USL Philadelphia Union II

Bethlehem Steel FC Kicks off 2018 Slate Hosting Richmond

March 16, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release


BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem Steel FC will kick off the club's third season in the Lehigh Valley at home when the club welcomes the Richmond Kickers on Sunday, March 18. Kickoff from Goodman Stadium on the campus of Lehigh University is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on YouTube and the club's website along with locally on Service Electric.

For the second-consecutive season, Steel FC's United Soccer League slate begins at home. Last season, the club increased its win total by six matches over it's inaugural season and make the USL Cup Playoffs for the first time as well. Over the past two seasons, Steel FC has racked up 10 wins and 10 draws at Goodman Stadium but head coach Brendan Burke has stressed the importance of improving that record.

"One of our focuses in this offseason has been to improve our home form," Burke said during his weekly teleconference on Wednesday. "We were very good on the road last year but we were not as good as we wanted to be at home, not even really close to it. So this presents a great opportunity because it comes right off the bat against a good, solid opponent but one that I think is beatable if we are really on our game. So it's an excellent opportunity this weekend to start working and start off on the right foot working toward that team goal."

Steel FC enters the home opener coming off a busy six week preseason that saw the club faceoff against clubs at the NCAA, NPSL and USL level. In eight matches, the club went 4-3-1 but the slate provided the club a chance to build chemistry among its squad that features nine new pieces from last year's team.

Richmond enters the match after a preseason slate that saw the club pick up wins over James Madison, Liberty University and Maryland. Head coach Leigh Cowlishaw enters his 18th season at the helm of the Kickers and will be looking to improve from last year's 8-16-8 form.

"I think you have to look at the addition of Mekeil Williams but also Heviel Cordoves up top, Williams across the back line. I would also highlight Giuseppe Gentile. They have added depth but also starting quality depth in three or four positions so I would expect Richmond to be a lot stronger than they were last year. And they beat us last year so a big test right off the bat."

MATCH INFORMATION

2017 USL Regular Season

Date: March 18, 2018

Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. ET

Location: Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, PA.

Bethlehem Steel FC: 0-0-0

Richmond Kickers: 0-0-0

Match Day Twitter: @BSteelFC

Game Day Hashtag: #BSTvRIC

Game Notes: bit.ly/2FPYnP1

Match Preview: bit.ly/2GyXrjc

Match Center: bit.ly/2phg97E

Watch: bit.ly/2phvNjz

Check out the Philadelphia Union II Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 16, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central