New York Red Bulls II vs. Toronto FC II

Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

3 p.m. ET (WATCH: NewYorkRedBulls.com/live)

#NYvTOR

New York Red Bulls II will kickoff the 2016 USL season at home on Saturday, March 26, versus Toronto FC II at 3 p.m. ET. Red Bulls II returns to action with aims to build upon a positive 2015 season which saw the club qualify for the playoffs and advance as far as the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Coverage on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live will begin at 3 p.m. with Bob Galerstein and Kristian Dyer on the call. All Red Bulls II matches in the 2016 season will be available on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live.

New York enters its second season in USL after a successful first year. Led by head coach John Wolyniec, the club finished in fourth place of the Eastern Conference with a 12-10-6 record.

In the 2015 USL Playoffs, Red Bulls II hosted its first playoff game against Pittsburgh Riverhounds, which they won in overtime, 4-2. New York saw its season come to an end in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the 2015 USL champion Rochester Rhinos, 2-0.

Konrad Plewa, who received a red card in the Eastern Conference Semifinal game in Rochester, will serve his one-game suspension this weekend versus Toronto FC II.

There are eight signed USL players on the 2016 Red Bulls II roster, including five returners from 2015. Last season the club’s roster featured signed USL players, first team players and Red Bulls academy players who participate on amateur agreements.

Second year forward Stefano Bonomo looks to pick up where he left off after a strong finish to his first professional season. After signing with NYRB II in July 2015, the former Red Bulls SuperDraft pick tallied three goals and two assists in the final six games of the last season. He also enjoyed a strong preseason, training with the first team in Orlando, Fla., and at the Red Bulls Training Facility for five weeks before joining Red Bulls II preseason camp.

Former U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team midfielder Dan Metzger hopes to play in his first game since undergoing season-ending knee surgery in July 2015. Prior to the injury, Metzger played in 12 games, including 11 starts, and earned one USL Player of the Week honor.

Newcomers Tim Schmoll, Aaron Long and Vincent Bezecourt all signed with the team in 2016. Schmoll, a 6-foot-6 defender who played with the Red Bulls U-23 team in 2015, trained alongside Long and Bezecourt with the first team during their preseason camp in Orlando. Long and Bezecourt were both trialists with the first team before joining Red Bulls II preseason camp and eventually signing with the club.

Red Bulls academy players Mason Deeds and Noah Powder could also be included in the squad for the home opener after spending the entire preseason with Red Bulls II. The Red Bulls U-18 defenders also spent time with the first team during preseason after enjoying a successful spell with the Red Bulls U-18s during the Fall portion of the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.

With the first team experiencing a bye week in MLS, there could be a number of MLS players loaned down to NYRB II for Saturday’s game.

2015 records

NY: 12-10-6; Home: 7-4-3

12-10-6; Home: 7-4-3 TOR: 6-17-5; Away: 2-9-3

All-time series: NY leads, 2-0-0; NY won 4-1 at home (4/4/15), won 2-0 on the road (8/22/15)

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