Coming off an impressive performance last weekend, Bethlehem Steel FC continues preseason with a midweek match against in-state rivals Penn FC on Wednesday, February 21 at the outdoor fields at YSC Sports. Kick off from Wayne, Pa., is slated for 1:30 p.m. and the match is free and open to the public.

Now in its fourth week of preseason practices, Steel FC begins a busy slate that will see the team play a pair of matches in four days. After defeating Junior Lone Star FC U-23 by an 11-1 margin in which Santi Moar, Brenden Aaronson, Issa Rayyan and Gregory Messam Jr. scored netted braces. Overall, seven different players netted goals while holding the NPSL-side to only one shot on goal.

The match will be the first official game for a pair of newest additions, with the club inking midfielder AJ Paterson and adding Zambian defender Prosper Chiluya via loan from Kafue Celtic FC.

 “We are looking forward to exposing our younger players to a higher caliber game,” Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke said. “We have a number of guys with us that haven’t gotten experience in the USL yet so Wednesday’s match will expose them for the first time to that level.”

Wednesday’s contest will be the second-consecutive preseason that the two Keystone State sides have faced each other, with last year’s contest ending in a 1-1 draw. Steel FC midfielder James Chambers netted the squad’s lone goal after forcing a turnover and volleying the opposing keeper.

Rebranded from Harrisburg City Islanders, Penn FC is coming off a 10-win season in the USL in 2017. Wednesday’s match will be the club’s second preseason contest, coming off a 2-1 victory against LIU Brooklyn. After allowing a goal in the second minute, Pedro Galvao knotted the match up with a one timer in the 40th minute. The winner game in the 57th minute, as Calvin Rezende picked out Aaron Dennis for the winning strike.