Carolina Challenge Cup Returns.
The Battery will host the third annual Carolina Challenge Cup, March 18-25 at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. In addition to Houston, included in the four-team round robin will be 2004 MLS Cup champions D.C. United, the MLS MetroStars and the Battery.
The big draw last year was teenager Freddy Adu, who will make another trip to Charleston with D.C. United for the March 18-25 event.
San Jose won the 2005 Cup with three solid performances that featured a win over D.C. United, a draw with the Columbus Crew and a 1-0 victory over the Battery in the event’s final match.
The Houston franchise will hold a fan contest in the spring to garner suggestions for a new team name. The league retained rights to the Earthquake name and has indicated San Jose may receive an expansion franchise in the near future.
This will be the first Carolina Challenge Cup for the MetroStars, but not their first trip to Blackbaud. They faced the Battery on one previous occasions, losing 1-0 in 2004 in a U.S. Open Cup game.
The MetroStars advanced to the 2005 MLS playoffs after making a coaching change late in the year. Former Scottish international Mo Johnston became the team’s eighth head coach. The MetroStars were eliminated by MLS Cup runnersup New England.
The Carolina Challenge Cup will come near the conclusion of the preseason for the three Major League Soccer clubs, and they are expected to be at full strength when they travel to Charleston.
The Charleston Battery has set dates for three weeks of player trials. The first session is January 19 – 22. A second week will be held February 2-5 with the final trial set for March 2-5.
Charleston has traditionally signed a number of players from these combines.
The Battery is coming off a 9-14-5 season in which they finished 9th in the USL First Division, missing the playoffs.
Charleston will open the 28-game 2006 regular season at home on April 29 against the Virginia Beach Mariners.