Battery, Village United meet again

For the second consecutive season, the Charleston Battery will take on Village United in an exhibition match tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium.

Charleston and Village United squared off a year ago with the Battery taking a 2-1 decision over the Jamaican Premiership League team.

"It was a good game a year ago, and we look for a competitive game again this season," said Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser. "I think this will give some of our younger players a chance to get a little more match fit and, hopefully, we can get a full 90 minutes out of most of them."

Village United's roster includes Christopher Dawes and Theodore Whitmore, who were members of the 1998 Jamaican World Cup team. The roster also includes current Jamaican National Team members William Wilson, Kirk Hendricks, and Jeff Pearce.

Village United also features Newton Sterling, who played for the Battery during the Carolina Challenge Cup, scoring the tying goal in the Battery's 1-1 draw against Houston. Shane Crawford, who played for the Battery in 2006, played with United during the 2005-06 season.

Village United, which will start its 2007-08 season later this summer, finished seventh in the 12-team 2006-07 Wray & Nephew Premier League. The Battery, which is 3-3-3 this season in the USL First Division, is coming off a 2-1 loss to Seattle on Thursday night.

The Battery will take on the Central Florida Kraze in its opening match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday beginning at 7:30 p.m.