A year ago, goalkeeper Alex Tambakis arrived in Charleston for preseason looking to both stake his claim at a starting position with the USL’s Charleston Battery, and build toward his long-term goals with his new club, Atlanta United FC.

On Saturday night, he’ll return to MUSC Health Stadium with his United teammates as a visitor for the first time as the club kicks off the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup against Columbus Crew SC (4:30 p.m. ET | Preview). For the 24-year-old, it will be a happy return after his successful 2016 season.

“It’s going to be great,” Tambakis said this week. “I have a lot of friends there and just to be back there, it’s exciting. To see the fans and everybody that I know, it was a very good year last year and I’m just very happy to be there.”

Tambakis entered a competitive situation to say the least last year. In addition to his arrival on loan from the Battery’s partner, Charleston also had Cuban goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper to compete for the No. 1 spot in the lineup after a season in which Cooper was named to the USL All-League Team for the first time.

The two split time early in the season, but eventually Tambakis won out. Tambakis made 12 of the final 16 starts for the Battery in the regular season and both starts in the USL Cup Playoffs as the Battery earned a place in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a surprise win against host FC Cincinnati on the road on the opening round.