Pennsylvania’s three USL clubs have released their 2016 Preseason Schedules, including the first head-to-head match between Bethlehem Steel FC and Harrisburg City Islanders.
Bethlehem will prepare for their inaugural season with a five matches against USL opponents and top NCAA programs. They begin their preseason against Syracuse University at the Philadelphia Union’s Training Center in Chester, PA. Steel FC will then host Harrisburg in a Keystone Derby preview match on March 15. They finish their preseason with three matches in three days against NYRB II in New Jersey, Penn State in University Park, and Georgetown University in Chester, PA.
Harrisburg have five away games scheduled before the 2016 USL season. Their first match of the preseason is against Penn State in University Park, PA before heading to Maryland to face UMBC three days later. The City Islanders then move on to Bethlehem to face Lehigh University on March 10 and then stay in Lehigh Valley to take on Bethlehem Steel FC. Harrisburg finish their preseason with a match against NYRB II in New Jersey.
Pittsburgh scheduled four games this preseason against regional NCCA programs. They begin their preseason in University Park, PA against Penn State on February 27. The Riverhounds will then return home and host Ohio State and the University of Michigan at Highmark Stadium. Their final match of the preseason will be against the University of Akron on March 18, though the time and location have not yet been announced.
The USL season kicks off on March 25 with Bethlehem Steel FC traveling to Canada to face FC Montreal. The Harrisburg City Islanders begin their season away against the Richmond Kickers. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have to wait until the next weekend when they host the Rochester Rhinos at Highmark Stadium.
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