WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College and Widener University will add a unique dimension to its Commonwealth Conference rivalry in 2011, as the women’s and men’s soccer teams will compete in a doubleheader at PPL Park, the home of the Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, on Friday, Oct. 7, with women’s game set to kickoff at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 8 p.m.

With a view of the Commodore Barry Bridge connecting Chester, Pa., the home of Widener, with Philadelphia as a backdrop, the Warriors and Pride will play in one of the premier soccer-only facilities in the nation.

No admission will be charged, but a ticket is required for entrance. 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 p.m.

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.

Lycoming College’s Alumni Relations office will be hosting a tailgate before the match at 5 p.m., and limited Lycoming College soccer merchandise will be available. Walk-ups are welcome to join the tailgate and to join in on cheering for the Warriors during the games.

The Warriors and Pride soccer programs have developed a deep rivalry since Lycoming joined the Commonwealth Conference in 2007, with four of the eight games between the squads’ going to overtime.

In the men’s game, Lycoming (6-5-1 overall, 0-1 Commonwealth) is looking to defeat the Pride for its first conference win of the 2011 season. Junior Charlie Vess (Lexington Park, Md./Great Mills) leads the team in scoring with five goals and is coming off an injury that kept him from the lineup for two and a half weeks. The Warriors will also look for a significant contribution from junior Matt Snively (Hollywood, Md./Leonardtown), who has posted three goals.

Widener (3-6-2 overall, 0-1 Commonwealth) is also looking for its first conference win after coming off a loss to No. 1 Messiah. Senior Dan Lorenzet and junior DJ DiPaola are tied for the team lead with two goals and two assists each.

Like the men’s team, the women’s soccer team has ignited the rivalry with the Pride since joining the conference in 2007. Since then, all four of the games against the Pride have been decided by two goals or less, including an overtime game in 2009.

On the women’s side, the Warriors (2-8 overall, 0-1 Commonwealth) are looking to get back on track with a conference win. Senior Jussae Hanford (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) posted two second-half goals to lift the Warriors to a 2-1 win over King’s (Pa.) in non-conference action on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and is the team’s leading scorer, posting four goals on the season.

The Pride (5-4-1 overall, 0-1 Commonwealth) is coming off a 2-0 win over Goucher in non-conference play and is looking for its first conference win after a tough 2-0 loss against No. 1 Messiah. Senior Brittany Harvis leads the team with two goals and one assist. Junior goalkeeper Vanessa Hejnas has posted 37 saves and four shutouts.

PPL Park is a state-of-the-art 18,500-seat Major League Soccer stadium, serving as home to the Philadelphia Union. The catalyst for a spectacular $500 million waterfront revitalization project, PPL Park opened in June 2010. The stadium is located just five miles south of the Philadelphia International Airport, with easy access to major roadways such as I-95, I-476, US-322 and PA-291.