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Trio Returns To City Islanders

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Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

HARRISBURG, PA. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders are pleased to announce the return of three more players for the 2013 season including left back Stephen Basso. Defender Tom Brandt and forward Yann Ekra also return for their second season with the Isles.

Basso returns from spending his offseason with the Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Basso was named to the 2012-13 MISL All-Rookie Team. Entering his third season with the Islanders, Basso has proven himself to be a force in the Islanders’ back line. He made 17 appearances, logging 1,469 minutes last season.

In 2011, he made 21 appearances, logging 1,794 minutes, while making an appearance on the USL PRO Team of the Week. In addition to his contributions on defense, Basso also proved to be clutch on offense, tallying a first-half goal that sparked the Islanders to a 2-1 victory over Rochester in the National Division Final.

Well-traveled despite his young age, Basso joined the City Islanders from Crystal Palace Baltimore, where he played in 24 games over the 2009-10 seasons. Born in Costa Rica, he started playing soccer at age five in New Delhi, India, where his father (a foreign service officer with the State Department) worked. After spending some time in Columbia, Md., he moved to Germany, where he played for lower-league side PSV Blau Gelb in 2003. In 2004, he returned to the U.S. and spent two years with D.C. United’s youth academy. He went back to Germany in 2007, playing with the reserve team of SV Darmstadt. Basso brought his career stateside once more in 2008 when he signed for the USL Second Division’s Real Maryland Monarchs (playing 17 games).

“Stephen brings experience and leadership to the 2013 roster," said Coach Bill Becher. "He has been solid for us in the post two seasons and we are expecting ever more from him his year.”

Brandt returns for his second season after becoming a fixture in the back line in his rookie season. The former University of Pennsylvania standout played in 18 games and saw 1,357 minutes of action, recording one assist.

Brandt was a three-year starter at the University of Pennsylvania, and received First-Team All-Ivy recognition in both his junior and senior seasons. The Palmyra native served as a team captain for both his junior and senior seasons and received NSCAA All-Region honors for both of these years.

Brandt returns to the Harrisburg area, where he enjoyed similar success at Palmyra High School. He was a two-time captain and four-year starter, leading the team to a Pennsylvania State title in 2007. He was a two-time All-Lebanon County first team selection and, as a senior, received NSCAA/adidas High School Boys All-Region II honors, while being named Mid Penn Keystone Player of the Year.

“Tommy stepped in three different defensive positions last year and did very well in all three. His versatility gives us a lot of option,” said Becher.

Ekra also returns for his second season with the club. The native of France has become a staple in Harrisburg’s lineup, and is hoping to build off an impressive 2012 season where he was the team’s second-leading scorer. Ekra appeared in 21 games, registering 13 points with six goals and one assist.

Before joining the Islanders, Ekra was an extremely well-traveled player. The speedy striker played for the French club Lyon for the 2008 season, before spending the first part of 2009 playing for the youth team of the Premier League’s Hull City before heading to Greece to join Panionios. He spent the 2011 season back in France, playing for Châteauroux in Ligue 2, France’s second division.

“Yann played a key role in our attack in 2012," said Becher. "He scored some big goals including the game winner in L.A. on the last days of the season to secure our playoff spot.”

Training camp continues this week with the last two of six preseason matches occurs. On Thursday, April 4 the Isles faces Villanova at 7:30 p.m. at In the Net, Palmyra. They end the preseason matches on the road on Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. against the University Of Maryland. The Islanders 10th Anniversary season kicks off at Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 13 and the home opener is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 7 p.m. against the Rochester Rhinos. For more information about the Harrisburg City Islanders visit the website at cityislanders.com or phone 717-441-4625.


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