Charleston Battery Mid-Season Report

Forrest Wimberly
12m
4 min read

Battery Huddle before US Open Cup Match Photo by Wade Wimberly

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Franchise History:

The Charleston Battery have played soccer in the Lowcountry since 1993 making them one of longest consecutive-running pro soccer franchises in the country (Richmond Kickers also began in 1993). The 2026 campaign has been another strong season for the boys in Black and Yellow.

The team in their early seasons played their matches at Stoney Field near The Citadel before building one of the first soccer-specific stadiums in the country in 1999 with the construction of Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. After their time at Daniel Island, the Battery moved to Patriots Point on Mount Pleasant and the College of Charleston Soccer Stadium to call their home since 2020.

The Battery are one of the most successful soccer franchises in the US over this span winning four league titles (‘96, ’03, ’10, and ’12) and finishing as Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Finalist (‘08). The franchise has played 910 total league matches winning an astounding 429 league matches while drawing another 181 matches in their storied history. Numerous other US Open “Cupsets” as well as international friendlies and MLS preseason tournaments have made the club well-known in the American soccer landscape.

2026 Season Notes:

The 2026 season has been another successful campaign after the team made some major roster moves in the offseason. Dynamic forwards Cal Jennings and MD Myers as well as defensive anchor and team captain Leland Archer were all dealt in the offseason opening the roster up for new stars to emerge in 2026. One of those breakout players has been Colton Swan who was named the USLC Player of the Month for May after the 19-year-old scored some massive goals to lead the team in scoring this season.

The Battery, at the time of this article, sits in second place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings five points behind the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the top spot in the USLC table. The Battery holds an 8W-5L-2T record on 26 points that includes huge wins over FC Tulsa (5-1) and Louisville City (2-0) along with a pair of draws versus the Rowdies. The Battery have scored the league-best 30 goals this season along with the second-best goal differential number at +9 for the season.

Colton Swan is the leading scorer for the club netting 9 goals across all competitions with Maalique Foster (5 goals) and Emilio Ycaza (4 goals) rounding out the top three. Seven additional players have scored a goal for the Battery with Jeremy Kelly and Nathan Messer each providing a team-leading four assists to fuel the scoring. In the nets, Luis Zamudio has earned three shutouts while making 39 saves putting him fourth in the league in total saves.

Colton Swan in on goal versus the Florida Badgers in USOC Photo By Wade Wimberly

US Open Cup and USL Cup:

The Battery defeated the Florida Badgers FC 2-1 in the first round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup before slipping 3-2 on the road at regional rivals Charlotte Independence in the second round in the 2026 edition of the tournament. This was an early Cup exit for the Battery who over the past few seasons have advanced to see MLS opposition.

The Battery are tied for first place in their Prinx Tires USL Cup Group 6 with the same Charlotte Independence that knocked them out of the Open Cup. Both teams are sitting on 8 points with one final head-to-head match remaining in group play. The Battery defeated Loudon and Richmond while winning in a shootout versus Pittsburgh to earn their eight points in group play. Only eight teams advance to the knockout stage of the USL Cup and a Battery result versus Charlotte will punch their ticket into the next round to be played in August.

Battery Players in tunnel ready for pregame walkout Photo by Forrest Wimberly

USL Regular Season Upcoming Matches:

The Battery have played half of their 30 USL Championship matches scheduled for this season and there are some huge games remaining over the next four months. Eight matches will be at The Point with Sacramento on July 18, Rhode Island on September 26, and Louisville City on October 10 being key home matches on the schedule. Road trips to Colorado on July 25, Pittsburgh on August 15, and Miami on October 17 will go a long way to determine the playoff seeding for the Battery in 2026.

Ten of the fifteen remaining opponents for the Battery are in the bottom half of their conference table which means the Battery have an excellent chance to earn points and maintain their place, or climb even higher, in the Eastern Conference table.

College of Charleston Soccer Stadium at Patriots Point Photo by Forrest Wimberly

Final Thoughts:

The Battery have a very talented and very deep roster that can manage both USL Championship and USL Cup matches ahead on the schedule.

Scoring goals has not been an issue for the club and if there has been one flaw it has been the 21 goals allowed which is unusually high for a team sitting so high in the table.

If everyone stays healthy and the goals allowed is reduced in the coming games…the Battery will be a team no one wants to see on their schedule when the 2026 playoffs roll around this fall.