Sky Blue FC will play four preseason games at Sportika Sports. (Photo courtesy of Sky Blue FC)

TINTON FALLS, N.J. – Sky Blue FC of announced Monday that it will play four preseason matches at Sportika Sports in Manalapan, N.J.

The National Women’s Soccer League club will open its preseason slate with a Feb. 24 fixture against Penn State, with games against North Carolina, West Virginia and St. John’s the following three weekends.

“We look forward to playing against four top college programs this preseason,” Sky Blue FC head coach Denise Reddy said. “It was very important for us to play against opposition that would challenge us, and these four matches will play a key role in our preparations for the 2018 season.”

After the Penn State game, Sky Blue FC will host the University of North Carolina Saturday, March 3 at 3 p.m., followed up by a 1 p.m. contest against West Virginia University Saturday, March 10. The team will conclude its preseason schedule when it welcomes St. John’s University for a 2 p.m. kickoff Sunday, March 18.

All four Sky Blue FC preseason matches will be open to the public, and admission to attend will be free. Sportika Sports, the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Sky Blue FC preseason, is located at 150 Woodward Road in Manalapan, N.J.

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.