CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced a 10-game preseason schedule on Friday highlighted by the previously announced 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup, which will see the historic club prepare for its 25th season with the visit of MLS clubs Seattle Sounders FC, Columbus Crew SC and Atlanta United FC to MUSC Health Stadium.

The Battery will host eight of the 10 preseason contests, as they also face a number of college opponents, and also make the trip to play North Carolina FC in early March. All home games will be open and free to attend for the public, excluding the three Carolina Challenge Cup match days.

“Our preseason schedule has a good mix of teams from various levels,” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “Obviously, the Carolina Challenge Cup enhances it quite a bit with the MLS teams coming here, but the other games will help us prepare for the regular season before and after Challenge Cup.”  

The Battery open their preseason slate with a pair of games against college opponents, with the College of Charleston visiting on February 11 and the University of South Carolina four days later. The 2017 CCC then kicks off on February 18 as the side faces defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC in the second game of a doubleheader that will also see Atlanta face Columbus.

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Charleston will meet the Crew in the second round of matches at the 2017 CCC on February 22, and then meet its MLS partner Atlanta United FC on the field for the first time on February 25 to wrap up the tournament.

The Battery will meet Coastal Carolina University in two preseason meetings on March 1 and 15, and will visit North Carolina FC on March 4 in the first of two consecutive road contests that will also see the side visit Clemson University on March 10. A visit from the University of North Florida on March 12 precedes the second game with Coastal Carolina, which concludes the preseason slate.

Charleston will open its 25th season on Saturday, March 25 when it hosts FC Cincinnati at MUSC Health Stadium to kick off the 2017 USL regular season.

Charleston Battery 2017 Preseason Schedule
Feb. 11 – vs. College of Charleston, TBD)
Feb. 15 – vs. University of South Carolina, 7 p.m. ET
Feb. 18 – vs. Seattle Sounders, 7 p.m. ET (2017 Carolina Challenge Cup)
Feb. 22 – vs. Columbus Crew SC, 5 p.m. ET (2017 Carolina Challenge Cup)
Feb. 25 – vs. Atlanta United FC, 7 p.m. ET (2017 Carolina Challenge Cup)
March 1 – vs. Coastal Carolina University, 7 p.m. ET
March 4 – at North Carolina FC, 4 p.m. ET
March 10 – at Clemson University, 4 p.m. ET
March 12 – vs. University of North Florida, 2 p.m. ET
March 15 – vs. Coastal Carolina University, 7 p.m. ET