Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders will kick off their 10th Anniversary season with a slate of six preseason games featuring top collegiate teams. The Islanders are looking to build on a strong season in 2012 as they open the preseason by traveling to Drexel University on Thursday, March 14th at 7 p.m. The first home match of the preseason for the Islanders will be a match-up with St. Francis University at Millersville University on Wednesday, March 20th at 8 p.m. This is the first of three home games for the Islanders during the preseason.
The following week the Islanders will host the Navy Midshipmen at Cumberland Valley High School on Sunday, March 24th at 3 p.m. This game will be the first ever match up between the Islanders and the Midshipmen. The final home contest for the Islanders will be against the Wildcats of Villanova at In The Net, Palmyra on Thursday, April 4th at 7 p.m.
The preseason also features two more away matches, with both being played in Maryland. The first is a battle with the American East champions at University of Maryland Baltimore College (UMBC) Retrievers. Along with earning their second conference championship, the Retrievers made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2012. They will host the Islanders on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.
The last tune-up game for the Islanders will take place against perennial ACC contender, The University of Maryland, who made it to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament in 2012. The match will take place the day after the game against UMBC, on Friday, April 5th at 7 p.m. All preseason matches are free for all fans.
During the preseason there will be local talent and former Islanders on display, including UMBC’s Billy Heavner (Hempfield), Maryland’s Alex Shinsky (West York Area), Navy’s Donny Burton (Manheim Township), Drexel’s Josh Grosh (Manheim Township) and Connor Goldsmith (Hempfield), St Francis’ Ty Geesey (Cumberland Valley). Along with players there will be a few local coaching products as well, with former City Islander Nate Baker currently serving as an assistant coach under former Messiah coach David Brandt at Navy.
The City Islanders’ first regular season game will be on the road against their cross-state foes, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 13th at 8 p.m. The home opener will come two weeks later when they face the Rochester Rhinos at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday, April 26th at 7 p.m. The 2012 USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery will then come to town on Wednesday, May 1st at 7 p.m.
Both single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting cityislanders.com or calling 717-411-GOAL.