Steel FC announce home opener

Bethlehem Steel, along with the rest of the USL have announced home openers for the 2018 season on Friday.

This year, the USL will start the 2018 season on the weekend of March 16-18. Steel FC start their home campaign at Goodman Stadium on Lehigh University’s campus on Sunday, March 18th against the Richmond Kickers. Kickoff time is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The match follows the first of three games the first team will play Columbus Crew the day before in Chester.

Thanks to the release, we also know that the second week of the season Bethlehem will get a look at a re-tooled Tampa Bay Rowdies side that just recently added David Najem to their side from NYRB, among many others. That match will take place on March 24th, exactly a month to the day after the first team plays the Rowdies in the Suncoast Invitational at Al Lang Stadium. The first team is off that week.

All-time against Richmond, Bethlehem currently sit at one win, two draws, and one loss with both positive results coming at Goodman stadium.

Tampa Bay is still a young series, with both sides sitting at a draw a piece. There’s a big history between the two teams though with Leo Fernandes and David Najem both on the Green and Gold for the 2018 season. Tampa Bay are almost a lock to make the playoffs in the East again this year so that’ll be a big test for this newly revamped Steel side who just added “The Two Brandons” of Aubrey and Allen.

The full USL release can be found here.