royals 4-0 in their home finale.

Austin Savage led the team offensively, with four goals and one assist.  Defender Jamie Ramm led the team in appearances and minutes with 16 games played, 1431 minutes logged, as well as bagging a goal of his own.  Easily one of the better outfitted squads in the PDL, the Bantams owe their colors and crest to their partner's in the English League Two, Bradford City.  With continued support and a widened fanbase, the Bantams are destined for bigger and better things...especially if they manage those exhibition matches with City!  Cheers to the Bantams and here's to many more seasons!!

Myrtle Beach Mutiny FC

The story of the Mutiny's inaugural season is in many ways much like that of the Palmetto Bantams.  In addition to MBFC, the National Premier Soccer League's Southeast (East) division is home to the Atlanta Silverbacks U23 squad as well as last year's NPSL champion Jacksonville United.  With former Charleston Battery striker Patrick "Thunder" Olalere coaching the new outfit, the Mutiny quickly established a local reputation and a loyal following.  Despite finishing last in their conference, MBFC displayed quality football with an international flavor and demonstrated strong community involvement.  Ending the season with a bang, the Mutiny drubbed the Georgia Revolution 4-1 in front of a live-wire crowd at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in their home finale.

Myrtle Beach's flag waving, band playing fans in the stands, the Lowcountry Crew, were in full force at every home match and practically every preseason match as well.  With a strong grass-roots initiative and an already powerful group of supporters, the Myrtle Beach Mutiny FC is sure to go far.  Let's here it for excellent football and tradition in the Palmetto State!!





(photo credit: USsoccer.com, palmettofc.com, MBFC FB)

"...And We're Back!"

Don't worry! We're back!

As you may have noticed, the creative cannons at The Beautiful Game have fallen silent in recent weeks.  Due to circumstances beyond our control (kinda tricky to blog without internet access), the site has been out of commission for a good month or so.  That being said, we're back in action!!  Now a lot has happened in the past several weeks so we've got some catching up to do!!  Here's what you can look forward to upcoming posts:

The Charleston Battery

While I am unable to provide match recaps for every game missed, I'll certainly hit the highs and lows of the past month and what's ahead for the Black and Yellow.

Arsenal

The Gunners have just finished their preseason run and there are several new faces at Asheburton Grove.  I'll have all the details as well as a preview for the upcoming English Premier League kickoff.

SC Soccer

Look for season recaps from the Palmetto State's two new clubs, Palmetto Bantams FC and the Myrtle Beach Mutiny.

Euro 2012

All the best from this year's European tournament.

London 2012

A glimpse at what transpired in the world of football at the Summer Games.

Major League Soccer

Finally, a rundown of league happenings and the push for the MLS playoffs.

I'm also in the process of retooling our facebook page, more on that in the coming weeks.  Thanks for your patience during our recent absence, and here's to the beautiful game!!!

The Beautiful Game in the Palmetto State

If you've read the blog more than once, I'm sure you've discovered that I tend to focus my time and attention on things concerning the Charleston Battery (and rightly so).  However, I'd like to take time to introduce a few new clubs who've recently burst onto the Carolina soccer scene: the Myrtle Beach Mutiny and the Palmetto FC Bantams...and then of course bring you some news on the Battery.

Myrtle Beach Mutiny FC

After a lively preseason, The Mutiny opened their inaugural season with a rousing 1-0 home win over Rocket City United at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.  Myrtle Beach are in the Southeast Division of the National Premier Soccer League, a rapidly growing grassroots movement aimed at developing soccer communities and talent across the country.  The newcomers learned a valuable history lesson when they recently traveled to reigning champions Jacksonville United and were torched 7-1 by the hosts.  However, the Mutiny looked far more resilient in their last fixture, a gritty 1-0 home loss to the Knoxville Force.  Myrtle Beach are coached by Patrick "Thunder" Olalere, made famous by his striker days and prolific scoring record for the Charleston Battery.  MBFC boast a diverse lineup with plenty of homegrown talent but have enlisted players from the likes of Brasil, Morocco, Nigeria, and Central America as well.  

The Mutiny visited Blackbaud to scrimmage the Battery earlier in the year and the exciting fixture went decidedly in the way of the hosts.  While the Mutiny have a difficult assignment in making their way against stiff opposition in their first season as a NPSL outfit, we here at The Beautiful Game wish them all the best in their inaugural season!!

Here's a link to the team's official website:  Myrtle Beach Mutiny FC

Palmetto Bantams FC

Joining USL's Premier Development League in the South Atlantic Division, the Palmetto Bantams FC are an amateur side based in Greenwood, SC.  The Bantams have a partnership with the English League Two Team, Bradford City.  Their roster is comprised of mostly players from USC and Clemson with a handful of Englishmen as well.  The Bantams are off to a great start recording a convincing 2-1 win over the Virginia Beach Piranhas in their franchise opener at Lander University.  Showcasing plenty of offensive talent, it seems the Bantams have a bright future in the PDL.  They play a pair of games this weekend in Columbia against Real Maryland FC at USC's Stone Stadium.

The team site can be found here:  Palmetto Bantams FC

Interestingly enough, as both teams enjoyed a week off from league play, the Bantams visited Blackbaud last Friday to take on the Battery in a friendly.  The Battery scored in the first half and again after the break.  The Bantams found the net by way of a penalty, but Charleston responded immediately, as the match finished Battery 3-1 Bantams.  

Charleston take on Reading United AC in tonight's Open Cup match and will host the LA Blues this weekend.  Remember, should Charleston will their this evening, they will play host to Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls next week!!  All the best boys and UP THE BATTERY!!!