The Cannon Crüe is back to talk Prinx Tires USL Cup action as the Charleston Battery open Group 6 play with a late 2-1 win over Loudoun United.

Granit is joined by Patrick and guest Andrew to break down a strange but useful cup result: Miguel Berry gets his first Battery goal, Graham Smith delivers the stoppage-time winner, and Charleston walks away with three points in the group stage. It was not always pretty, but after a rough road stretch, the result mattered.

The crew also digs into the bigger questions around this Battery squad: road form, attacking creativity, Miguel Berry’s role, whether Emilio Ycaza can help drive the midfield, and whether Graham Smith is becoming the on-field leader this team needs.

Plus: youth soccer foot races, Blue Angels flyovers, mystery tire sponsors, white-wall tire debates, crop dusters over Patriots Point, and a look ahead to Sporting Jacksonville.

In this episode:

• Charleston’s 2-1 USL Cup win over Loudoun United
• Miguel Berry’s first goal for the Battery
• Graham Smith’s late winner and growing leadership role
• Why the Battery still look unsettled on the road
• The search for creativity in midfield
• Whether the team is still missing an Aaron Molloy-type leader
• Preview and predictions for Sporting Jacksonville
• Cinco de Mayo night, Star Wars confusion, tacos, and rain

Up the Battery.

#CharlestonBattery #BatterySoccer #CannonCrue #USLCup #PrinxTiresUSLCup #USLChampionship

The Charleston Battery put in one of their most complete performances of the season… and somehow walk away with just a point.

In this episode, we break down a match where Charleston controlled large stretches, limited Tampa Bay to almost nothing, and still left you feeling like more was there for the taking.

• Game Control vs. Scoreline Reality
• Battery looked like the better team for most of the match — but couldn’t fully capitalize.
• Defensive Dominance
• Tampa Bay didn’t register a shot on goal until the 70+ minute mark. That tells you everything.
• Missed Opportunities
• Woodwork hit, chances left on the table… this could’ve been a different story.
• Nathan Messer Masterclass
• Assist, delivery, energy, communication — becoming one of the most important players on the pitch.
• Center Back Pairing
• Joey + Graham Smith quietly locking things down and controlling buildup.
• Tactical Talk
• 4-4-2 vs flexibility — is this the identity or just situational?
• Squad Questions Still Lingering
• Where does Suber fit?
• Is Cabrera doing enough?

The Cannon Crüe is back—and this one hurts a little.

After a massive statement win in Louisville, the Charleston Battery crash back to earth with a frustrating loss to Brooklyn. The Crüe breaks down what went wrong, from defensive lapses to big questions in goal, and whether it’s time for a change between the posts.

But it’s not all doom—there’s still belief. We look ahead to a massive showdown against Tampa Bay, debate lineup changes, and ask the real question: who steps up?

Plus:

• A reminder of why it’s called the beautiful game (youth match moment you’ll love)
• Champions League chaos and why soccer fans had a great week overall
• Tactical talk: midfield gaps, missing wingers, and attacking identity
• Score predictions for the Tampa clash

Heading to the match? Hydrate. It’s gonna be a scorcher.

The Charleston Battery just made a statement.

In one of the biggest matches of the season, the Battery went into Louisville and walked out with a 2-0 win, snapping Louisville’s unbeaten run and proving this team can adapt, defend, and deliver on the big stage.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a tactical shift, a mentality shift, and maybe the moment this season truly turned.

• The “Two-Gun Raid” on Louisville – how the Battery executed a perfect smash-and-grab
• Tactical shift from Ben Pirmann – five at the back and a completely different approach
• Defensive masterclass – shutting out one of the league’s best attacks
• Kelly, and the midfield engine – who stepped up and why it mattered
• That first goal – why “play to the whistle” still wins games
• Second goal breakdown – quick reactions, no hesitation
• Confidence boost or turning point? – what this win means for the rest of the season
• Clean sheet vs Louisville – arguably the biggest defensive result of the year
• Brooklyn preview – trap game or momentum builder?

This wasn't luck. This was adaptation.

The Charleston Battery pull off a gritty 3–2 comeback win after going down 2–0—and the Cannon Crüe has plenty to say about it.

From questionable starting XI decisions to a goalkeeper debate that’s heating up fast, this episode breaks down what went wrong early, what changed late, and why this team might be built differently than years past.

The Comeback:

• Battery fall behind 2–0 after defensive lapses
• Immediate response after halftime flips the match
• Team shows intestinal fortitude, resilience, and zero quit
• Final result: Battery 3 – 2 Birmingham

Before we get into the show…

📸 Send us a photo of your Charleston Battery jersey!

We want to see the best jersey in the fleet — classic kits, new kits, custom names, all of it.

Winner receives:

1. 🎟️ Two tickets
2. 🚗 Yellow Lot parking pass
3. 📍 For Wednesday’s upcoming Charleston Battery Open Cup match on 18 March 2026

Send your photo to [email protected].

We’ll pick the best jersey and announce the winner before the match.

Charleston Battery opened the season with a 2–1 win over defending champions Pittsburgh Riverhounds in front of a sellout crowd of 5,012 at Patriots Point.

Topics in this episode:

1. Atmosphere at the season opener
2. New stadium layout and fan experience
3. Tailgating and supporter section energy
4. Tactical changes under Coach Pirman

⚽ Sean Suber goal – header from a perfectly delivered corner just before halftime.

⚽ Goal-of-the-week contender – incredible strike to make it 2–0 early in the second half.

⚽ Own goal conceded – unlucky bounce gives Pittsburgh their only goal.

1. Battery played a high defensive line that shut Pittsburgh down
2. Set pieces looked dangerous all night
3. Charleston finished with 7 shots on target to Pittsburgh’s 2

Quick look at opening weekend:

1. Hartford shocks Jacksonville
2. Sacramento starts strong
3. Brooklyn earns its first ever club win
4. Lexington looks dangerous this season

US Open Cup

Charleston Battery vs Florida Badgers

📍 Patriots Point

📺 Streaming on YouTube

League Match

Battery vs Birmingham Legion

Granit: 4–0 Battery

Patrick: 8–1 Battery

Ryan: 8–0 Battery

Subscribe and share the podcast with fellow Battery supporters.

Send your Battery jersey photos for the ticket giveaway!

The Charleston Battery’s 2026 campaign is underway, and Cannon Crüe is back to break down everything you need to know heading into the new season.

In this episode, we dive deep into the preseason storylines shaping Charleston’s trajectory. From where we were in 2025 to who we lost.

We also discuss returning veterans, positional battles, and the identity this squad is forming as they aim to build on last season’s foundation.

The Battery aren’t rebuilding. They’re refining.

And the question isn’t whether they’ll compete—it’s how dangerous they can become.

• Overview of the 2025 season

• Key roster departures

• Tactical outlook and system evolution

• Returning core players and leadership roles

• Areas of strength and potential vulnerabilities

Charleston enters 2026 with continuity in leadership and philosophy, but meaningful roster adjustments that could reshape how the team plays.

This preseason isn’t about finding identity—it’s about sharpening it.

The Cannon Crüe returns for the playoffs as Granit, Ryan, and Patrick dissect Charleston Battery’s first-round clash with Rhode Island FC. The Crüe moves from laughter about NC roadwork to deep football talk—covering youth development, academies, coaching philosophies, and why Charleston needs to bring a trophy home. There’s tactical debate on the backline, keeper woes, and Juan David’s mysterious disappearance. The guys round it out with match predictions ranging from doom (Ryan) to domination (Granit).

ain couldn’t stop the Battery—only supercharged them. In this episode, Granit and Ryan break down the 5-0 demolition of Colorado Springs Switchbacks, from Aaron Malloy’s bank-shot free-kick masterclass to VGO’s first professional goal. The Crüe relives the soaked-to-the-bone madness, celebrates Nate De Santos’ redemption arc, and debates the great U.S. playoff conundrum—should the best team really have to win twice?

The guys also talk PK strategy, back-line chemistry, golden-boot drama between Cal & MD, and how one orange-clad Sasquatch keeper may never live down a night in Charleston.

Wrap up your ponchos and your pint glasses—the Battery are storming toward the playoffs, and the Crüe are ready to shout it from the Regiment’s chili-dog-scented parking lot.

• The three goals breakdown (Jennings header, MD’s volley, Rubio’s finish).
• The playful chaos about parking passes and tailgates and Queen Bees (Yellow Lot supremacy vs. Blue Lot madness).
• Shoutouts to Battery’s fan culture on Hispanic Heritage Night.
• The spicy keeper debate (Luis vs. Christian—who should get the gloves for playoffs?).

Show Notes

The Crüe is back with tales from Hispanic Heritage Night, parking lot politics, and a match that had it all: frustration, brilliance, and three bangers in the net.

We start with sideline stories—refereeing chaos in youth games, wedding trips with babies in tow, and the eternal Yellow Lot vs. Blue Lot debate. Then it’s into the heavy stuff: keeper concerns, defensive lapses, and whether culture in the locker room matches the culture in the stands.

But at the heart of it all, we celebrate what makes the beautiful game beautiful: that it’s for everyone. Hispanic Heritage Night was a reminder of how important it is to honor and embrace cultures that come together around the pitch. Soccer transcends politics and differences—it thrives when we celebrate who we are, together.

And yes, we also revel in the fireworks: Jennings’ meaty forehead, MD’s thunderstrike, and Rubio’s late dagger had Patriots Point rocking. With playoffs looming, the Crüe debates what matters most: form, fan culture, or just putting Christian back between the sticks.