Philadelphia Union will continue their annual friendly series with USL affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders on Monday, Aug. 31 at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa., the club announced Thursday. Kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be part of a two-game series at the home of the Lancaster Barnstormers, with Harrisburg playing a league game against FC Montreal two days prior.
“This annual match with our USL affiliate is really a great opportunity for both clubs involved and is one we really appreciate each year,” Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz said. “It’s an opportunity for young stars in a growing league to showcase their skills against some of the best players this country has to offer, and they get to do so in front of our technical staff who truly values this developmental system. We’re looking forward to another great match with Harrisburg and know we’ll be seeing some of these players at the next level real soon.”
Making a return home to Lancaster will be Andrew Wenger, a former Warwick High School standout and National High School Player of the Year. The 24-year-old midfielder was the 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy winner as the nation’s top collegiate soccer player and will be playing his first professional match back in his hometown. In addition to Wenger, Jimmy McLaughlin of Great Valley and former City Islanders star Sheanon Williams will be making a return to Lancaster.”
“We are very excited to bring our annual friendly with the Union to Lancaster and the Barnstormer’s Stadium,” said Harrisburg City Islanders Owner Eric Pettis. “This is a wonderful opportunity to expose the high quality soccer that the USL performs at these days with our MLS Affiliate and the City Lancaster. We had such a great experience with the Barnstormers hosting our international friendly with Crystal Palace a few years back that we felt compelled to share more professional soccer with a very strong soccer community in Lancaster. This is going to be a great event.”
Clipper Magazine Stadium is the official home of the Lancaster Barnstorms conveniently located 40 miles outside of Harrisburg, Pa. The stadium holds up to 7,500 seats including club seating, luxury boxes, picnic seating, and lawn access and will be the second trip to Clipper Magazine Stadium for Harrisburg, after playing in 2009 when the team hosted Crystal Palace F.C. of the Football League Championship in front of 5,099 fans.
