Field set for Development Academy Carolina Challenge Cup Tournament
Charleston, SC. The South Carolina United Battery U16 and U18 USSF Development Academy teams will be joined by Columbus Crew, Indiana United Fire, Chicago Fire, D.C. United and New York Red Bulls for a four day tournament beginning next Friday, February 24th. The Development Academy tournament is run in conjunction with the Carolina Challenge Cup featuring the Charleston Battery and Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew.
“We’re excited to be able to bring such high-caliber teams down for our tournament, the games are going to be very competitive.” said Clark Brisson, Executive Director SC United Battery. “The Battery teams have been working very hard in preparation and I am looking forward to the games beginning; hopefully we can expand the tournament further in future years.”
The SC United Battery U18’s and U16’s kick off the tournament with 3 PM games versus their Columbus Crew counterparts at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mt Pleasant, SC. Friday’s games will see action at a second location with four matches scheduled at Carolina Park including Chicago Fire U18’s vs D.C. United U18’s at 6 PM.
The Development Academy teams will have a rest day on Saturday, February 25th allowing them to attend match day one of the Carolina Challenge Cup.
The tournament resumes on Sunday, February 26th with the U18’s playing games at the Charleston Battery’s Blackbaud Stadium and the U16’s playing at Bishop England High School.
The Development Academy Carolina Challenge Cup Tournament will conclude on Monday, February 27th with six games scheduled at Patriots Point Soccer Complex.
In all close to 300 Development Academy soccer players will compete in the 18-game tournament. This is the second year that the Charleston Battery has hosted the competition with the tournament field expanding from eight teams in 2011 to twelve in 2012.
About the USSF Development Academy
U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player.
The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the United States to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.
Carolina Challenge Cup
The Carolina Challenge Cup is the premier pre-season tournament in the U.S. Each year the Battery is joined by three teams from Major League Soccer for the round-robin competition. The 2012 edition includes the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United and the Charleston Battery with match days on February 25, 29 and March 3.
Tickets are on sale now starting at just $15 with discounts available for groups of ten or more. Series tickets that include tickets for all three match days are also available. 2012 Charleston Battery season ticket holders receive complimentary tickets to the games. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.charlestonbattery.com or call (843) 971-GOAL (4625).
