Lions, Eagles and Rhinos.. Oh My!

United Soccer Leagues announced their USL Pro 2011 regular season schedule today.  The league will consist of 15 teams with the Charleston Battery pairing up with familar foes, Charlotte and Richmond while meeting Wilmington Hammerheads for the first time in league play.  The Battery will also face new comers the Orlando City SC, Dayton Dutch Lions and FC New York amongst others.

According to sources, The preparation of the rumored 16th team didn't met the USL standards for the 2011 season and they were told to wait until 2012.

The league is divided into three conferences;  National, American and International.

The Charleston Battery will belong to the American conference along with Orlando City SC, Charlotte Eagles, Richmond Kickers, and Wilmington Hammerheads. 

The National conference consists of Rochester Rhinos, Harrisburg City Islanders, FC New York, Dayton Dutch Lions, and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

The International Conference will be made up of three teams from the island of Puerto Rico,  River Plate PR, Puerto Rico United, and PR Sevilla FC as well as the Antigua Barracudas and the LA Blues.

The regular season will run a total of 24 matches, 12 at home and 12 away.  The post season format is set to be released in the upcoming weeks.  The Battery kicks off the season at home April 9 against Charlotte Eagles and ends the regular season August 12 against the Eagles at home as well.

Here is a quick look at the Battery schedule. 
Home games

Saturday, April 9 Charlotte Eagles 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 30 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:30 PM
Friday, May 13 FC New York 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 24 Richmond Kickers 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 28 Harrisburg City Islanders 7:30 PM
Friday, June 17 Dayton Dutch Lions 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 25 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:30 PM
Friday, July 1 Puerto Rico United 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 9 Orlando City 7:30 PM
Thursday, July 14 Wilmington Hammerheads 7:30
Saturday, July 30 Rochester Rhinos 7:30 PM
Friday, August 12 Charlotte Eagles 7:30 PM

Six Saturday night, four Friday night matches and two games midweek. Not as many Saturday night matches as last season but there has been some rumors of a TV deal with FSC once again this season.  If it is handled like it has been in the past, those televised matches were on Friday nights.  EDIT:  An email release from the Battery Front Office contained a chart of the Battery Schedule the letters "TV" next to two matches, the July 1st match against Puerto Rico United and the season finale on August 12 against Charlotte.  Set your DVRs!

Away games

Saturday, April 16 Dayton Dutch Lions 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 23 Richmond Kickers 6:30 PM
Friday, April 29 Charlotte Eagles 7:00 PM
Friday, May 6 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 7 Rochester Rhinos 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 21 Wilmington Hammerheads 7:30
Friday, June 3 FC New York 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 4 Harrisburg City Islanders 7:00 PM
Thursday, June 9 Sevilla FC Puerto Rico
Saturday, June 11 Puerto Rico United 8:30 PM
Saturday, July 23 Dayton Dutch Lions 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 6 Orlando City 7:35 PM

Only one trip to Puerto Rico for the Battery with one match on Thursday and the second on the Saturday over June 9 -11.  There are also two back to back matches on the road.   The first is May 6 against Pittsburgh and May 7th against Rochester.  The second is June 3 against FC New York followed by June 4 against Harrisburg City Islanders. 

Overall the it looks like an exciting schedule with the Battery playing most teams twice.  The exception being no matches against LA Blues, Antigua or River Plate PR.  The Battery also plays Charlotte three times, twice at home and once on the road.

Look for information about a bus trip to Wilmington on May 21 with the possibility of other as well.