HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS SOCCER

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Current/former "Isle Guys" sign with Blast!

by dmeluzio

Saturday October 04, 2008, 8:02 AM

The Baltimore Blast who will play in the newly formed NISL, have announced that current/former Harrisburg City Islanders Dave Kern, Ryan Pierce, and Mike Lookingland have all signed to return for the 2008-09 season. David Bascome, another former City Islander, will act as the teams assistant coach in 2008-09.

You can read the full press release by CLICKING HERE.

This fall/winter is shaping up to be a great one for Harrisburg fans. Not only will we have numerous players to watch in Baltimore in the NISL, but we also have the open tryout with the Whitecaps in December. It will help make the time from now until training camp in early 2009 seem a lot shorter!

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September City Islanders offseason update

by dmeluzio

Wednesday October 01, 2008, 12:30 PM

Even though it is the off-season there is still plenty to talk about as a City Islanders fan. Below are a bunch of artciles and topics concerning Harrisburg players and what they are up to in the fall and winter months.

Harrisburg City Islanders and Vancouver Whitecaps to host open tryout

USL-1 & USL-2 Joint Pro Tryout in Harrisburg

The Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) have teamed up with the Vancouver Whitecaps (USL-1) to jointly host an open tryout on: Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18, 2008 at In The Net Sports Complex in Palmyra, PA. (www.inthenet.com) There will be three sessions over the course of the two day trial. Players will be evaluated by City Islanders coaches Bill Becher and Steve Widdowson and Whitecaps coaches Teitur Thordarson and Todd Wawrousek.

Session 1: Wed, Dec 17 10:30am to 12:30pm
Session 2: Wed, Dec 17 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Session 3: Thurs, Dec 18 9:30am to 11:30pm

The two organizations, which played a friendly match in Harrisburg during the 2007 season, will look to start the player identification process early for the 2009 season. City Islanders Head Coach Bill Becher stated; "Vancouver is a first class organization and we are pleased to partner with them once again. I look forward to having the Whitecaps coaching staff here in Harrisburg and I believe that a joint tryout with franchises from different levels of USL is a great way to find players who may be able to contribute to one of the respective teams. It should be a quality event."

The Harrisburg City Islanders will begin their sixth season of play in the United Soccer League's Second Division in late April 2009. The club's 2007 campaign was marked by winning the USL-2 Championship following an 11-4-5 regular season record. The team also went as far as the US Open Cup Quarterfinals most notably defeating DC United 1-0 in front of over 5,000 fans. In 2008, the team posted an 8-3-12 record.

The Vancouver Whitecaps were most recently USL-1 Champions in 2006 having knocked off the Rochester Rhinos in Rochester. In 2008 the Whitecaps finished the regular season in 2nd place and are currently involved in the USL-1 playoffs.

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Isles trio to get MLS opportunity

by MICHAEL BULLOCK, For The Patriot-News

Friday September 05, 2008, 4:23 PM

Pending approval from United Soccer Leagues honchos, USL-2's Harrisburg City Islanders will loan Middletown midfielder Jason Pelletier, central defender Nigel Marples and fullback Ryan Pierce to Major League Soccer's D.C. United for a short stretch early next week.

If the loan agreement is approved, Pelletier, Marples and Pierce will report to United for Mondays training session and play in a reserve game Tuesday in Kansas City.

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Brett Wiesner named to U.S. National Futsal team

by dmeluzio

Saturday August 30, 2008, 7:50 AM

Harrisburg City Islander Brett Wiesner has been named to the 16 man roster for the United States futsal team. He will compete with the team in the FIFA Futsal World Cup starting at the very end of September.

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City Islander season review and awards

by dmeluzio

Tuesday August 26, 2008, 9:16 AM

Is there such thing as a down side to winning a championship? If so, it has to be that the following season will be looked at as a let down unless you can repeat as champions. Oddly enough, I can honestly say that looking at this team at times during the regular season I would have told you that I thought they had a shot at winning it all. However, for whatever reason, it wasn't meant to be and the magic of the 2007 season wasn't quite there when it needed to be in 2008.

I still feel the 2008 season was a good one. But again, like I said, after 2007, anything but a championship was going to feel like a let down. Moving forward though, 2009 has a shot at being a redemption season and will almost certainly come off as a success. 2008 was a fun season. Attendence seemed about the same as last year (which by USL-2 standards was good) but to me seemed more involved and more enthusiastic. Especially when the SoB's were there. I had a lot of fun this year and am already looking forward to 2009.

Here are the "Upper 90" awards for 2008. Nothing official, no panel of judges, just me.

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Bixler earns award, Heins loaned to USL-1

by dmeluzio

Wednesday August 20, 2008, 4:11 PM

Harrisburg City Islander defender Dustin Bixler has been named to the All-League Second Team by the USL. CLICK HERE for the full press release and list of players who made the team.

He was the only City Islander to be named to either the first or second team. Also of note, no Harrisburg player was nominated for any of the following awards, defender of the year, rookie of the year, or MVP. Perhaps there is a rule that I am not aware that makes him ineligible, but I am a bit shocked that Ryan Heins was not nominated for rookie of the year. This was his first USL season. Maybe a full season in the MISL makes him not a rookie.

Watch the blog soon for the Upper 90 season awards to be given out including best defender, midfielder, forward, MVP, and rookie of the year. Any of you guys/gals have any ideas on who you think should make the list?

Ryan Heins Loaned to Rochester
The post USL-2 season roster moves have started. Much like Matt Nelson did last year joining Vancouver after the USL-2 season ended, Ryan Heins has been loaned to the Rochester Rhinos of the first division.

CLICK HERE for the press release from the Rhinos.

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Isles playoff hopes extinguished

by MICHAEL BULLOCK, For The Patriot-News

Thursday August 14, 2008, 12:09 AM

Seeking a second consecutive USL Second Division championship, the Harrisburg City Islanders watched their repeat hopes disappear during a penalty-kick shootout claimed 7-6 by host Crystal Palace Baltimore before 1,352 Wednesday night at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

With the victory, fourth-seeded Crystal Palace advances to a semifinal-round date Saturday night at No. 1 Charlotte.

The City Islanders, who forced overtime on Moffat Oduor's finish in the 75th minute, also picked up a first-half strike from Ryan Heins. Goals from Gary Brooks and Pat Healey staked Crystal Palace to a 2-1 lead at the halftime break.

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City Islanders playoff coverage

by dmeluzio

Wednesday August 13, 2008, 7:29 PM

Audio:
CLICK HERE to listen to the match live or dial in to 91.1 FM.

Updates:
7:17 pm- Pre-game talk and interviews have started. Can't wait for the start.

7:37 pm- Pre-game show is over and the match is in the first few minutes of action.

7:43 pm- CPB scores. 10 minutes in the score is 1-0. Brooks from Harada.

7:49 pm- RYAN HEINS SCORES!!! Tied up at 1-1 14 minutes in.

8:01 pm- Still 1-1. Ryan Heins is really buzzing right now.

8:04 pm- 30 minutes in CPB scores again. Pat Healey scores it is 2-1.

8:25 pm- First half is over. GM Mike Henning is being interviewed.

8:43 pm- 54 minutes in and it is still 2-1.

8:56 pm- Still 2-1. Subs will be coming in soon. Hopefully they can offer a spark and tie it up.

9:05 pm- 76th minute, Ombiji to Odur..... Kenyan Connection comes thru and scroes!!! 2-2

9:20 pm- Into stoppage time now.

9:24 pm- Here comes overtime.

9:44 pm- Overtime underway. Still 2-2 14 minutes in. This just in... Cleveland beats Western Mass 4-2. 1 minute of stoppage time.

9:53 pm- Second half of overtime is underway.

10:04 pm- Still no more scoring to update you on. Second half of overtime is over. Going to PK's

PK's: Heins- GOAL, CPB- goal, Pelletier- no goal, CPB- no goal, Marples- GOAL, CPB- goal, Schofield- GOAL, CPB- goal, Bixler- GOAL, CPB (Lookingland)- goal, Fisher- GOAL, CPB- goal, Bloes- GOAL, CPB- goal, Calvano- no goal, CPB- goal

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