Widener Soccer Teams to Play at PPL Park on Friday

Widener University's soccer teams on Friday will play a doubleheader at PPL Park in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, for the second straight year.

The Pride will face Lycoming with the women's game starting at 6:00 pm and the men's contest beginning at 8:00 pm.

No admission will be charged, but a ticket is required for entrance. Those tickets can be picked up at the stadium at the PPL Energy Plus Gate before the games on Friday. There is no re-entry for each ticket and fans will be seated in sections 106, 107 and 108 behind the players' bench. Gates open at 5:00 pm.

For advanced group tickets, please contact Ian Simon at 610-499-4476. Those tickets can be picked up at Widener University's Schwartz Athletic Center department of athletics until noon on Friday.

Parking will be available on site in Lot B free of charge. Limited concessions will be sold.

Directions to PPL Park can be found on the Union's web site at www.philadelphiaunion.com.

Student Life is chartering a bus for the games. Fan buses will leave from Wolfgram Library beginning at 5:00 pm and will arrive at PPL Park. Buses also will depart Wolfgram Library at 5:45 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:15 pm and 8:00 pm.

Buses heading back to campus will leave from PPL Park at 8:15 pm, 8:45 pm, 9:30 pm, 10:15 pm and 10:45 pm. Please note the 10:45 pm departure will be the last of the evening and all buses only will stop at Wolfgram Library.

Widener last year had the privilege of competing in the stadium during its first season, attracting a crowd close to 1,100 spectators. Those who witnessed the festive atmosphere saw the women's team record a 1-0 victory over Wilkes and the men's squad play to a 2-2 draw against Neumann.

In the women's match last year, sophomore Victoria Batter (Woodlyn, PA) scored the first collegiate goal in PPL Park history. The men's contest saw then senior Eric Chrencik (Finksburg, MD) and present sophomore Derek Brubaker (Lancaster, PA) each find the back of the net for the Pride.

The games serve as a tremendous opportunity for Widener University, which entered a partnership as the official university of the Philadelphia Union, PPL Park and the Union's youth soccer partner partners, EPYSA and DYSA. The multi-tiered partnership that includes signage, television and web advertising spots not only aims to promote the growth of youth soccer in Chester but also to increase awareness of Widener University and its undergraduate and graduate academic programs.

“Having a chance to compete in a professional stadium, let alone one of the best soccer specific venues in the country, is an experience that few student-athletes get to experience,” Widener men's soccer coach Brent Jacquette said. “The relationship between Widener University and the Philadelphia Union has truly created a once in a lifetime opportunity for our men's and women's soccer programs by playing in PPL Park.”

“This is a great experience for the players. They look forward to this game as soon as the schedule comes out,” Widener women's soccer coach Brian Sheehan added. “We are grateful for the opportunity to play each year in PPL Park.”

PPL Park features a picturesque view of the Commodore Barry Bridge as well as the Delaware River. An average of over 17,000 fans saw the Union compete at the stadium last season.

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