Battery Host Hartford in USL Semifinal

Charleston will play Hartford Athletic at Patriots Point on Nov. 7 in the USL Championship Eastern Conference semifinal.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Soccer

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The second-seeded Charleston Battery host Hartford Athletic on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. after beating Rhode Island 1-1 (5-4 on penalty kicks) in the quarterfinals. The Battery lost 2-1 to Hartford in September and drew 1-1 in October.

Why it matters

Charleston gains home-field advantage after the Tampa Bay Rowdies lost to Miami FC, and the win would move the club closer to its first title in four seasons of playoff hosting. The match is the 10th home playoff match the Battery have hosted in the last four seasons.

Under coach Ben Pirmann since 2023, the Battery have gone 45-9-10 at Patriots Point with a plus-88 goal differential. Charleston and Hartford have split their two regular-season meetings, a 2-1 Hartford win in September and a 1-1 draw in October.

The players

Charleston Battery

The Charleston Battery is a USL Championship club based in Charleston, South Carolina, that plays its home matches at Patriots Point.

Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic is a USL Championship club based in Hartford, Connecticut, that competes in the league's Eastern Conference.

Ben Pirmann

Ben Pirmann is the head coach of the Charleston Battery, a role he has held since the 2023 season.

The details

The Battery advanced after a 1-1 draw with Rhode Island and a 5-4 penalty shootout win in the quarterfinals. The semifinal against Hartford will be played at Patriots Point, the club's home venue.

September 2026: Hartford beat the Battery 2-1 in their first meeting of the season.
October 2026: The Battery and Hartford drew 1-1.
Early November 2026: Charleston beat Rhode Island on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
Nov. 7, 2026, 7:30 p.m.: Charleston hosts Hartford Athletic in the semifinal.

Season Trajectory

This semifinal is the Battery's 10th home playoff match in the last four seasons, placing the club among the USL Championship's most frequent playoff hosts. A home win would put Charleston one step from the final and the chance at the club's fifth championship.

Home-field advantage in the semifinal gives Charleston a chance to advance to a potential championship match hosted at Patriots Point later this month. Fans can watch the match at Patriots Point on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

The takeaway

A home semifinal after a penalty-shootout quarterfinal win puts Charleston in position for its fifth championship, with the Nov. 7 kickoff at Patriots Point the next key step.

What happens next

Charleston hosts Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship Eastern Conference semifinal on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Patriots Point, and a championship match hosted by the Battery is possible later this month.