WILMINGTON, N.C. – Wilmington Hammerheads FC will return home to Legion Stadium on Friday night to face Bethlehem Steel FC, with the hosts looking to quickly put behind them the club’s midweek penalty shootout exit from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: http://www.uslsoccer.com/game/show/13218404

Wilmington Hammerheads FC news and notes

• Current record: 4-4-4, 16 points
• Wilmington is on its best run of league form of the season, with seven points from its past three games in the USL.
• The Hammerheads grabbed a point on the road in its last outing, as Peabo Doue scored late to earn a 2-2 draw against Louisville City FC last Saturday.
• The side then traveled to Utah to face Real Salt Lake in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, but was eliminated in a penalty shootout after playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation and overtime.
• The Hammerheads currently sit one point out of the Eastern Conference playoff positions.

Bethlehem Steel FC news and notes

• Current record: 4-4-4, 16 points
• The Steel are coming off a 1-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence last Friday night, which saw the side snap a three-game winless streak.
• Cory Burke scored the only goal of the game, which was also his first for the club.
• Bethlehem is in the middle of a five-game road trip, which will also see it visit Richmond, Cincinnati and Toronto before returning home on July 10 to host Pittsburgh.
• A handful of regular contributors to the Steel were also active in the Open Cup, with goalkeeper John McCarthy, forward Fabian Herbers and midfielder Walter Restrepo all in the starting lineup for the Philadelphia Union’s 3-2 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Wednesday.

2016 Team leaders

• Goals: Wilmington – Bruno Perone, 4; Bethlehem – Four players tied with 2
• Assists: Wilmington – Mael Corboz, 4; Bethlehem – Five players tied with 1

Series notes

• This is the first meeting between the teams.

Officials

• REF: Jorge Ramirez
• AR1: Erick Varone
• AR2: Brian Bozard
• 4TH: Patrick Whitman

Game hashtag:

• #WILvBST

Twitter social handles

• Wilmington Hammerheads FC – @WilmHammerheads
• Bethlehem Steel FC – @BSteelFC