Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders introduced their 2012 team at a press conference held today at Capital BlueCross Headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa., as the club returns to Skyline Sports Complex for its ninth professional season.
The club also unveiled its new uniforms, which showcase on both the home and away jerseys the traditional large City Islanders logo with the Championship Star placed above, commemorating the team’s 2007 USL Second Division Championship. Team sponsors Snickers and Capital BlueCross will once again be featured on the front of the jerseys.
“Capital BlueCross is excited to see the City Islanders sporting our logo on their jerseys for a ninth year in a row,” said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Capital BlueCross President. “These men are champions on the field, leaders in the community and advocates for good health. That is a winning formula and makes for an ideal partnership with Capital BlueCross. We look forward to cheering for the team this season as they march toward another national championship appearance.”
The team looks to build off of a very successful 2011 season, when the Islanders won the USL PRO National Division, defeating Rochester 2-1. Harrisburg would fall just short in the USL PRO Championship game, falling to Orlando City 3-2 in penalty kicks after the two teams played to a 2-2 draw in regulation and overtime in what would be one of the most exciting games in the history of the organization.
USL PRO will look a little bit different in 2012, as the league scratches the National and American Divisions and moves to a single table. The Islanders' goal, however, remains the same: to win the league championship. The roster features many familiar faces as the Islanders return a strong core from their 2011 campaign. Dustin Bixler returns for an eighth season with the club, as his 115 appearances are the second-most in team history. The team also brings back their second- and third-leading scorers from last year in Sainey Touray and Andrew Welker. The return of these two players should help duplicate the offensive power Harrisburg demonstrated last season. The club’s 37 goals in 2011 led the National Division and were second overall in USL PRO.
The strength of both the midfield and defense should be maintained, as well, as the Islanders return many of the staples at these positions. The returning members include: Stephen Basso, Bixler, Morgan Langley, Andrew Marshall, J.T. Noone, Brian Ombiji, Jason Pelletier, Touray, Welker, and Drew Yates.
However, the City Islanders will certainly have a lot of holes to fill, as well. Last year’s starting goalkeeper Chase Harrison and leading goal-scorer Jose Angulo have made the move to the MLS, with Harrison joining the Philadelphia Union, Harrisburg’s MLS affiliate, and Angulo signing with the New York Red Bulls. Combine this with an ACL tear to last year’s backup goalie Phil Tuttle, and it’s clear that a lot of the team’s new faces will be expected to contribute right away. New players include: GK Nick Noble, D Bilal Duckett, D Adrian LeRoy, D Tom Mellor, D Tom Brandt, M Colin Zizzi, F Yann Ekra, and F Garret Pettis.
With these additions, the City Islanders sport a number of local players, in Brandt (Palmyra), Zizzi (Carlisle High), Pettis (Lower Dauphin), Pelletier (Middletown ), Welker (Cumberland Valley), Bixler (Red Land High), and Noone (Central Dauphin). Pettis also has strong familiarity with the club having been a member of the City Islanders Youth Academy.
The 2012 campaign will also mark the first season at the helm for new team General Manager John Gregg.
“I can’t wait for the season to start,” he said. “I feel like a kid again getting ready for my first game, just this time I am the guy pulling it all together. I am excited for the fans and staff members involved as we have some new and exciting events taking place this year. I encourage all to come out an experience this season.”
The Islanders have played a number of preseason matches in preparation for the upcoming season. They dispatched of Long Island University 4-0 on March 23 before drawing with St. Francis (1-1) and Temple (0-0) on March 24 and 28.
The team begins their 2012 campaign on Friday night in North Carolina against the Charlotte Eagles. The Eagles will then make the return trip as the Islanders will open their home portion of the schedule on Friday, May 4 against Charlotte at Skyline Sports Complex. For more information or to purchase tickets for the upcoming season, visit www.cityislanders.com or call 717-441-GOAL.