Bethlehem Steel FC announce friendlies with Temple, Villanova

We already knew that Bethlehem Steel FC would be opening their preseason schedule against Junior Lone Star at YSC Sports on February 22 at 2:00 PM, but we now know two additional opponents they will face in the coming weeks.

Bethlehem will take on Villanova at the Higgins Soccer Complex on March 1 at 4: 00 PM and Temple at Power Training Complex in Chester on March 4 at noon. They played Bethlehem in an unannounced match at Higgins last preseason, but have not played Temple before.

Villanova put together a 10-win season in the fall that saw them reach the semifinals of the Big East tournament and earn an NCAA tournament bid for the first time in program history. Their fellow Philly Soccer Six rivals were equally successful, posting a 10-win campaign of their own while going unbeaten in their first season back in the city at the new Temple Sports Complex.

Former Temple defender and captain Matt Mahoney has been on trial with Bethlehem in preseason after a standout college career with the Owls so he could have a chance to face his former team.

Steel FC, meanwhile, are trending younger this year, and with the likes of Chris Nanco popping up in training, it might be worthwhile to show up to see the future of the Union while they work some kinks out ahead of the start of their second USL campaign at Goodman Stadium in April.

Nova and Temple should be some good early competition, and of course we will have you covered if you can’t make it out to the games.