Chad Severs, Matt Tanzini score three points in 3-2 victory
June 18, 2005 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, Pa) - Chad Severs and Matt Tanzini both recorded a goal and an assist as the Harrisburg City Islanders defeated the Western Mass Pioneers 3-2 at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night. With their fourth straight win, the City Islanders improve to 5-3-1 (16 points) on the season and at least temporarily move past Western Mass (4-2-4, 16) into third place in the USL Second Division. The Pioneers, who saw a seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end, face 1-9-0 Northern Virginia tomorrow.
While Severs, Tanzini, and Steve Fisher scored to headline another impressive outing for the City Islanders' offense, it was Harrisburg's ability to match the Pioneers' physical style of play that made the difference. By the time this rough and tumble affair was completed, the teams had combined for 29 fouls, four cautions, and the ejection of Western Mass defender Jay Willis, who wiped out Harrisburg's David Schofield with a hard tackle in the 43rd minute.
Staying true to recent form, the City Islanders started the match in high gear and reaped early rewards. In the 16th minute, team captain Derek Potteiger put his shoulder down and drove around his man along the right wing before arcing a cross onto the head of Severs. The 22-year-old rookie simply nodded it past helpless Pioneers keeper Bryan O'Quinn (four saves) for a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers struck back quickly. In the 21st minute, forward Neil Krause headed a ball into the path of Rigels Qosa, who crushed a shot over Dave Kern from 25 yards out for a 1-1 tie. Kern made two saves and remains undefeated (4-0-0) on the season.
In the second half, Harrisburg looked to exploit the man advantage with plenty of ball control and some opportunistic forward surges. One such surge led to the team's second goal in the 55th minute, when Fisher found some space down the middle of the field and tore off a low screaming shot which O'Quinn managed to tip wide. Tanzini found the loose ball and sent it back into the slot for Fisher to pop in.
The City Islanders' 76th-minute score was all Tanzini. Harrisburg's leading scorer in 2004 slid in from the left wing and unleashed a right-footed drive that sailed past O'Quinn and nestled inside the far post for a 3-1 lead. Now facing almost insurmountable odds, the Pioneers battled till the final whistle, and when Anthony Augustine's free kick somehow found its way through Harrisburg's wall and then Kern in the 89th minute, there was still some hope - but a composed Harrisburg defense held on for the win.
Notes: The City Islanders kick off a three-game road trip with games next week in Pittsburgh (Wednesday, June 22, 7:05 p.m.) and Cincinnati (Friday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.)...Severs has scored 11 points in his last five games...The City Islanders have scored 12 goals in their last four games.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 18, 2005
- Chad Severs, Matt Tanzini score three points in 3-2 victory - Penn FC
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