Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery continue their homestand in Week 6 by hosting Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Sat., April 12. Kickoff at Patriots Point is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s match will stream for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network and air on local television on the Palmetto Sports and Entertainment Network.
Saturday will be the first meeting of 2025 between Charleston and Pittsburgh, but the 45th match in the all-time fixture. The two clubs first met in 1999 when Pittsburgh joined Charleston in the USL A-League.
Charleston (2W-2L-0D, 6pts) will look to string together back-to-back wins after securing a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday. Cal Jennings converted from the penalty spot just before halftime and MD Myers came off the bench to score what proved to be the match-winner.
Pittsburgh (2W-1L-1D, 7pts) arrive in the Lowcountry on a two-game win streak after a 2-0 victory over Birmingham Legion FC in Week 5. Robbie Mertz and Danny Griffin found the back of the net against the winless Legion, and Eric Dick recorded his second shutout of the season.
Looking at the Eastern Conference table, the Battery are in sixth and the Hounds in fifth.
Storylines of the Match
Playoffs Rematch (Again) – If this seems like a repetitive storyline, you might be onto something. The Battery and Hounds will meet for the first time since the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals last year, which Charleston won 1-0. It will be the third time in five games that the Battery are facing a club they played in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs, after wins against Rhode Island in Week 2 and Tampa Bay in Week 5, illustrating the strong strength of schedule that Charleston have had to navigate to open the season.
90s Clubs Clash – Charleston (est. 1993) and Pittsburgh (est. 1999) have met 44 times since 1999, when the Hounds joined the Battery in the USL A-League, with those fixtures having taken place across various USL divisions and the postseason. No two teams in the USL Championship have clashed more all-time than Charleston and Pittsburgh.
All-Time History – In the 43 all-time matches, Charleston hold a narrow edge in the rivalry with a 16W-11L-17D record against Pittsburgh. The Battery’s latest win in the playoffs was also the first time the two sides met in the postseason since 2001.
Old Guard Shield – This weekend will see the return of the Old Guard Shield, the supporter-led contest between Charleston and Pittsburgh. The victor is determined after the two regular season matches, similar to the Southern Derby and No Quarter Derby.
Familiar Faces on Both Sides – There will be no shortage of familiarity between the sides this weekend. The Hounds are led by former Battery striker Augi Williams up top and Charleston have former Pittsburgh players Nathan Dossantos, Langston Blackstock, Luis Zamudio and Christian Garner on their side.
League’s 2024 Best – Two of the league’s top players in their position groups from a season ago will feature at Patriots Point on Saturday. The Battery’s back line is led by reigning Defender of the Year Graham Smith and Pittsburgh are anchored by reigning Goalkeeper of the Year and Golden Glove winner Eric Dick.
Back to Winning Ways – Charleston were back in the win column last week, evening out their record to 2W-2L-0D through four matches. The win over Tampa Bay was the response Head Coach Ben Pirmann was looking for from his side after the defeat to North Carolina the weekend prior.
Myers Makes Sensational Return – MD Myers made his first appearance of 2025 in Week 5 and did so in sensational style. Myers came off the bench in the second half and made an instant impact, scoring with his second touch the goal that proved to be the match-winner. It was a major boost for Myers and the Battery, given his absence at the start of the campaign.
Early Golden Boot Lead – After one month of play, Cal Jennings finds himself tied for the lead in the league’s Golden Boot race with four goals. His mark is matched only by Loudoun United FC’s Abdellatif Aboukoura so far.
Jennings Climbs to No. 10 – Cal Jennings ascended in the league’s all-time record book with his fourth goal in the past three games. The striker now sits alone at 10th all-time for the most goals in league history, with 69 in the regular season. Next in his sights is Jorge Herrera’s mark of 72 in ninth.
Four Days, Two Games – It will be a busy span of 96 hours for the Battery from Saturday to Tuesday. After Charleston hosts Pittsburgh on April 12, they will turn the page quickly to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, set for April 15 against South Georgia Tormenta FC at Patriots Point.
From the Training Ground
MATCH INFO
Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Saturday, April 12 – 7:30 p.m. ET Kickoff
Patriots Point
HOW TO WATCH:
Saturday’s match will stream for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network! The Golazo Network can be accessed for free via the CBS Sports App (under the ‘Live TV’ section), Pluto TV, Roku TV, Paramount+ app (no subscription needed), the PlutoTV app or on the channel’s website: https://www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sports-golazo-network
The match will also air on local television on Palmetto Sports and Entertainment Network, channel WCSC 5.3 (SD) and WZCH-TV 35.3 (HD) in Charleston. Check with your TV provider for the exact channel number.
A limited amount of tickets for Saturday are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
