The 2017 season was Bethlehem Steel FC's second season of competitive soccer in the United Soccer League and first season competing in the second division of American soccer. Steel FC competed in the league's Eastern Conference.
Roster
Transfers
In DatePlayerNumberPositionPrevious clubFee/notesNovember 14, 2016 Cory Burke 41 FW Rivoli United Loan made permanentDecember 22, 2016 Hugh Roberts 42 DF Richmond Kickers UndisclosedJanuary 17, 2017 Matthew Real 47 DF Philadelphia Union Academy UndisclosedJanuary 30, 2017 Santi Moar 38 FW Pfeiffer Falcons 2017 Philadelphia Union Draft SigningMarch 2, 2017 Charlie Reymann 44 DF Kentucky Wildcats Trialist signingMarch 3, 2017 Matt Mahoney 48 DF Temple Owls Trialist signingMarch 8, 2017 Chris Nanco 37 FW Syracuse Orange 2017 Philadelphia Union Draft SigningApril 5, 2017 Chris Wingate 43 MF New Hampshire Wildcats Trialist signing
Out DatePlayerNumberPositionNew clubFee/notesSeptember 29, 2016 Gabe Gissie 37 FW Sacramento Republic FC Contract declinedSeptember 29, 2016 Nick Bibbs 38 DF Contract declinedSeptember 29, 2016 Jamie Luchini 43 FW Contract declinedSeptember 29, 2016 Fred 47 MF Contract declinedJanuary 30, 2016 Bolu Akinyode 42 MF North Carolina FC Transfer; Undisclosed feeMay 1, 2017 Matt Perrella 46 GK Jacksonville Armada Released
Loan in DatePlayerNumberPositionLoaned fromFee/notes April 1, 2017 Ken Tribbett 4 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Brian Carroll 7 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Charlie Davies 9 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Aaron Jones 19 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Marcus Epps 20 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Adam Najem 24 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Auston Trusty 26 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Giliano Wijnaldum 32 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 1, 2017 Josue Monge 60 DF Philadelphia Union Academy Academy Call-up April 1, 2017 Tomas Romero 64 GK Philadelphia Union Academy Academy Call-up April 9, 2017 Jack Elliott 3 DF Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 9, 2017 Jake McGuire 29 GK Philadelphia Union Temporary loan April 9, 2017 Mark McKenzie 50 DF Philadelphia Union Academy Academy Call-up April 9, 2017 Issa Rayyan 52 FW Philadelphia Union Academy Academy Call-up
Competitions
Bethlehem Steel FC compete in USL, which is the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. Steel FC's affiliation with the Philadelphia Union of MLS has prevented the team from participating in the U.S. Open Cup competition. The decision to make affiliated "farm teams" ineligible for the U.S. Open Cup was decided since the 2016 iteration of the tournament.
Preseason
USL regular season
The 2017 USL season will be contested by 30 teams, 15 of which compete in the league's Eastern Conference. All teams will play a regular season total of 32 matches between teams within their respective conference. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams from each conference advance to the 2017 USL Playoffs for a chance to compete for the USL Championship Title.
Standings (Eastern Conference)
Results
All times in Eastern Time.
Results summary
USL Playoffs Bethlehem Steel FC earned the final playoff spot during the 2017 USL season for the first time in the club's history. Finishing as the 8th seed, Steel FC's first round fixture was away at conference winning Louisville City FC.
All times in Eastern Time.
Statistics As of October 28, 2017. + Players included in matchday squadsNo.Pos.Nat.NameLeaguePlayoffsTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals 3 DF Jack Elliott 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 DF Ken Tribbett 12 1 0 0 12 1 3 0 7 MF Brian Carroll 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 MF Maurice Edu 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 9 FW Charlie Davies 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 12 DF Keegan Rosenberry 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 MF Fabian Herbers 3 1 0 0 3 1 1 0 15 DF Josh Yaro 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 16 DF Richie Marquez 4 1 0 0 4 1 1 0 19 DF Aaron Jones 29 2 1 0 30 2 5 1 20 MF Marcus Epps 13 1 0 0 13 1 0 0 21 MF Derrick Jones 12 1 1 0 13 1 4 0 24 MF Adam Najem 23 2 1 0 24 2 1 0 26 DF Auston Trusty 25 0 1 0 26 0 6 0 32 DF Giliano Wijnaldum 7 0 0 0 7 0 4 0 36 FW Seku Conneh 26 10 1 0 27 10 6 0 37 FW Chris Nanco 28 4 1 0 29 4 4 0 38 FW Santi Moar 30 6 0 0 30 6 6 0 39 MF Amoy Brown 3 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 40 MF Josh Heard 16 0 1 0 17 0 1 0 41 FW Cory Burke 25 9 1 0 26 9 10 1 42 DF Hugh Roberts 26 1 1 0 27 1 1 1 43 MF Chris Wingate 6 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 44 DF Charlie Reymann 9 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 45 MF James Chambers 28 5 1 0 29 5 6 0 47 DF Matthew Real 18 1 1 0 19 1 6 0 48 DF Matt Mahoney 9 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 49 MF Yosef Samuel 21 0 1 0 22 0 3 0 50 DF Mark McKenzie‡ 6 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 52 FW Issa Rayyan‡ 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 53 FW Tiger Graham‡ 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 55 MF Dawson McCartney‡ 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 56 MF Seth Kuhn‡ 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 57 MF Justin McMaster‡ 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 59 MF Anthony Fontana‡ 11 0 0 0 11 0 4 0 60 MF Josue Monge‡ 3 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 63 MF Brenden Aaronson‡ 6 0 1 0 7 0 1 0 68 MF Michael Pellegrino‡ 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Total 46 77 3
Goalkeepers As of October 28, 2017. + Players included in matchday squadsNat.No.PlayerAppsStartsRecordGAGAASO 23 John McCarthy 3 3 1-1-1 3 1.00 1 0 0 29 Jake McGuire 23 23 10-6-5 26 1.13 5 2 0 46 Matt Perrella† 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0 64 Tomas Romero‡ 7 7 1-5-1 16 2.29 0 0 0Total12-12-7 45 1.45 6 2 0
Players with names in italics were on loan from Philadelphia Union for individual matches with Bethlehem. Players with names marked ‡ were academy call-ups from Philadelphia Union Academy for individual matches with Bethlehem. Players with names marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Bethlehem. Players with names marked † were transferred/released from the club midseason. League denotes USL regular season Playoffs denotes USL Playoffs
Honors Week 3 Player of the Week: F Seku Conneh Honorable Mention: M Santi Moar Week 6 Team of the Week: D Hugh Roberts Week 8 Team of the Week: G Jake McGuire Week 9 Save of the Week: G Jake McGuire Week 10 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: F Cory Burke Week 11 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: F Seku Conneh Week 12 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: F Seku Conneh Week 13 Player of the Week: M Adam Najem Honorable Mention: D Auston Trusty Week 15 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: D Aaron Jones Week 20 Team of the Week: M Chris Nanco Week 21 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: F Cory Burke Week 24 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: M Marcus Epps Week 27 Team of the Week: F Cory Burke Week 28 Team of the Week Honorable Mention: F Seku Conneh Week 29 Team of the Week: M Santi Moar
References