City Islanders Face Bethlehem Steel for First Time in Club History
May 19, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
After having two weeks off of USL regular season play City Islanders FC will travel to their second home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a crucial pair of games against USL foes this Sunday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 24.
This will be the first time this season that City will move down the road to compete in front of their Lancaster fan base at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The first tilt will come against Bethlehem Steel FC, the newest USL team in the Keystone State. They will round out the first of several Lancaster series on Tuesday against Toronto FC II.
Bethlehem Steel was one of the six new teams to join the league this year. It will be the first of two match ups between the clubs this season in what is sure to become another highly anticipated rivalry on the Islanders' schedule.
In their only USL competiton in Lancaster last year the Islanders took down Montreal FC by a final score of 6-0, behind a hat trick by Craig Foster in the final 20 minutes. The Philadelphia Union then came to town for the team's' annual friendly with City. The Islanders fell 3-1 to their then MLS affiliate.
This season City has seen a few chances for victories slip from their grasps due to late game goals. They currently sit in the bottom half of the table, while Bethlehem who is riding a five game unbeaten streak sits four spots ahead of the Isles with 12 points.
Bethlehem has three players in Derrick Jones, Fabian Hernbers and Eric Ayuk who each have two goals on the season. Jones picked up the game winner in their last win against the Toronto FC II.
City's will come into Sunday's game with some confidence off of a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round win against West Chester United Soccer Club. Bobby Warshaw recorded his much anticipated first goal of the season in the game. Rookie Matthew Bolduc notched the final goal of the match to help the Islanders advance to the Third Round of U.S. Open Cup play.
Just a few short days after hosting Bethlehem Steel FC the Isles will welcome Toronto FC II into Clipper Magazine Stadium for the first time on Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Toronto has been faltering as of late with only one win in their last six games, but they only sit one point clear of the Islanders.
Toronto's lead scorer, Raheem Edwards, is sixth in the league with four goals on the season. The scoring attack from the Canadian team is also led by five other players who have tallied a goal on the season. Toronto will also play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday before heading to Lancaster later in the week.
Two wins for City in this series would vault the Islanders up the standings with a total of 13 points. The Islanders will need to get points at home before they head out for four straight away games before heading back home on June 21 to face off with FC Montreal.
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