Brenden Aaronson and Michael Pellegrino are both only 16, but they have a lot of history on the soccer field both as rivals in New Jersey youth soccer and as teammates with the Philadelphia Union Academy for the past four years.
That the two South Jersey natives would make their first professional starts together in the same midfield for Bethlehem Steel in Tampa Bay on Saturday night was only fitting.
“It was just an awesome experience,” said Aaronson, of Medford, who made his third appearance for the Steel in front of 6,611 fans at Al Lang Stadium.