CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery open their 25th season with a rematch from the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs as FC Cincinnati visits MUSC Health Stadium in a highly anticipated clash on the opening weekend of the 2017 USL regular season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2nwAEx2 | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2ocM8Tt | Broadcast: WCIV (CHS); WSTR (CIN)

Charleston Battery news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts

• The Charleston Battery kick off their historic 25th season looking to continue their run of reaching the postseason in every year of the USL’s history. The Battery and Richmond Kickers are the only two teams to have reached the USL Cup Playoffs every season since 2011.

• Charleston has a number of familiar faces set to return to the side this season, with 11 players that appeared in the club’s playoff win against Cincinnati last season back with the squad.

• Among those is a trio of players on loan from MLS partner Atlanta United FC, with goalkeeper Alex Tambakis and forwards Romario Williams and Jeffrey Otoo joining the side.

• Defender Mikey Ambrose will also be available for the Battery, and could slide into the starting lineup as Battery defender O’Brian Woodbine serves a suspension after his ejection against Louisville in last year’s postseason.

FC Cincinnati news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0pts

• Cincinnati had an eventful offseason, and enters the new season under the leadership of former Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Head Coach Alan Koch, who led WFC2 to the Western Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs a season ago.

• FCC also saw the departure of leading scorer and USL Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner Sean Okoli, who signed with Major League Soccer’s New York City FC this offseason.

• Cincinnati does return a strong core of its inaugural squad, however, with 2016 USL Goalkeeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt and All-League First Team defender Harrison Delbridge both back with the side.

• The team also added a pair of players from River Cities Cup rival Louisville City FC, with midfielders Aodhan Quinn and Kadeem Dacres likely to play a major role for FCC this season.

Series Notes

• Charleston took a 2-1 victory in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the USL Cup Playoffs against Cincinnati a season ago, giving them two wins and one draw against FCC in their short history.

Squads

• Charleston - GK: Alex Tambakis, Odisnel Cooper, Joe Kuzminski; D: Forrest Lasso, Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, Quinton Griffith, Mikey Ambrose; M: Neveal Hackshaw, Ataulla Guerra, Dante Marini, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang, Tah Brian Anunga, Ryan Arambula; F: Romario Williams, Heviel Cordoves, Ricky Garbanzo, Nico Rittmeyer, Jeffrey Otoo, Robbie Robinson

• Cincinnati - GK: Mitch Hildebrandt, Dan Williams, Dallas Jaye; D: Matt Bahner, Tyler Polak, Harrison Delbridge, Pat McMahon, Austin Berry, Derek Luke, Mele Temguia; M: Aodhan Quinn, Kenney Walker, Paul Nicholson, Eric Stevenson, Aaron Walker, Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin, Marco Dominguez; F: Kadeem Dacres, Djiby Fall, Casey Townsend, Omar Cummings, Daryl Fordyce, Andrew Wiedeman, Victor Mansaray, Andy Craven

Discipline

• Charleston – Suspended: O’Brian Woodbine

• Cincinnati – None

Officials

• REF: GEOFF GAMBLE

• AR1: Brian Marshall

• AR2: Jordan Davis

• 4TH: Wayne Pavlischek

Game hashtag:

• #CHSvCIN

Twitter social handles

• Charleston Battery – @Chas_Battery

• FC Cincinnati – @FCCincinnati