Sky Blue FC announced Friday its 2017 preseason schedule.

The National Women’s Soccer League club will travel to New York to play St. John’s University March 25 before returning to New Jersey to host the University of North Carolina April 1 and Penn State University April 9.

“We are really looking forward to getting started with our preseason schedule,” Sky Blue FC head coach Christy Holly said. “This year, we will play an exceptional set of teams that present us with an array of challenges. Putting our players in this competitive environment will ultimately allow us to enter the NWSL season fully prepared so we can give our fans an exciting year.”

Admission for all Sky Blue FC preseason fixtures will be free.

Through a partnership with New York Surf Soccer Club, Sky Blue will open its preseason schedule by traveling to Queens and playing the Red Storm at Belson Stadium Saturday, March 25. The game will mark the fifth consecutive year that Sky Blue and St. John’s have met during the preseason. It also will be the first time that the sides have met in New York since 2013.

Next up is North Carolina, marking the fourth consecutive year that Sky Blue has played the Tar Heels in the preseason. That encounter will take place at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. Saturday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m.

The final preseason game will be a Sunday afternoon pairing with PSU April 9 at 4 p.m. at a venue TBD.

Sky Blue will play its home opener when it hosts FC Kansas City at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University Sunday, April 30 at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.