Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Thursday, September 6, 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery take on the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the 2012 USL PRO Championship Game; gates open at 6 p.m. with kick off set for 7:30 p.m. The Battery advanced to the title game via a dramatic semifinal win against the Rochester Rhinos in a game played last Friday night in Rochester.

Tickets for Saturday’s match are on sale now starting at just $10; to purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com. Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on USLnation.com; there will be no local radio coverage for this game.

Trailing the Rhinos 1-0 in stoppage time at the end of regulation, former Rochester midfielder Tony Donatelli scored a late headed goal for the Battery to send the match into overtime. With neither side able to break the deadlock the game was decided via a penalty shoot-out. Battery forward JC Mack scored the winning goal in the seventh round of penalties to propel Charleston into the Championship game.

The victory was the Battery’s first win in a playoff match in Rochester in a rivalry that extends back to the 1998 season.

The Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the Championship game by dispatching the No.1-seed Orlando City 4-3 on Friday night in Orlando. Wilmington jumped out to a 3-0 lead and despite having defender Dylan Riley sent off in the 64th minute managed to repel a late Orlando fight-back.

The Battery and the Hammerheads played three games during the regular season with one win apiece and one tie. This is the first time that the two clubs’ have met in a postseason game.

Saturday’s match marks the fourth time that the Charleston Battery has hosted a USL Championship. The Battery won USL Championships in 1996 (at Stoney Field), 2003 and 2010.

Jose Cuevas named as finalist for USL PRO Rookie of the Year

Charleston Battery midfielder Jose Cuevas has been named as a finalist for the USL PRO Rookie of the Year Award. Cuevas enjoyed a superb start to his pro career scoring 7 goals and adding 5 assists in 27 games played.

The 2012 USL PRO award winners including Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year will be announced at Friday’s USL PRO Championship Game media luncheon.

Championship Game Tickets

Tickets for Saturday’s match are on sale now starting at just $10 with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. The Box Office at Blackbaud Stadium will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and will be open from 10 a.m. on Saturday. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.