Palmetto State Report: August 27
- Forrest Wimberly
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Palmetto State Report: August 27
Soccer News from South Carolina
UPSL Premier Mid-Atlantic season begins this weekend
The UPSL Premier season opens this weekend with a new-look Mid-Atlantic South Conference of just six teams ready to play for the fall 2026 crown. The defending champs the South Carolina United Heat should repeat as champs with the SC Surf and Mint Hill providing some drama for second place. Gastonia, Pre-College DA, and expansion Sanford Area complete the group. The Heat hosts Mint Hill at 6 PM on August 29.
Battery keeps pace in USL Championship
The Battery blitzed Miami FC 5-0 in their last outing at Patriots Point last Monday night. The Battery hold the longest undefeated home regular season winning streak in the USL and have pushed the number to 24 matches dating back to March 2025. The Battery remains in second place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference and have a 11W-7L-3T (36 points) record this season. The Battery lead the league in goals (44) and take their high-powered offense on the road to Vegas on August 29 to play the Lights.
Colton Swan to Scottish Premier League
The transfer is official; Charleston Battery rookie and leading scorer Colton Swan will make a six-figure transfer to Scottish Premier League side Hibernian at the conclusion of the 2026 USL Championship playoffs. Swan has scored 11 goals so far in 2026 and was named the USL Championship Player of the Month for May 2026. Swan is the youngest player (19 years old) to win the USLC POM award and has been a steady call-up to the US U-20 National Team in 2026. Big things ahead for Swan making the move to Europe.
Greenville still chasing a USL League One playoff position
The Greenville Triumph have be on a roller coaster of results over the past month picking up a massive win over AC Boise while dropping results at Charlotte and Spokane. Despite the win and losses, it most likely will be the numerous draws that will ultimately keep the Triumph below the playoff line as draws versus One Knox, Madison, Portland, and Sarasota have provided points...but just not enough to lift the team into the playoffs conversation. Recent signing Muba Nour has been a revelation in the goal scoring department (4 goals in 8 games) while certain team MVP goalkeeper Amal Knight (17 starts, 60 saves, 3 clean sheets) has been the best player in a Triumph kit this season. A home match versus FC Naples is on the schedule for Saturday, August 29.
UPSL Division One expansion teams
There will be two new UPSL teams in South Carolina as KOSA and Carolina Strand United are joining the rapidly growing roster of Palmetto State franchises. The Grand Strand has fielded some successful franchises in the past with the Myrtle Beach Boyz, Myrtle Beach Sea Dawgs, and Myrtle Beach Mutiny all making their mark in the Lower Divisions of the US soccer pyramid. The Mutiny last played in 2018, so it has been several years since there has been a UPSL/NPSL/USL team at the Beach.
UPSL Women’s All-Conference Selections
Several women were recognized as UPSL Mid-Atlantic All-Conference for the spring 2026 season. The expansion Royal Cavaliers FC finished second in the league with a 5W-2L-1T record and placed Claire Reid, Avery Brown, Jessie Howison, and Maddie Pope on the first team with McKenzie Bundy named to the second team. Soda City’s Harper Tumblin was named to the first team while Scarlett Geitz, Mia Reilly, and Gabby Rolf were named to the second team.
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