College soccer returning to Philadelphia without fans in the stands

The long wait is coming to an end for college soccer players in Philadelphia anxious to take to their home field for the first time in 14 months this weekend, but they’ll have to wait even longer to have fans and family members cheering them on.

Restrictions in place from the city of Philadelphia and campus protocols implemented to combat the Covid-19 pandemic will, for the time being at least, leave the stands empty at all Philadelphia D1 soccer venues.

Temple, La Salle and Villanova will all be hosting games this weekend. Saint Joseph’s were scheduled to host Temple in a women’s game last Sunday but it was postponed because of snow, leaving new head coach Nick Bochette to wait another week to coach his first competitive match for the Owls since taking over the program last January.

Both Temple programs will host UCF with the men playing Saturday night afternoon and the women Sunday afternoon at Temple Sports Complex. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The La Salle women’s team will also have their season opener streamed live on ESPN+. They take on Villanova at McCarthy Stadium. Villanova, meanwhile, will host the La Salle men’s team at Higgins Soccer Complex.

Sweeney Field at Saint Joseph’s University will host the men’s season opener on Wednesday with Drexel visiting in a match that will be the first for their new head coach, Michael Marchiano. The Saint Joseph’s women’s team will open their season on the road at Delaware State in Dover on Sunday.

St. Joseph’s announced on Thursday that all games for the month of February would be played without spectators but that a decision about March and April would be made at a later date. Drexel plans to evaluate their policy restricting spectators on an “on-going basis.”

Ivy League soccer programs are not competing in the spring so Penn’s men’s and women’s soccer teams will not be hosting any competitive games at Rhodes Field.

Though Villanova is not subject to restrictions in the city of Philadelphia, the school has limited attendance for the time being at athletic events to team and essential game day staff.

How to Watch

Saint Joseph’s (M) at St. John’s
Saturday, February 13, 2021
1 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN3

Villanova (M) vs La Salle
Saturday, February 13, 2021
1 p.m.
Streaming: Nova Nation All-Access Pass

La Salle (W) vs Villanova
Saturday, February 13, 2021
McCarthy Stadium, Philadelphia, Pa.
2 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+*

Temple (M) vs UCF
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Temple Sports Complex, Philadelphia, Pa.
2 p.m. (time change)
Streaming: ESPN+*

Temple (W) at Saint Joseph’s
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Temple Sports Complex, Philadelphia, Pa.
12:30 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+*

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