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After hosting 鈥� and losing to 鈥� Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday, New Mexico United continues its three-match swing against Eastern Conference opponents with Charleston Battery on Saturday. 

United鈥檚 final game of the stretch will take place at Hartford Athletic next Saturday.

In the meantime, here are some things to note:

Free kicks

1. FEELING BLUE-ISH: United unveiled new home and away kits earlier this season. Well, the third 鈥� or alternate 鈥� will officially make its debut against Battery.

By now, you鈥檝e likely seen it. The club stuck with its usual turquoise option, but simplified it from last season鈥檚. Instead of being streaking in black, the kit has a collar as a throwback to the early- to mid-1990s.

So far, it鈥檚 been a hit with the players. Maybe the old adage of, 鈥淟ook good, feel good. Feel good, play good,鈥� will come into effect against Charleston. It certainly couldn鈥檛 hurt after successive shutout losses. (More on that later.)

If there is a problem with the turquoise kit, it鈥檚 that United won鈥檛 get a lot of pitch time in it. Due to the timing of the release, which was outside the club鈥檚 control, there are only so many matches New Mexico can/will wear it. Defender Maliek Howell said last week United would likely wear the turquoise three times this season.

2. NOT THE GOOD KIND OF STREAK: United and Battery have met every season since 2021.

Early on, the series went in New Mexico鈥檚 favor. United won 2-1 that first year and followed with a 2-0 victory in 2022. Since then? Well, Charleston hasn鈥檛 had any complaints.

Battery has won the last three meetings by a combined score of 7-1. That includes last season鈥檚 2-1 win that New Mexico had a helping foot in. United defender Ousman Jabang scored an own goal in the 49th minute. Talen Maples managed to score an equalizer with a 63rd-minute penalty kick, only for Rubio Rub铆n to break the tie six minutes later.

It鈥檚 also worth noting Charleston enters Saturday on a four-match win streak.

3. A GOOD WARMUP? United played against USL Championship-best Tampa Bay Rowdies in its last match. New Mexico lost 1-0.

Battery didn鈥檛 play Wednesday, but the club鈥檚 last contest was last Saturday against USL League One side Richmond Kickers for its second match of USL Cup play. Charleston won 4-0 behind first-half goals from Langston Blackstock and Colton Swan and second-half scores via Miguel Berry and Jeremy Kelly. 

It marked the third time in Battery鈥檚 last four matches the club won 4-0. The one time it didn鈥檛, Charleston came out with a 2-1 victory over Loudoun United FC on April 25.

4. PULLING DOWN A REBOUND: As mentioned above, United is coming off back-to-back shoutout losses. 

New Mexico fell 4-0 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a USL Cup match last Saturday. The club then lost to Tampa Bay.

It鈥檚 been a while since United was shut out in consecutive losing efforts.

How long you might ask? Good question.

The last time New Mexico was handed back-to-back shutout losses was in September 2023. United lost to Battery 1-0 on Sept. 2 and then fell 1-0 at Birmingham Legion FC on Sept. 10.

Key matchup

United forward Greg Hurst vs. Battery keeper Luis Zamudio

Hurst was the pick here, but there are plenty of other options that could have filled in the line above. United needs to find a way to not only score, but get on the scoreboard first. It鈥檚 something New Mexico has rarely done this season 鈥� twice for those keeping track at home 鈥� throughout the regular season, the U.S. Open Cup and USL Cup. United did so in a 1-0 win at Orange County SC on April 4 and a a 3-1 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC on May 9. New Mexico did lead against Cruizers FC on March 18, but that was due to a Cruziers own goal. Zamudio has conceded 12 goals in 32 chances.

Player of the match

United keeper Kris Shakes or Raiko Arozarena

Arozarena started against Tampa Bay, so Shakes is likely to start Saturday. But whoever is in goal needs to be on point with United struggling to play from ahead. 

By the numbers

2-1: United鈥檚 record in Saturday matches after playing on Wednesday. 

4: Battery鈥檚 place in the Eastern Conference standings. The club is tied with Hartford, Miami and Pittsburgh with 13 points.

12: The number of regular-season goals New Mexico and Charleston have each conceded. That鈥檚 good for 11th most in the league.

2: The number of United people tied to Battery. Forward Jake LaCava played for the club in 2024. Manager Dennis Sanchez was an assistant in 2022.

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .