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The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the unveiling of the team’s complete coaching staff that will join Head Coach Conor Casey on the sideline this season. In the unit are Dennis Sanchez and Chris Duvall as assistant coaches, Brian Jones as goalkeeper coach and Hanna Gardner as the head of sports science and performance.

“I’m so excited to have this staff to help the club,” said Coach Casey. “We have a great, diverse group of people in their skill sets. I feel so fortunate to have them join me, both as coaches and as people, to help create this culture and drive this team forward.”

Sanchez arrives in Charleston after previously being head of the Sacramento Republic FC academy the last two seasons. 

There, he led the U14 and U17 squads as head coach and served as an assistant coach for the senior team. Sanchez helped 15 academy players make their professional debuts at Sacramento from 2020 to 2021. Prior to joining the Republic, Sanchez tenured as the academy general manager for the Columbus Crew from 2016 to 2020 and has gained coaching experience at the professional and collegiate level, in the U.S. and abroad.

Duvall joins the Battery’s technical staff following an eight-year playing career as a defender in Major League Soccer, notably with New York Red Bulls and Montréal Impact. 

Duvall acquired silverware via winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2015 with New York and the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 with the Portland Timbers. Before going pro, the Georgia native played collegiately at Wake Forest from 2010 to 2013. The assistant role with the Battery marks Duvall’s debut into coaching as he brings a valued perspective to the staff as a recent former player.

Jones joins the Black and Yellow with a wealth of goalkeeping knowledge as both a player and a coach.

A St. Louis native, Jones played professionally for Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, Olivais-Moscavide in Portugal, and the Kansas City Wizards of MLS. Following his playing career, Jones coached seven years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) as the goalkeeper coach and eventually co-head coach. With the Cougars, Jones mentored keeper John Berner to two conference goalkeeper of the year awards and a 35th overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Following his time with SIUE, Jones served as the goalkeeper coach for USL Championship side St. Louis FC from 2015 to 2020.

Gardner arrives in Charleston to direct the squad’s sports performance, encompassing strength and conditioning, nutrition, injury prevention, and fitness. 

Prior to the Battery, Gardner served as the high performance coach for the Kansas City Current of the NWSL in their inaugural season. Following her arrival midway through the season, the club saw a drastic reduction in the number of unavailable athletes from non-contact injuries. Gardner also worked with North Carolina FC as a sports data analyst for the first team and head coach in their youth sector from 2019 to 2021. Gardner played collegiately at UNC-Chapel Hill where she helped the Tar Heels win the national championship in 2012 and later earned her master’s degree in kinesiology from UNC-Greensboro.

The coaching staff will continue to prepare the team ahead of the 2022 preseason and the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup, slated for February 12-19. Additional roster moves will be forthcoming as the organization continues to assess and evaluate potential players.

Tickets for the CCC can be purchased via SeatGeek.com here:

The Charleston Battery announced Tuesday a multi-year partnership with Danish sportswear brand hummel as the club’s official on-field apparel provider. Hummel will outfit the Black and Yellow with all training, travel and matchday attire beginning this season.

As one of the oldest sportswear brands in the world, hummel – which is German for bumblebee – has amassed an exemplary footballing heritage. The Battery join an impressive roster of clubs outfitted by hummel, including the Danish national team, Everton F.C., Southampton F.C. and S.C. Braga, among other clubs around the world.

“The Battery are proud to partner with hummel and join top clubs around the world in partnering with such an innovative sportswear provider,” said Battery President of Business Operations Scott Krenitski. “Hummel’s commitment to the community and ‘changing the world through sport’ are key values that we align with.  Through this partnership, we’re excited to provide our players high-quality gear to perform on the pitch, as well as giving fans a wide selection of new Battery merchandise by hummel.”

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to be working with the Charleston Battery as their technical apparel partner for on- and off-the-field needs,” said Jeff Duback, hummel US country manager. “Like hummel, the Battery have a long iconic history in the game, one that I experienced personally playing against the team in the 1990s. As this is our first year working with USL Championship clubs, we are excited to see what the partnership brings and grow with them over the years. This partnership aligns with both our global and local goal to ‘change the world through sport’.”

Hummel will supply Battery players and technical staff with high-performance training gear and matchday attire, including new home and away kits for the 2022 season.

Battery fans can anticipate a full line of new hummel gear at the Battery team store as well as a striking set of new jerseys to ring in the club’s 30th season. The partnership with hummel follows an extensive search by the Battery to find a partner who shares the club’s values and desire to push the boundaries.

Complete details on the unveiling of Charleston’s 2022 home and away kits will be available in the coming weeks, with the pair of kits set to be revealed during a season kickoff event for fans in early March. There will be an additional third kit to be announced during the season.

The hummel training kits will debut in the 2022 preseason and will feature in the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup in February. Tickets are on sale now for the tournament via SeatGeek.com here:

Get a first look at some of the new threads, featuring Joe Kuzminsky and Burke Fahling:

The Charleston Battery announced Thursday the signing of forward Shakeem “Shak” Adams to the 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval. Adams becomes the fourth forward added to the squad.

The 23-year-old joins the Black and Yellow following a productive two-year stint with USL League One side FC Tucson, where he appeared in 40 matches for the club. Adams joins Andrew Booth as new Battery players making the move up from League One to the USL Championship this season.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to play in a wonderful city and join a great team like Charleston,” said Adams. “I’m looking forward to meeting and learning from all my new coaches and teammates to become a better player. I am ready for this new challenge in my career in the USL Championship.”

Adams helped lead Tucson to a spot in the 2021 League One Playoffs where they defeated the Richmond Kickers 1-0 in the quarterfinals, before falling to eventual champions Union Omaha in the subsequent round.

During his two seasons in Arizona, Adams tallied 12 goals, four assists and 32 chances created. Adams’ versatility as a player has seen him deployed as a winger on both sides of the pitch, up top and in the midfield.

Adams was tabbed the Week 21 Player of the Week for his exceptional performance against Greenville Triumph SC, when he scored both goals in Tucson’s 2-1 victory over Greenville. He was again named to the Team of the Week in Week 30 after scoring the game-sealing goal that sent Tucson into the Playoffs, a 4-2 victory over Richmond.

“We’re expecting him to be a dominant force on that right-hand side,” said Battery Head Coach Conor Casey. “He has all the tools; speed, good at one-on-one’s, creates and finishes chances. He’s very direct and is eager to take people on with his athleticism, those are some things you can’t teach.”

In addition to creating opportunities for his side, Adams was very smart with the ball, completing 80.6% of his passes, a mark that would slot him in the top-six with the 2021 Battery team.

Prior to signing with Tucson, the Nashville native was selected by Nashville SC 54th overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.

Adams played collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast University from 2016 to 2019 and rejoins former FGCU teammate Preston Kilwien in Charleston. The two played together from 2016 to 2018. Adams enjoyed a successful tenure with the Eagles where he earned first-team All-ASUN Conference honors his sophomore, junior and senior years. Adams left his mark on the program’s record book too, becoming the all-time leader in assists (16) and tying for most game-winning goals (eight). He also tallied the second-most goals in school history with 23.

During college, Adams played in the USL League Two with the Nashville SC U23 team 2017 and the Seattle Sounders FC U-23 squad.

“There’s no better feeling knowing I get to link back up with my former teammate, Preston, and being able to get the best out of each other, week in and out,” said Adams. “Battery fans, I can’t wait to bring you even more excitement and joy watching us take on any challenge we face together.”

Adams becomes the sixth new player added to the roster ahead of the 2022 season and brings the total number of players on the squad to 16.

2022 Roster

Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky

Defenders: Leland Archer, Patrick Hogan, Preston Kilwien, AJ Paterson, Matt Sheldon

Midfielders: Andrew Booth, Burke Fahling, DZ Harmon, Dominic Oduro, Geobel Perez, Romario Piggott

Forwards: Shak Adams, Aidan Apodaca, Nicque Daley, Claudio Repetto

Shak is in for 2022, are you? Explore the exclusive perks and benefits for Season Members today – with seating options starting for as low as $10 per game! Check them out, along with the flexible payment plans available, below:

The Charleston Battery announced Tuesday the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Dominic Oduro to the 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval. Oduro has compiled an impressive resume from across the globe and is the 15th player to join the Battery.

“I’m very happy to join Charleston to keep developing myself as a player and as a person,” said Oduro. “Really looking forward to fighting for trophies with the team and coaching staff.”

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder arrives in Charleston after spending the 2021 season with Memphis 901 FC, where he made 30 appearances and logged 2,145 minutes played. Oduro tallied 30 interceptions, 30 clearances and 118 duels won during the campaign.

“Dominic is a natural defensive midfielder, he’s got good tendencies to really protect the back line and hold that space there,” said Battery Head Coach Conor Casey. “He’s got great athleticism, he’s good in his tackles and he’s a good runner, all really important things for that position.”

Oduro made his USL Championship debut with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he made 57 appearances from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, he helped Tampa Bay secure the 2020 USL Championship Eastern Conference Title.

A native of Accra, Ghana, Oduro started his playing career in Ghana at the Right to Dream Academy. That propelled him into joining the Manchester City FC Academy in January 2013, where he would spend the next two years, split between the academy team and three other European sides via loans.

Oduro first joined Danish Superliga club Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF) in early 2013 on an 18-month loan, where he would appear in 13 matches and score one goal. After AGF, Oduro joined Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz of the Belgian Second Division in 2014. Oduro then joined Superettan side IK Frej Täby on loan in 2015, where made 12 appearances with the Swedish second division club.

Following his tenure with City’s academy, Oduro returned to Denmark when he signed with FC Nordsjælland in 2016. The midfielder’s stay with the Superliga club was brief and he left Europe when he was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, 44th overall, before eventually signing with USL League Two side FC Golden State Force.

Oduro is eager to get up and running in Charleston, starting with the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup during the preseason.

“I think it’s good to play against MLS sides in order to challenge ourselves and to prepare us well for the upcoming regular season,” said Oduro. “To the fans, I can’t wait to be with you all in Charleston as we fight for a championship.”

Oduro becomes the fifth new player added to the roster ahead of the 2022 season.

2022 Roster

Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky

Defenders: Leland Archer, Patrick Hogan, Preston Kilwien, AJ Paterson, Matt Sheldon

Midfielders: Andrew Booth, Burke Fahling, DZ Harmon, Dominic Oduro, Geobel Perez, Romario Piggott

Forwards: Aidan Apodaca, Nicque Daley, Claudio Repetto

Dominic will be protecting the Point in 2022, help him in the effort by becoming a Season Member today! Memberships start at just $10 per match for all 17 home games and are the best way to experience the Battery, along with several exclusive benefits and perks.

Explore all the Membership options, plus the available flexible payment plans, below:

The Charleston Battery announced Thursday the return of its annual preseason exhibition tournament, the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup, set for February 12-19 at Patriots Point.

The 16th edition of the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup (CCC), in partnership with the Charleston International Airport, will see the Battery face off against visiting Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs the Columbus Crew, Inter Miami CF and Charlotte FC.

“We’re excited to bring back this beloved preseason tournament and welcome three MLS clubs to Charleston this February,” said Battery President of Business Operations Scott Krenitski.

The exhibition will commence over four days, from February 12 through February 19. The round-robin tournament will total six matches with each club playing three times. Full tournament passes and individual match tickets are currently available via SeatGeek.

After a two-year hiatus, the CCC returns in partnership with Breeze Airways™ and the Charleston International Airport.

“Breeze is thrilled to be partnering with the Charleston International Airport and the Battery to bring the Carolina Challenge Cup back to Charleston,” said Angela Vargo, Vice President of Marketing for Breeze Airways. “Charleston has welcomed Breeze with open arms and is now our largest base with 13 nonstops. We are serious about our commitment to the Charleston community and look forward to seeing soccer fans at the pitch for this awesome event!”

“The return of the Carolina Challenge Cup is wonderful news for the Charleston area and a reminder of how attractive our region is for high-caliber sporting events,” said Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston. “Breeze Airways has been a tremendous partner since launching service last May at Charleston International. Signing on as the Cup’s title sponsor exemplifies their commitment to our community. We look forward to joining the Battery and Breeze in welcoming teams and fans from Charlotte, Columbus and Miami.”

“We’re delighted to have Breeze Airways and the Charleston International Airport as presenting partners for the return of the Cup,” Krenitski added. “It exhibits the organizations’ commitment not just at a local level, but nationally with Breeze Airways providing so many direct flights to Charleston. We’re excited for Breeze to help us welcome soccer fans from across the country for this unique tournament.”

Participating Teams

Charlotte FC will compete in the preseason tournament for the first time ahead of their inaugural MLS season.

“We’re honored to have been invited to this year’s Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston ahead of the 2022 Major League Soccer season,” said Charlotte FC Club President Nick Kelly. “It’s a unique opportunity to be able to have the Club’s first public-facing matches in our region at a tournament that is synonymous with soccer in the Carolinas.”

Inter Miami also visit Charleston for the first time ahead of their third MLS season.

“We’re excited to join the Carolina Challenge Cup in our 2022 preseason,” said Chris Henderson, Miami’s chief soccer officer and sporting director. “We look forward to facing competitive opponents in Charleston, Charlotte and Columbus in the Battery’s great facilities and playing our way into form for the MLS season.”

The Columbus Crew are no strangers to CCC. The Crew come to Charleston for their seventh CCC and will be defending the title as current cup-holders, having won the most recent edition of the tournament in 2019.

“It’s going to be great having these three MLS teams visit Charleston for preseason competition and have the tournament up and rolling again,” said Battery Head Coach Conor Casey. “It’s going to be a key part of our preseason to showcase the club to the fans and to do it at such a high level before the regular season. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

2022 Tournament Format & Schedule

The round-robin exhibition tournament will be played over four matchdays beginning with a double-header kickoff on February 12. Each team will compete three times over the course of the tournament with a winner being determined based on points and/or tiebreakers.

Matchday 1 | Saturday, February 12

• Inter Miami CF vs. Columbus Crew | 1:00 p.m.
• Charleston Battery vs. Charlotte FC | 7:00 p.m.

Matchday 2 | Tuesday, February 15

• Columbus Crew vs. Charlotte FC | 5:00 p.m.
• Inter Miami CF vs. Charleston Battery | 8:00 p.m.

Matchday 3 | Friday, February 18

• Charleston Battery vs. Columbus Crew | 8:00 p.m.

Matchday 4 | Saturday, February 19

• Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami CF | 8:00 p.m.

Ticketing Information

Full tournament passes and individual tickets for the 2022 Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup are available online beginning Thursday, January 13 via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.

Season Members can take advantage of 50% off tickets for the entire tournament! Members are eligible for a full tournament pass to all 6 matches starting at only $42 per seat, starting at $85 for non-Members. Member pricing is available until January 27th. To reserve your exact Member seats/section, you must purchase a full tournament pass. Just make sure you are logged in to your SeatGeek account to view Member pricing options!

The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the dates and opponents of their 2022 regular-season schedule. The Battery’s 30th season will open at Patriots Point on March 12 against FC Tulsa, the first league match for Conor Casey as the new head coach of the team.

The 2022 USL Championship regular season will see the Black and Yellow play a 34-game schedule across 32 weeks from March through October. Information on the kickoff times and when tickets will be available for purchase will be announced in the coming weeks.

“It’s great to have a real visual of what the whole season will look like, especially coming off of last year with playing a lot of regional games,” said Coach Casey. “I think it’s great to be able to have such a wide range of opponents and great destinations to look forward to.

“It’s an extremely exciting time now that we have that picture in our mind and we can start really targeting our training processes for those first couple of months of games.”

New to 2022 is the re-introduction of the traditional two-conference format, with the Battery residing in the Eastern Conference. Charleston will face each team in the conference twice, once home and once away, and play eight interconference matches against teams from the Western Conference, four home and four away. The top seven teams from each conference will advance to the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs.

Rivalries will be revisited and new ones are likely to form as the Black and Yellow take on a wider variety of teams compared to the previous year following the realignment. 

Charleston will face FC Tulsa and league newcomers Detroit City FC for the first time this season. Returning as regulars to the Battery’s list of fixtures are Atlanta United 2, Birmingham Legion FC, Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC and Memphis 901 FC. Former Atlantic Division foes Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United FC, New York Red Bulls II, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, The Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies round out the conference.

Breaking down the schedule by day, the Battery are tabbed for four Wednesday matches, six Friday matches, one Sunday match and 23 Saturday matches.

The home interconference schedule will kick off when Las Vegas Lights FC travel to Charleston for the first-ever “Holy City vs. Sin City” fixture on Friday, April 1. 

A rematch of the “Black and Yellow Derby” against New Mexico United will take place Saturday, May 14, featuring ex-Battery player Zach Prince in his first season as New Mexico boss.

Charleston will host Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, June 30, for the first meeting between the two since 2014.

Another inaugural fixture will take place Friday, September 23, when the Battery take on Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Patriots Point.

Charleston’s away interconference schedule will include trips to San Diego Loyal SC, San Antonio FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and LA Galaxy II. 

The match against San Diego will feature a pair of former USMNT teammates duke it out on the touchline in head coaches Landon Donovan and Conor Casey. The match against the Switchbacks will be a homecoming of sorts for Casey and goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky with the two Colorado natives returning to their home state.

Like the start of the year, the Battery will wrap up their regular season at home when Loudoun are welcomed back to the Lowcountry on Saturday, October 15.

“Our home opener is the big one top of mind, and then the next game against Las Vegas is something we’ve got our eyes on and are preparing for,” said Coach Casey. “There are some great opponents throughout the summer, but for right now we’re really focusing on that first couple of months section.”

Every league match will air on ESPN+. Kickoff times and the league’s national broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

At the conclusion of the regular season on October 15, the top seven teams in each conference will qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs. The first overall seed in each conference will receive a bye to the Conference Semifinals of the Playoffs. The bracket will be reseeded following the Conference Quarterfinals to ensure the first overall seed in each conference plays against the lowest-seeded remaining opponent.

The USL Championship Playoffs will remain a single-elimination format, culminating in the 2022 USL Championship Final on a to-be-determined date taking place in mid-November.

Ticket information will be available in the coming weeks, but skip the wait by locking in your spot for all of 2022 with a Season Membership today! 

Memberships start at $170 for all 17 home matches in 2022, with exclusive access to the club and season-long benefits reserved just for Members. Visit the Membership page to find out more:

COMPLETE SCHEDULE:

The Charleston Battery announced Monday the re-signing of midfielder Romario Piggott to the 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval. The Panamanian returns to the Black and Yellow for his fourth season with the club, where he has made 58 appearances across all competitions.

“It feels good to re-sign with the Battery, I’m really excited to be back in Charleston and to meet the new coach and the new players that come this year,” said Piggott. “I will keep pushing myself leading up to the new season and I look forward to the new dynamic of the team.”

Piggott rejoined the Battery in July 2021 after recovering from an injury sustained the previous year and became an instant impact upon return. The fan-favorite tallied four goals, two assists and 18 chances created in 18 appearances (10 starts). Romario’s goal against LA Galaxy II on October 20 was crucial at the time in restoring the Battery’s lead, after Galaxy II had equalized just minutes before, in a match Charleston would ultimately win 3-1.

Piggott first signed with Charleston in September 2018, but he debuted with the Battery in 2019. Through his first three seasons with the Black and Yellow, Piggott has become a consistent performer on the pitch while registering nine goals and seven assists across all competitions.

“We’re really happy that Romario is returning to the club, I’ve seen a lot of great things from him over the past few years,” said Coach Casey. “He’s played mostly on the wings where he can utilize his speed, and he can play as more of an attacking midfielder too. He’s got the ability to be versatile for us.

“I’ve heard great things about his personality and his positive energy, and that’s what we want in the building, those leaders that come in every day upbeat and ready to work.”

A native of Panama City, Panama, Piggott played professionally for four seasons in the Panamanian Football League (LPF), for Chepo F.C. and Tauro F.C., making 73 appearances and scoring four goals in Panama’s top division from 2012-2015.

On the international stage, Piggott represented his country with the U-17 and U-20 national teams. With the U-17 team, Piggott made four total appearances, two in the FIFA U-17 World Cup and two in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. For the U-20 team, he made three appearances and scored one goal in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

Piggott then played collegiately in the United States from 2016-2017. He spent 2016 with Ancilla Community College in Plymouth, Indiana, and 2017 with Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The midfielder also played with the Myrtle Beach Mutiny (USL PDL) in the summer of 2018 before signing with Charleston.

“Like every year, I always try to compete for a championship, so this is not going to be any different, we have to face every challenge together step by step,” said Piggott. 

Piggott becomes the 14th player added to the 2022 roster and is the 10th player re-signed from the 2021 squad.

2022 Roster

Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky

Defenders: Leland Archer, Patrick Hogan, Preston Kilwien, AJ Paterson, Matt Sheldon

Midfielders: Andrew Booth, Burke Fahling, DZ Harmon, Geobel Perez, Romario Piggott

Forwards: Aidan Apodaca, Nicque Daley, Claudio Repetto

Romario is in for 2022, are you? Make sure you are there for all 17 home matches by becoming a Season Member! Membership is more than just a ticket, but it makes you a valued person of the club, entitled to a host of exclusive benefits and perks that are only for Members. Become a Season Member today!

The USL Championship announced Thursday the league’s slate of home openers for the 2022 regular season. The Charleston Battery will kick off their 30th season on Saturday, March 12, against FC Tulsa at Patriots Point. 

Information on the kickoff time, when tickets will be available for purchase and the rest of the 2022 home schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. 

The Battery will open their season at home after starting the prior two seasons on the road. Charleston and Tulsa have not previously played against each other, making the March 12 meeting the inaugural match between the two. Tulsa will also have the designation of being the first USL opponent Conor Casey faces as the new head coach of the Battery.

“It’s great to have something concrete and an opponent to look forward to for the first game as we kick off the 2022 season,” said Coach Casey. “We’re busy and excited for the preseason time to get ready for the match, but looking forward to a full house and the support of all the fans.”

The game will be a competitive one as the Oklahoma side have become a formidable team in the league recently. Tulsa are coming off their second-straight USL Championship Playoffs appearance in 2021. The Battery will play Tulsa twice this season, with both clubs residing in the Eastern Conference, following the league’s return to the traditional two-conference format.

Also among the top storylines leading up to the game will be newly-signed Battery defender Matt Sheldon having a chance to square off against his former club. Sheldon played the previous three seasons with Tulsa and developed into an integral part of their defense from 2019 to 2021.

“The game is going to be exciting for everybody involved; the community, the players, the staff,” said Coach Casey. “It’s definitely something we have our eye on and we can’t wait for the big home opening at Patriots Point.”

Ticket information will be available in the coming weeks, but skip the wait by locking in your spot for the March 12 opener and all of 2022 with a Season Membership today! Memberships start at $170 for all 17 home matches in 2022, with exclusive access to the club and season-long benefits reserved just for Members. Visit the Membership page to find out more:

The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the addition of forward Aidan Apodaca (Ah-pu-DOCK-ah) to the 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval. Apodaca has made 65 USL Championship appearances since 2018 and is the fourth new signing ahead of the 2022 season.

The 25-year-old joins the Black and Yellow following a 2021 campaign where he made 20 appearances with El Paso Locomotive FC and Orange County SC, on loan from El Paso. Apodaca featured in 15 games during the regular season with Orange County and was part of the team during their USL Championship title-winning run. 

“I’m looking forward to getting to Charleston and hitting the ground running,” said Apodaca. “Can’t wait to make this a successful season with Coach Casey and to begin making a statement in the league.”

Before making the move to El Paso, the California native enjoyed a productive two-season tenure with Reno 1868 FC from 2019 to 2020, tallying eight goals and three assists across 28 matches. In 2020, Apodaca led Reno with a minutes-per-goal average of 72.7, along with 87.5% of his shots being on target. His attacking efficiency helped the side claim the top spot in the regular season that year. 

Battery Head Coach Conor Casey likes what he has seen from Apodaca’s game and envisions him being a key contributor to the Black and Yellow.

“I like his physical makeup, Aidan’s quite aggressive in the attack, in terms of retaining the ball and then getting forward,” said Coach Casey. “I think those elements combine quite well, and we’re looking for him to be a key part of our offense to help generate goals.”

Apodaca was selected 55th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union and later signed with affiliate Bethlehem Steel FC where he would make his professional debut. He featured 17 times, notching two goals and two assists. 

By making the move to Charleston, Apodaca reunites with former Bethlehem teammate AJ Paterson, who was also with the Pennsylvania side in 2018.

Before going pro, Apodaca had a prolific collegiate career at California Baptist University. The forward led all divisions of NCAA soccer with 29 goals in 2017 and was subsequently named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year, along with numerous Pacific West Conference awards. That scoring mark included three hat tricks, one of which was a five-goal effort that set a new single-game scoring record for CBU. 

Following his four years with the Lancers, Apodaca had rewritten the school’s record books. He became the all-time leader in goals (48), points (108), shots (143), multi-goal games (11) and hat tricks (four). Apodaca also set new single-season records for goals (29), points (62), shots (111), multi-goal games (eight), and hat tricks (three).

“I’m excited to get going and meet my new teammates, as well as reuniting with former teammate AJ Paterson,” said Apodaca. “Happy be a Charleston Battery player and happy to be building towards a successful season 2022.”

Apodaca becomes the 13th player added to the 2022 squad and is the first new forward added.

2022 Roster

Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky

Defenders: Leland Archer, Patrick Hogan, Preston Kilwien, AJ Paterson, Matt Sheldon

Midfielders: Andrew Booth, Burke Fahling, DZ Harmon, Geobel Perez

Forwards: Aidan Apodaca, Nicque Daley, Claudio Repetto

Aidan is in for 2022, are you? Explore the exclusive perks and benefits for Season Members today – with seating options starting for as low as $10 per game! Check them out, along with the flexible payment plans available, below: