Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery squares off with the Richmond Kickers with the USL-2 Championship on the line tonight. Kickoff is set for 6 PM at Blackbaud Stadium with gates opening at 4:30 PM. Please plan to arrive early if you can to avoid traffic congestion; the stadium Box Office and Will Call is open all day today if you would like to pick up pre-purchased tickets in advance. There are still tickets available for purchase, please call (843) 971-4625 or visit www.charlestonbattery.com. Tickets start at just $10 with no charge for children four and under.

Tonight’s game is being broadcast live nationally on FOX Soccer Channel as the Battery battle for their first league championship since 2003.

Richmond is one of Charleston’s oldest rivals with both teams’ histories extending back to the 1993 season. The USL-2 Championship game will be the 41st all-time meeting between the teams; both sides have won 18 games, 4 matches have finished tied.

The Battery played Richmond four times in 2010 winning twice and losing twice. Both Battery wins came in the games played at Blackbaud Stadium.

This is Batterys first visit to a USL championship game since 2003 when Charleston defeated the Minnesota Thunder 3-0 to claim the A-League title; the Battery won the D3 championship in 1996.

The Richmond Kickers are the defending USL-2 Champions; the Kickers defeated the Charlotte Eagles 2-1 in last years final. Richmond head coach Leigh Cowlishaw has been with the team since 1993 and was a member of the Kicker’s 1995 U.S. Open Cup winning side.

Richmond’s roster includes two former Battery players, midfielder Mike Burke played for Charleston in 1998 and 1999, and midfielder Luke Vercollone featured for Charleston in 2006 and 2007.