Match Preview | Cleveland SC v Lionsbridge FC
Soccer is back!
Cleveland SC’s 2023 campaign officially gets underway this evening at 7:00pm EST as they welcome Lionsbridge FC from Newport News, Virginia at Drive Morris Stadium of North Olmsted High School.
Head Coach Vlad Muresan will be determined to kick the season off with a First Round win in the U.S. Open Cup. This is Cleveland SC’s second consecutive year in the tournament and will be the visitors’ first-ever qualification into the 108th edition of the tournament. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs as both set their sights on the second round.
Ticket details
Tickets are available for $15 and Children 11 & Under receive free entry online or at the gate.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Follow the match live
Catch tonight’s match on Eleven Sports with Kee on Sports duo Vince McKee and Cole McDaniel providing live commentary from Drive Morris Stadium. Live Stream can be found here.
Our opponents
Lionsbridge FC is led by head coach Chris Whalley who has been leading the club since it was founded in 2017. Coach Whalley played college soccer down the road at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA where former Cleveland SC head coach Ryan Osborne leads the club today. Last season, Lionsbridge finished as Chesapeake Division Champions with a record of 12-2-0, but their season was cut short in the Conference Quarterfinals USL 2 playoffs against Vermont Green FC. Lionsbridge FC’s 18-man roster returns four players from last year's roster including club leading goal scorer and captain Sam Hall along with James Bradley, Nathan Jones, and Lee Wattam. Lionsbridge roster also includes 2022 First Team All-Atlantic 10 goalkeeper Domenic Nascimben from Duquesne University whom Cleveland SC faced in the 2020 Members Cup with Pittsburgh Hotspurs and former Cleveland SC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC midfielder Ben Fitzpatrick.
Cleveland SC Club Notes
Head Coach Vlad Muresan completed the addition of goalkeeper Connor Robinson from John Carroll University and will be available for selection in tonight’s Open Cup match. We would like to welcome Connor to the club.